I attended Sankranti Shibir of Sri M from Satsang Foundation at Mahakumbh in Prayagraj from 12^th– 17^th January 2025. It was a deep desire to attend his shibir. What an opportunity it turned out to be – Sri M Shibir at Mahakumbh! I couldn’t have been more blessed!

One of most important part of his Shibir is the Kriya Yoga. Sri M is one of the few saints in India who knows this technique authentically. ‘Kriya Yoga’ tradition that Sri M teaches traces back to the same lineage as that of Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, and is more or less the same technique that was popularised by Paramahansa Yogananda. Both are similar and the technique that is taught here may have a few additions or subtractions, often depending upon what suits the individual aspirant. 

Kriya Yoga has 7 steps. As Sri M taught one step after the other, I found it very easy to understand and to implement. When he taught the 6^th step, I was totally baffled. I could not understand what he said. When he asked us to practice the 6^th step, I got ready and closed my eyes. But I just could not remember what was to be done. As it got over, he announced a question-answer session on 6th step. People asked him various questions, to which he answered gracefully.

Sitting in that hall, I felt bad about myself. Questions that cropped up instantaneously to myself – How could you not understand this process when everyone else seems to have? Were you not attentive? Where was your focus? If you can’t understand this, the Shibir might turn out only partly useful; Will you ever be able to reduce thoughts? and so on … For a few minutes the mind kept blaming me and told me what a horrendous crime I had done.

As the session ended, I gathered myself. I went off to a stroll at Ganga Ji, which was only 100 metres away from our Akhada (place where we were staying). I realized that usually I am the last person to complain about myself. I would always forgive myself. If there is an error, then I allow myself to get corrected and move on. I don’t blame or punish myself. I realise that I too am human and can make mistakes. When I have forgiven myself before, then what stops me now?

I told myself – “talk to someone and understand the step 6. It might take a little time to comprehend the step, but it is fine. You have always been a good student! Keep the inquisitiveness on and learn.”

I spoke to couple of them whom I knew had been practicing Kriya Yoga. They helped me. One of them gave a picture of the sounds, symbol and colour that needed to be done.

Next session, I got a hang of it! I could do Step 6, followed by Step 7. Later we did 7 steps all together, and I seemed to be able to do it. Ofcourse, it will need practice, but I had got the basics sorted.

The point that I wish to make it – there is no joy in having self-punishments. Yes, we all will make a mistake some point or the other. But it is not end of the world. Greatness is in accepting that you did an error/ blunder, be transparent to accept it, and finally work towards ensuring it does not happen again. We need to grow out of it!

If you ever ‘self-punish’, the time to stop doing that is now!

#punish #selfhurt #forgive #learn #accept