STRAIGHT FROM THE SOUL

by

Anil Pant

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2009-10 Anil Pant

ISBN: 978-1-4523-6673-9

Title: Straight from the soul

Author: Anil Pant

Publisher: Smashwords, Inc.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not
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copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

~~~***~~~
Dedicated to Baba Hari Dass Ji

Sri Ram Ashram

Village Shyampur Kangri,

Hardwar, India

http://www.mountmadonna.org

http://hanumanfellowship.org

~~~***~~~
INDEX

Preface
Scope of the book
Objective of the book
Why one must set out to seek
The journey
Prerequisites
Need of a personal God
Need for a mantra
Need for a living spiritual Guru
Popular beliefs about the soul
Assumptions in this book`
Facts about the world and its objects
The process called “Meditation”
Direction of perception
The four meditations for the inner journey:
Meditation 1 – “LS ”
Meditation 2 – “TINI”
Meditation 3 – “MEDIC”
Meditation 4 – “ OPE”
What is intuition?
How to develop intuition?
What keeps us under illusion?
Ways to transcend causes of our illusion
Increased sensitivity and your perceptions
Attitude towards others
After self realization
Abut Baba Hari Dass ji
Acknowledgement
Recommended Books
About the author
~~~***~~~
PREFACE

I was a happy go lucky person just out of a premium engineering college and
was selected by a multi-national organization during my final year.

Life was challenging and exciting. I was full of confidence and never ever
thought about religion, God or soul.

My world revolved around friends, books, music, sports, holidays, eating,

shopping, money, work and of course my career.

Suddenly my younger brother, only 18 years old, expired in a road accident

and for the first time I came across untimely death, intolerable pain and
extreme sorrow.

All my knowledge and understanding was useless and I felt helpless and
further living and working looked useless.

All words and help from friends and relatives was of no use as I saw death as
an inevitable and un-escapable event in my future life.

My parents were totally shattered and things were very gloomy and
depressing.

Why our family ? Why my brother ? Why us ? Why me ? Is there a god

controlling our lives? What is death? What happens when one dies ? Is my
brother still existing as a soul or has gone for forever ? These were the
recurring questions I had and there were no answers.

I could not comprehend what the priest explained during the last rituals of my
brother and thus the quest to know the truth started.

This quest with open mind led me to atheists, materialists, palmists,

astrologers, tantriks, scholars, saints, gurus and study of astronomy,
astrology, psychology & religious scriptures and simultaneous application of
the instructions upon my own body-mind structure thereby gaining priceless
insights.

There were many mile stones in the journey and the truth shone finally.

Let the truth be known to all is the only prayer and real work left for me now.

Freedom to all

Anil Pant

~~~***~~~
SCOPE OF THIS BOOK

To provide simple reasons, insights, tools, methods and techniques for

investigation of soul, soul realization & thereafter.

~~~***~~~

OBJECTIVE OF THE BOOK

To facilitate clarity of mind for the seekers and assist them in realizing their
true existence as eternal soul.

(Soul, self, atma, atman, spirit and consciousness are synonyms and the
experience of intuitively knowing yourself as soul is known as Self realization,
Self actualization, Atma Bodh, Moksha, Liberation, Mukti, Freedom, Atma
Sakshatkar, Atma anubhuti, Nirvana, Final emanicipation

~~~***~~~

WHY ONE MUST SET OUT TO SEEK

• To understand yourself, your world and God.

• To extricate your mind from its conditioning
• To put an end to all confusion
• To transcend death, pain and sorrow
• To enter Peace
• To enjoy Life and its offerings to the fullest
• To enter Ananda (Bliss)
• To become successful in outer and inner worlds

• ~~~***~~~
THE JOURNEY

Different religions are like different technologies meant for realization of the
same truth. Religions, their concepts, rituals and methods are means to
realization of the Truth and are not the end in themselves.

Example: As for communicating with each other we use mobile phones which
work using GSM, CDMA, 3G technologies but mobile phones & the technology
behind them is not communication but tools & techniques for enabling
communication.

Behind all religions, you will find one human being who experienced the
truth, interpreted it and taught others.

Some made Faith and belief in the founder, teacher, his interpretation of the
truth, his teaching and the rituals etc. a prerequisite and some said that the
truth does not depend on faith or belief and can be accessed by any sincere
seeker.

However, meditation is common to all the religions.

Naturally one has faith in one’s own experiences hence experiencing the truth
by oneself makes sense as it ends one’s confusion and brings clarity than
accepting the popular beliefs without experiencing the truth of them.

~~~***~~~
THE PREREQUISITES TO REALIZE THE TRUTH

• Taking responsibility for your own self development & growth

• Need to feel empowered
• Curiosity
• Dissatisfaction from mere eating, working for money, mating and
defending your ego, status, existence & assets
• Desire to get out of the painful memories of the past and fear of the
future
• Understanding the demerit of stress, insecurities, fear and tensions
involved in controlling people, situations & material pursuits
• Eagerness to find a way out from the mess the world we find ourselves
in (recession, job cuts, salary cuts, poor economic conditions,
increasing cost of living, poor health, diseases, terrorism, tainted
leaders, crime, corruption, pollution, poor law & order etc)
• Value for peace of mind
• Value for clear understanding of religions & spirituality
• Willingness to devote some time to explore and investigate your world
and its influence on your inner world and your state of mind.

~~~***~~~

NEED FOR A PERSONAL GOD

Having a personal God helps to connect emotionally, form relationship with

God as father, mother, guru, son, owner, friend, saviour and you as son,
daughter, parent, servant, friend, distressed etc.

~~~***~~~

NEED FOR A MANTRA

A mantra is one of the many names of the God and it helps to bring your mind
again & again back to the name of the God and extracts you out of your
habitual mental processes of fear, doubt, tensions & insecurities.

Mantra is extremely helpful for developing concentration of mind.

~~~***~~~
NEED FOR A LIVING SPIRITUAL GURU

People are at different levels of evolution of their understanding depending

upon their age, sex, education, exposures, experience, company, memory,
habits etc.

Truth is also known as “Sadguru – the authentic guru” and it presents itself to
the genuine seeker as a living self realized person. The Sadguru is the one with
whom you will connect intellectually and emotionally as well.

The books and scriptures are like road maps for the inner journey but the soul
can be experienced speedily by humbly interacting & requesting guidance
from a self realized person along with implementation of their instructions.

Realizing on your own is also possible but may take an infinitely very long
time and energy as you may not be able to evaluate your own progress &
recognize the signs of progress in absence of continual guidance from a living
self realized person.

The practices in the book will also help you evolve from your present level of
understanding and your prayers will bring such self realized person in your
life whom you can trust.

~~~***~~~
POPULAR BELIEFS ABOUT THE SOUL

There are only two beliefs :

1. There is a soul which incarnates and experiences results of its

KARMA (Physical, verbal and mental actions done by soul in its
previous physical form). The purpose of one’s life is to realize one’s
soul and be free from its earthly bondages.

2. There is no soul and this is the only life one has got so sensory
enjoyment is the only purpose of life.

If one spends one hour per day in meditation and if there is no soul,
one will waste only : One Hour X 365 Days/Year X N (age) hours in a
lifetime but if there is a soul and one has not made any efforts then the
entire life is wasted ( 24 hours X 365 X N).

The intention to enjoy the world will become stronger day by day but
the capacity for sensual enjoyments will diminish with diseases &
growing age and finally death will take away everything one has worked
for through out one’s life.

We spend 1/3 of our life sleeping (doing nothing) which is nothing but
meditation without conscious awareness and its purpose is to refresh
our system of body & mind yet dreams, stress & tensions disturb our
sleep and we rarely get sound sleep.

Practice of conscious meditation methods will bring complete

relaxation of body & mind even if you don’t succeed in discovering your
soul.

~~~***~~~
ASSUMPTIONS IN THIS BOOK

1. The truth is self evident and can be explored, investigated and felt by
the sincere seeker through inner journey.
2. You are the laboratory for exploration, investigation and interpretation
of findings.
3. You are the explorer, investigator of your true self and not some
outside agency, religion or organization.
4. Truth of soul can only be intuitively known it can’t be captured by an
instrument.
5. Understanding your own structure will enhance your understanding of
your own moods, fears, doubts, habits, phobias, dreams etc. and their
root cause thus enabling you to work on the root cause and thus
improve the subjective quality of your present life.

~~~***~~~

FACTS ABOUT THE WORLD AND ITS OBJECTS

1. We contact the objects through our senses i.e. through eyes, ears, skin,
tongue and nose.
2. All sensory information (data) is discriminated by us for like, dislike,
usefulness etc. and is stored as memory.
3. Our identification with information regarding our name, age, sex, face,
features, physique and pleasant or unpleasant information about
objects, people, concepts, experiences is what we understand as I/Me.
4. All the objects including you and the information associated with them
is changing as all the objects follow the cycle of birth, growth, maturity,
decay and death.
5. Change is the only CONSTANT in our lives.
6. We feel happy if the change is favourable and feel pain if the change is
unfavourable.
7. The body for which we undertake all activities also follows the cycle of
birth, growth, maturity, decay and finally death.
8. Our minds are always trying to seek only the pleasant experiences and
avoid the unpleasant experiences.
9. Our minds are either in the past or in the future.
10. Negative experiences come first to our minds if we recall our past
memories.

~~~***~~~
THE PROCESS CALLED MEDITATION

Meditation means ability to withdraw one’s senses from their objects as a

tortoise withdraws its limbs and focus/concentrate the mind on one object to
understand it thoroughly.

Deep absorption in one object alone is called meditation.

We will be using process of meditation in our four methods.

Meditation requires a loose, comfortable dress, isolation, dim light, silence

and freedom from any outside and bodily distractions.

It should be done prior to taking food or two hours after taking the food. The
ideal time for meditation are early morning, afternoon, evening and late night
when the nature is also peaceful and restful.

Alignment of head, neck and backbone in straight line is essential and one
may sit or lie down on one’s back on a covered flat surface. Stillness in
selected posture is also a must.

~~~***~~~
DIRECTION OF PERCEPTION IN MEDITATION

The direction of perception in which all the meditations will lead you is us
under:

Objects, their forms & names (External data)

Your Body (its organs of perception & action)

Breath (Inhalation, Retention, Exhalation)

Thoughts, Feelings, Cravings, Habits (Contents of inner world & their

interaction with objects of external world)

Ego ( Identification with the contents & you as the center )

Body Sensations (Interaction between Matter & energy and You as observer)

Awake Sleep (You as an observer and body- mind in restful sleep)

Only self i.e. Pure formless Spirit, the cause of all causes

~~~***~~~
THE FOUR MEDITATIONS FOR THE INNER JOURNEY

1. Meditation 1 – “LS - Layered Self”

2. Meditation 2 – “TINI- This is not it”
3. Meditation 3– “MEDIC- Matter, energy, data, intelligence and
consciousness”
4. Meditation 4 – “ OPE- object of experience – process of experiencing –
experiencer”

~~~***~~~

MEDITATION 1 – LAYERED SELF (LS)

Meditation in this method requires you to feel each layer subjectively in your
own laboratory of body-mind :

One can feel the structure as per the following layers :

1. THE LAYER OF MATTER

This layer is made up of all tangible physical things in your body i.e. face, hair,
head, shoulders, arms, chest, back, stomach, private parts, legs, feet, flesh,
eyes, ears, tongue, skin, nose, skeleton, blood, brain, nerves, veins, lungs,
heart, pancreas, kidneys, liver, bladder, etc.

2. THE LAYER OF AIR

This layer is made up of air inhaled, retained for a while and exhaled. Slow &
rhythmic breathing brings peace.
 3. THE LAYER OF MIND

In this layer categorization of pleasant, unpleasant, important, unimportant

data and identification with the data takes place. The ego builds up in this
layer.

4. THE LAYER OF INTELLECT

In this layer the information is assimilated and converted to knowledge

and understanding.

5. THE LAYER OF SLEEP

In this layer, sleep dawns as one withdraws from all physical & mental
activities.

6. ALL PERMEATING SELF/SOUL/SPIRIT/CONSCIOUNESS

The self by whose mere presence all the previous layers are functioning
dwells here. The soul maintains all the physical and mental processes
during sleep. Soul is awake 24 X 7 eternally.

Light diet preferably vegetarian, fresh mind and deep concentration is

required to transcend the layer of sleep and feel yourself as pure soul.

~~~***~~~
MEDITATION 2 – THIS IS NOT IT (TINI)

This method uses the following classification regarding all perceptions:

• Real means THIS IS IT : Permanent, forever, eternal, Unchanging i.e.

the Soul/Self/Spirit

• Unreal means THIS IS NOT IT : Temporary, Transient, changeful i.e.

the sense or mental objects, thoughts & feelings about them

• During meditation, one has to evaluate one’s experience in the world

on daily basis as real or unreal as per the above classification.

For data of all unreal experiences one may use THIS IS NOT IT.

This method can be used in our active life as well to deal with all the
sensory and mental data there and then the moment one becomes aware
of them.

The method is used with the first method of layered self to see that the
data of first five layers is changeful (unreal) hence NOT IT whereas the
intuitive feeling of self in the sixth layer is eternal hence real i.e. THIS IS
IT.

~~~***~~~

MEDITATION 3 – “MATTER, ENERGY, DATA, INTELLIGENCE

AND CONSCIOUSNESS (MEDIC)”

In this method one meditates on the following components of one’s existence :

1. Matter : All tangible physical objects, body parts and breath(air) are
felt as matter
2. Energy : All the food that we eat gets converted to glucose and
absorbed and circulated by blood which supplies energy to all the body
parts including our brain. Moreover, as electricity runs all our
 machines similarly electrical impulses run through our complex
nervous system connecting the entire body with the brain enabling us
to respond to our sensory stimulus.
3. Data: The continuous bombardment of information from the outer
world is the data for us to react and respond to.
4. Intelligence: Using the data & concepts to interpret their meaning &
value, identifying it as me and mine, and applying it in one’s life is the
function of intelligence.
5. Consciousness (Soul): The source who created the matter, energy, data,
intelligence and you. Who is carrying the game of life in you 24 X 7.
6. Again one can use THIS IS NOT IT method to transcend the realm up
to intelligence and sense the pure consciousness intuitively as the ever
awake eternal unchanging foundation and source of all the above
constituents.

~~~***~~~

MEDITATION 4 – “OBJECT OF EXPERIENCE – PROCESS OF

EXPERIENCING –EXPERIENCER (OPE)”

In all our external & inner experiences, there are three things:

1. THE OBJECT OF EXPERIENCE

2. THE PROCESS OF EXPERIENCING
3. THE EXPERIENCER

In the meditation, one first picks an external object of experience i.e. an apple
and while eating it can see the process as under:

• THE OBJECT OF EXPERIENCE : The apple

• THE PROCESS OF EXPERIENCE : Eating the apple

Notice how your hands, nose, mouth, tongue, teeth, throat, stomach &
brain are involved and take in the feeling of holding the apple, its aroma,
 taste, change in efforts applied as one chews, gulping the pulp down and
feeling of satisfaction

• THE EXPERIENCER: Try to feel who is it?

Neither your mouth, tongue, teeth, throat, nose, stomach, nor your brain
but the one behind all the senses and mind, the self; the silent witness of
the object and the process of experience.

You can try this method for all the senses i.e. Eyes (see), Nose (Smell), Ears
(Listen), Skin (Feel),Tongue (Taste).

One can consciously use this method during bathing (feel the water on your
skin); during eating (as done with the apple); spending time in nature (watch
sunrise/sunset/picture/painting/photo); Smelling a fragrance or odour;
feeling how does it feel to hold different objects with closed eyes.

This method can also be used in your daily life to feel that the objects around
you are separate, the process of experiencing them is separate and you the
experiencer is separate.

In the next meditation using method 4, one may pick an inner object of
experience i.e. thoughts and can see the process as under:

• THE OBJECT OF EXPERIENCE : Thoughts

• THE PROCESS OF EXPERIENCE : Thinking

• THE EXPERIENCER: The Thinker. Try to feel who is it?

In all the above methods entering inner silence is the sure sign of reaching the
state of your being i.e. the self/soul/spirit.
 ~~~***~~~

WHAT IS INTUITION?

Sudden flash of insight providing direct perception.

~~~***~~~

HOW TO DEVELOP INTUITION?

As the space permeates the entire universe and its contents similarly the soul
is one and permeates the entire space.

As the fish is in the water and the water is in the fish similarly we are in the
soul and soul is in us.

One can understand oneself as a point of omnipresent consciousness located

at the middle of your chest, the place for intuitive feeling.

As we see and define ourselves as reflected by mirror or by the opinions of the

society and our peer group similarly to know our selves as soul we need a
distraction free body & illusion free mind and heart to sense our true essence
of peace, bliss & eternity intuitively.

All the methods of meditation will develop intuition as well.

~~~***~~~

WHAT KEEPS US UNDER ILLUSION

 EGO : I/ME
SENSE OF MINE
CONSTANT FLOW OF THOUGHTS

Ego desires an object, chases and struggles for it, achieves it and becomes
happy for a while then the sense of mine develops and the tension of safe
guarding and fear of loosing it brings tensions and all happiness ends.
Destruction or loss of this object results in sadness, sorrow , depression and
pain.

One gets angry when there is any resistance in fulfilling one’s desire and feels
guilty after the anger has gone.

In case the object is not achieved, one becomes depressed and jealous of those
who have achieved it.

So in all situations, one ends up loosing one’s peace of mind.

~~~***~~~
WAYS TO TRANSCEND THE CAUSES OF ILLUSION

FORGIVENESS

Forgiving yourself and those who harm you.

PRAYER

1. Prayer asking for the peace, health, happiness, joy, laughter,

happiness, knowledge and success for all including yourself.

2. Prayer asking for healing and transformation

SURRENDER

Surrendering your self and your belongings to your personal God. Offer all
your actions to your personal God at the end of each day.

LIVING IN NOW

The past is dead and future is unknown. Then why go back to painful past
events and project/anticipate them in future.

Past and Future are connected through the Present. If the present is peaceful,
your will have a peaceful past which you can always project in the future.
ALTERNATE NOSTRIL BREATHING

1. Alignment of head, neck and backbone in straight line is essential

and one may sit cross legged or on a chair.
2. Close your left nostril with the ring finger of your right hand and
slowly inhale from your right nostril.
3. Now close your right nostril with the thumb of your right hand,
open left nostril and slowly exhale through the left nostril.
4. Now inhale through the left nostril, close left nostril with ring finger
of your right hand, open right nostril and exhale slowly through the
right nostril.
5. Repeat the cycle from step 1- 3 four more times.

This exercise before meditation will help concentration of the mind and
before sleep induce sound sleep.

MEDITATION ON EGO

Meditating on the pseudo/false existence of your EGO who exists due to its
identification with changing & impermanent data and perceiving its role as
of a mere driver in the external world and the Self as the True I.

~~~***~~~

INCREASED SENSITIVITY AND YOUR PERCEPTIONS

Your will see, hear, feel, smell, taste and know more so do not interpret any
inner sounds, lights, colors, visions, palpitations, sensation of warmth & cold,
very slow breathing as signs of some physical problems but as sure signs of
progress in the inner journey.

~~~***~~~
ATTITUDE TOWARDS OTHERS

Right attitude will help to avoid complex mental traps:

Happy People : Rejoice with them in their success & pray for the
happiness to spread everywhere
Sad People: Pray for happiness in their lives
People in Trouble : Have empathy & pray for them
Destructive/Egoistic People: Stay indifferent yet pray for them to
have the right understanding & feelings for themselves & others

~~~***~~~

AFTER SELF REALIZATION

Practice meditation for staying maximum time as self (Just be) and practice
maintaining this state even after meditation by keeping an eye on the sensory
and mental data & your identification with them.

Working in the world without the sense of doer ship & offering all your work
to your personal God is the best way to maintain this state and also fulfill your
worldly duties.

Now you will be living at the source in peace & bliss.

~~~***~~~
 ABOUT BABA HARI DASS JI

A 83 years old silent monk & Master Yogi from India now living in U.S.A since
last 50 years and founder of Shri Ram Ashram (An orphanage) and Shri Ram
Vidya Mandir ( 10+2 CBSE affiliated charitable school) in India & many
centers in USA & Canada.

For more information, visit the following websites ;

http://www.mountmadonna.org

http://www.hanumanfellowship.org

~~~***~~~

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1. Sad Guru Baba Haridass ji http://www.mountmadonna.org

2. Shirdi Sai Baba http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/
3. Advaita Ashram http://www.advaitaashrama.org
4. Maharishi Ramana ji http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/
 5. Shri J Krishnamurti ji http://www.jkrishnamurti.org
6. Osho http://www.osho.com; http://www.oshoworld.com
7. Jain Sadhvi Sarita Ji Maharaj
8. Art of Living Foundation http://www.artofliving.org
9. Bihar School of Yoga, Munger
http://www.yogavisison.net/byb/welcome.htm
10. Dr Deepak Chopra http://www.chopra.com
11. Late Dr. B.V. Raman, Renowned Vedic Astrologer

~~~***~~~

RECOMMENDATED BOOKS

1. Srimad Bhagwat Gita

2. Narada Bhakti Sutra
3. Yoga Primer, Sweeper to Saint, Fire without Fuel & Yoga Sutra of
Patanjali : A study Guide for Book 1 – Samadhi Pada by Baba Haridass
ji, Sri rama Publishing, P.O.Box 2550,Santa Cruz, California, 95063,
U.S.A. (831) 426-5098 (Phone) (831) 426-5096 ( Fax). Books available
from : http://atlasbooks.com/srirama/

For talks with Babaji, Please visit :

http://hanumanfellowship.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid
=54

4. The Forty Verses On Reality by Maharishi Ramana ji

5. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Dr. Deepak Chopra
6. Swara Yoga & Kundalini Tantra by Bihar school of Yoga
7. Living at The Source by Swami Vivekanada by Advaita Ashram
8. Antar Yatra and No water No Moon by Osho
9. Mystery of Death by Swami Abhedananda , Ramakrishna Vedanta
Math, 19 B, Raja Rajkrishna Street, Kolkata, India
www.ramakrishnavedantamath.org
10. Reflections on Self by Shri J. Krishnamurti ji ISBN 81-87075-23-6

~~~***~~~
About the author:

Mr. Anil Pant is a disciple of Baba Hari Dass Ji. He is an engineering

graduate & management postgraduate. Untimely death of his younger
brother in an accident started his quest for God. Currently he is
engaged in management consulting services.

Connect with Me Online:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/anilpant/

Smashwords.com:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/anilpant/

My blog: http://www.alchemy-catalyst.blogspot.com/

~~~***~~~