The Silent Teaching of Shivabalayogi
Balayogi means “boy yogi”.
The yogi Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj (1935–1994) came to enlightenment while performing tapas. His teaching? Silence. In other words, his silent presence was the teaching. No words were necessary. Aspiring yogis who visited him reported going into ecstatic trance states and profound levels of samadhi simply by being in his presence.
Coming of Age and Formative Years
It was in the Indian city of Adivarapupeta, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, when Shivabalayogi’s birth
occurred on January 24, 1935. His parents named him Sathyaraju. At the age of twelve, he left school to help support his impoverished family by weaving cotton saris and dhotis. At the age of fourteen, his life took a dramatic turn from a spiritually indifferent youth.
While enjoying some Palmyra fruit with friends by an irrigation canal on August 7, 1949, Sathyaraju had a profound spiritual experience. The sound of Aum completely consumed him, and a black Shiva lingam materialized in front of him. What looked like a towering and beautiful jangama devara, a Shiva ascetic, emerged from the lingam’s explosive release. A brilliant light emanated from him as he instructed the child to focus. The man’s gentle stroking between Sathyaraju’s eyebrows sent him into samadhi.
Awakening by a supernatural being or enlightened teacher is a common theme in many spiritual traditions. Similar experiences are supposed to have been bestowed by Shiva, the yogi lord, in Hinduism. The lingam and the jangama devara stand for form and formlessness, respectively, in Advaita Vedanta.
The 12-year meditation and tapas regimen of Sathyaraju commenced at this point. He spent eight years in samadhi, meditating for twenty-three hours a day; he would only rise at midnight to tend to his physical needs. Completely oblivious to his surroundings, he remained still. Rocks were hurled at him, sugar was dumped on him to attract insects, and his clothes were torched by a mob of unbelieving peasants. But when in samadhi, the child was able to contemplate undisturbed and undistracted.
Those ancient Indian yogis and rishis who spent years meditating in caves or jungles will be remembered during this rigorous tapas period. Sharing Sathyaraju’s experience of villagers’ hostility, many saints show how those who defy societal norms in pursuit of higher truths are frequently met with bewilderment and fear.
His remaining still and in samadhi for the first eight years caused him to grow stiff and handicapped. While he did nothing, rodents and insects devoured him. Cobras repeatedly bit him. With unwavering resolve, he continued on his path to enlightenment. The final four years of tapas involved reducing meditation to twelve hours daily. On August 7, 1961, he attained the title of Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj, twelve years after he had begun his spiritual journey.
The extreme physical hardships that Sathyaraju endured during his tapas show how true spiritual practice requires a deep purification. As per yoga, this procedure purges the subtle energy channels (nadis) and burns away karmic imprints, setting the body up for access to higher states of consciousness.
Tapas: A Paradigm Shift
Tapas, meaning “heat” or “spiritual austerity” in Sanskrit, was central to Shivabalayogi’s teachings. He defined tapas as meditating for at least twelve hours every day till God-realization. The intense spiritual practice kindles an inner fire that consumes ignorance and all impurities, ultimately revealing one’s divine essence.
The sacred texts of India, such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and yogic canon, include tapas. Authentic tapas, according to Shivabalayogi, is mental cleansing via a singular concentration on the Divine, despite the common association of tapas with asceticism.
According to Shivabalayogi, tapas began with samadhi. Years of hard effort were required to stabilize and incorporate enlightenment in order to achieve true self-realization, which is the same as God-realization, according to Shivabalayogi. Only when God verifies it is tapas complete, he said. There is a 12-hour daily samadhi meditation requirement for yogis till then.
The premise that enlightenment is a sudden and irreversible shift in consciousness is challenged by this method. Enlightenment, according to Shivabalayogi, is only the beginning and is best achieved through a methodical process of practice that gradually builds upon itself.
The 12-year spiritual practice of yoga known as Yuga tapas is compatible with this. The yogi should aim for siddhi, or perfection, in each of the four cardinal directions (dikh tapas) while meditating. According to Shivabalayogi, there are fresh obstacles in every direction:
- Spiritual practice is easiest when facing East.
- Meditating while facing North brings much bliss.
- South is neutral.
- Meditating while facing West presents many obstacles.
Symbols with four directions are in use in many spiritual traditions across the world. According to Native American spirituality, there are qualities and teachings associated with each direction. The four direction guardians, or dikpalas, are believed by Hindus to represent different aspects of divinity.
Those jnani yogis who complete the Yuga tapas for 12 years and the four directions are known as rishis, or wise ones. Enlightenment via nirvikalpa samadhi is considered to be only the first step, and many additional years of uninterrupted meditation are required.
During his twelve years of rigorous tapas, Shivabalayogi followed this path meditating in each cardinal direction first for 23 hours daily for two years each (for a total of eight years), followed by 12 hours of meditation daily in each cardinal direction for another year each (for another four years, totaling 12 years of Yuga tapas).
Shivabalayogi Emerging After One Year of Tapas Specifically for World Peace
Calm Instruction
Following tapas, Shivabalayogi was reticent to speak or provide lessons. Two of his primary pedagogical tools were the piercing stare and the subtle spiritual energy transfer known as shaktipat. Many attained samadhi and profound meditation while sitting in his company.
This form of nonverbal instruction holds that nothing short of first-hand experience can convey the transcendent spiritual truths that words cannot express. According to Ashtanga:
“A Yogi’s work is silent. Teaching is not done by talking.”
Silent teaching is a long-standing practice in many spiritual traditions. “Direct transmission outside the scriptures” (教垖別傳, kyōge betsuden) refers to the practice in Zen Buddhism wherein enlightened teachers convey knowledge to their students directly, without the use of written or spoken word.
His public appearances often included:
- Instruction in meditation.
- Quiet darshan while in samadhi.
- During bhajans, participants felt a deep state of spiritual bliss, known as bhava samadhi.
- The distribution of vibhuti and prasad as a blessing.
According to some who were receptive, being in his company triggered kundalini awakening and led to unprompted meditation. Visions, past lives, and profound inner changes occurred to many people even in the absence of spoken instruction.
Energy transfer, or shaktipat, is acknowledged in several tantric and yogic traditions. Enlightened teachers claim that the power to awaken students’ spiritual force may be conveyed by touch, sight, or intention. Spiritual development is accelerated by this instantaneous transmission.
When speaking, Shivabalayogi emphasized meditation above everything else. “Do sadhana (spiritual practice)” was the summation of his teachings. An unstructured meditation method centred on the eyebrows was one of his teachings:
- Put your head down and relax.
- Close your eyes.
- Slightly and gently raise your inner gaze up to the point between your eyebrows.
- Remain attentive and watchful.
- Refrain from using visual aids and mantras.
- Until you finish meditating, keep your eyes closed.
This practice, which is similar to formless meditation and pure awareness in Tantric and Dzogchen traditions, was given the term “Jangama Dhyana” by Shivabalayogi. Ajna chakra, often known as the third eye, is believed to be a point of heightened awareness that may be reached by directing one’s attention there.
If followed diligently, this technique, according to Shivabalayogi, leads to serenity and enlightenment. He suggested starting with an hour of meditation and working up to longer sessions.
Shivabalayogi | Bhava Samadhi | Divine Play | Spiritual Ecstasy
Divine Joy: Bhava Samadhi
The ability to induce bhava samadhi in large groups was one of Shivabalayogi’s greatest talents. Bhava, literally “feeling” or “emotion,” refers to complete reliance on and submission to the Divine.
People would often get up and dance, do yoga positions, start babbling, or even nod off to Shivabalayogi’s bhajans. Some became aware of gods or felt their consciousness grow.
These blissful states are comparable to the “speaking in tongues” practiced by Pentecostals and the whirling dances performed by Sufi dervishes. In Hinduism, these feelings are associated with Bhakti yoga, the way of devoted love.
According to Shivabalayogi, bhava samadhi occurs when a devotee’s consciousness briefly dissolves the ego and merges with the divine. He claimed it cleared the mind and made it ready to meditate. Like the “chocolate” a child receives as a metaphor for meditation, he cautioned against becoming attached to such experiences. Devotional meditation is necessary for genuine self-discovery.
Although ecstatic experiences have the power to purify and invigorate their practitioners, Shivabalayogi suggested viewing them as gateways to further levels of meditation and self-exploration.
Darshan: Blessing of the Guru’s Glance
The blessed sight of a holy person, or darshan, was essential to Shivabalayogi’s silent transmission. He sat quietly for hours, gazing at the crowd. Looking into his eyes was an unforgettable experience for many.
“When I looked into Swamiji’s eyes, I felt waves of bliss washing over me. All thoughts ceased, and I entered a state of pure awareness unlike anything I’d experienced before.”
Unidentified
“His gaze penetrated the depths of my being. I saw a blazing light emanate from his body. In that moment, I understood the truth of who I really am beyond this limited body and mind.”
K.
A saint’s gaze has the ability to change people, according to several religions. After reflecting on Christ’s image, Christians have developed stigmata. Looking up at the sheikh, or nazar, is a powerful spiritual transmission in Sufism.
The guru’s darshan, according to Shivabalayogi, raises kundalini energy and dismantles obstacles to enlightenment. A subtle handoff between teacher and disciple was ideal for spiritual initiation.
“The guru’s darshan, his simple look alone, is a great force, a tremendous power. It destroys all of the devotee’s sins, removes all of his doubts, and gives him the greatest peace.”
Unknown
The grace of the guru is a key ingredient in many Indian spiritual systems that can initiate enlightenment. It stands for the idea that although it takes work on the part of humans, enlightenment can only be bestowed by a teacher who has achieved enlightenment themselves.
Vibhuti: Divine Ash
Vibhuti, or spiritual ash, was bestowed upon Shivabalayogi as well. By blessing inert ash and distributing it among devotees, the awakened Shakti energy of the guru was transferred to the recipient.
Sacred ash has long been utilized by Hindus, particularly Shaivite Hindus. It reveals the unadulterated, unchangeable self by consuming
naiveté and ego. Similar to Vibhuti’s ability to materialize, advanced yogis have siddhis.
Healing and spiritual awakening have both made use of vibhuti.
“I had suffered from severe migraines for years. After applying Swamiji’s vibhuti to my forehead daily for a month, the headaches completely disappeared.”
R.
“When I put the vibhuti on my tongue, I instantly entered a deep meditative state. I saw visions of past lives and felt waves of bliss coursing through my body.”
S.
Sacred objects have a therapeutic and mystical effect on adherents of many faiths. They show how strong faith is and how certain one is that spiritual energy may be transmitted through material means.
Awakening spiritual consciousness via faith and devotion, the vibhuti, according to Shivabalayogi, imparted the guru’s grace. It was not, he said, a substitute for meditation.
It is noteworthy that blessed objects are used in a balanced manner. Although external aid may have its benefits, Shivabalayogi always advocated for the return to meditation and the primacy of own effort and direct experience.
The Real Presence
On March 28, 1994, at the age of 59, Shivabalayogi attained mahasamadhi. His guidance and presence, according to many faiths, are still with us.
While meditating or dreaming, some people see him. His samadhi shrine and calling his name both allow others to feel his vitality. His disciples seem to have continued his legacy.
In many faiths, the guru continues to guide followers even after they pass on. Tibetan Buddhists practice guru yoga by imagining themselves in a relationship with a fully enlightened Buddha.
According to Shivabalayogi, yogis do not perish; rather, their lives serve as a powerful example of the transformative power of meditation and the age-old practice of silent spiritual transmission from teacher to student.
Asana, Vaishnava, and Advaita
The Yoga Vasishta, a sacred Sanskrit text that explains Advaita Vedanta in the form of a conversation between Sage Vasishta and Lord Rama, was a favorite of Shivabalayogi’s devotees. The text highlights the duality of the worldly and spiritual realities, the absolute and the illusory nature of the world.
According to Shivabalayogi, who followed the non-dualism of Advaita Vedanta, the world as it appears is really just a mental construction, and through meditation one can rise above mental limitations and see the oneness of all existence for what it really is—a direct experience of one’s inherent nature as pure consciousness.
To augment his quiet teachings, Shivabalayogi gave his disciples the Yoga Vasishta, which he highly recommended due to its integration of philosophy, meditation, and self-inquiry.
A Message for Everyone
It is clear from his teaching that Shivabalayogi encouraged people of all religions to pursue spiritual truth and that he did so with open arms.
“There is only one religion, and that religion is love.” “Heart language is the only language.”
Although the Vedantic idea of “Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti” (truth is one) fits a universalist perspective, the sages address it by different titles. Provoking a fresh viewpoint on religious dogmatism and sectarianism, it invites searchers to go beyond labels and find the common spiritual paths.
“Teaching is not talking.”
Shivabalayogi | His Mission
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