Meditation & Yoga
Light of Soham
The Life and Teachings of Sri Gajanana Maharaj of Nashik
Light of Soham introduces Sri Gajanana Maharaj of Nashik, a little-known twentieth-century Nath yogi whose outward life was strikingly ordinary and whose spiritual teaching was marked by simplicity, independence, and direct experience.
As a young man, Gajanana Maharaj came into contact with the Nath tradition and discovered the practice of Soham—the natural mantra of the breath. Through sustained practice he attained a depth of realization that he later shared with a small circle of seekers, whom he characteristically called his “friends” rather than disciples.
He deliberately avoided the cult of personality that so often surrounds spiritual teachers. Rather than encouraging dependence upon himself, he insisted that those who came to him learn to stand inwardly on their own feet, test spiritual teachings through experience and discrimination, and discover truth directly through practice.
Light of Soham brings together Gajanana Maharaj’s life, conversations, teachings, accounts from those who knew him, and practical instruction in the Soham path. The book presents a model of spiritual guidance that is at once traditional and refreshingly free of display: a teacher whose purpose was not to gather followers, but to remove the obstacles that kept seekers from realizing the Self for themselves.
The concluding material on Soham Yoga places his teaching within a practical method of meditation, making the book not only the portrait of an uncommon saint but also an invitation to undertake the inner work he considered essential.
A book to live with
Why Read This Book?
Meet a rare modern Nath yogi whose spiritual authority rested on direct experience rather than publicity, institution, or personality.
Discover an unusually independent model of spiritual guidance in which the teacher seeks to free the student from dependence rather than deepen it.
Read Gajanana Maharaj’s own teachings, conversations, and the experiences of those who knew and practiced with him.
Learn the Soham path he credited with his own realization, together with practical guidance for applying it in meditation and daily spiritual life.
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From the Book
Featured excerpt
There Is Not Even the Idea of Dependence
While still a boy, Sri Gajanana Maharaj was directed by his guru to guide aspirants on this path. He selects them and freely gives them the Soham mantra. Some approach him intentionally, others come accidentally in contact with him, and yet there is not the least doubt about the fact that it is a sheer impossibility for souls that seek only materialism to meet with such an eminent director on this path. Only one who is earnest can obtain his grace. His followers, though not materially very prosperous, have all the same acquired profound spiritual experiences by practice.
The man of the world is generally in need of that mental peace and tranquility which lead to an equilibrium of mind in pleasure and pain. Without that peace many cannot even bear to live in this world. The saints of old have shown the way of repetition of mantra: the name of someone or some principle. Concentration is another step further. Then comes meditation and lastly realization. Sri Gajanana Maharaj directs his friends with his divine love. In this book his methods are described and explained to help pilgrims progress. The book shows the reader his undoubted ability to do it.
His everyday life is absolutely simple and methodical. Images and ceremonies exhibiting unnecessary show have no place in his room. He has nothing of decorations belonging to any religion, caste or cult. All are welcome to him and can meet him as man to man. He directs all who approach him in the simplest way and language through the spiritual realm without performing any miracles or practicing any deceptions. No selfishness, no snobbery. To lead the soul onward is the only mission of his life. He explains things so convincingly and in such a masterly manner that even the most intelligent man that goes to him is entirely satisfied. Anyone can have this experience of peace and satisfaction from him in the first, or at the most the second, visit and keep it for life.
There is not even the idea of any dependence on him. Rather he makes us independent and free. It is the raising of the Self [Atman] through self-effort.
Excerpt twoTest Everything in the Light of Your Experience+
“Consider Self-experience as your real sadguru. Then there will be no necessity of relying upon the words of others, however great they be. Hence I say there is nothing secret in this path. What little I have told you has been told freely and with frankness. You should not pay any attention to miracles because they are absolutely useless.
“Every step in this path of yoga should be minutely scrutinized by the inner sight and tested by experience and reasoning. Where you cannot understand, shastras may be referred to. I would never tell you to place your blind faith in anyone, as I consider that to do so leads to self-ruin. Awaken your discriminating power, test everything in the light of your experience as you test gold in fire and on the touchstone. If you think that there is some sense in what I say, try to realize it in your experience. There is no cause of fear in this path. Truth can be proclaimed in broad daylight to thousands of people. There is no danger to it. You should, however, keep away from pseudo-saints.”
Excerpt threeWho Am I? — Soham, I Am That+
The ignorant human soul takes its birth and questions, “Who am I?” But originally this human soul was full of knowledge and was one with the Supreme Self. A sadguru gives the answer to the human soul’s question, “Who am I?” by telling him the mantra Soham (I am He) which, having thoroughly convinced the human soul that it is one with the Supreme Self, takes the human soul back to its original state of knowledge and bliss.
Myself: Maharaj, all my doubts have now been solved.
Maharaj: Paithankar, now go on practicing meditation as you have been told. Do not, like the musk-deer, wander about seeking outside for what is really in yourself. Do not ask any further questions. You have now only to get Self-experience by carrying on the practice of meditation steadily. If, however, after practicing meditation as told by me, you do not get any experience, you may go to any other guru who might be able to give you proper guidance and help you attain the goal of human life. I only want to urge that you should now leave off all doubts and begin to practice meditation.
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