Ashtang Yog camp was organized at Vedmandir ashram from December 23, 2003 to January 01, 2004. Swami Ram Swarup, who done has hard-practiced ashtang yog for several years, imparted the knowledge of ashtang yog. It was widely attended by hundreds of enthusiasts from all around the country.

Swami Ram Swarup at Ashtang Yog camp at Vedmandir

The camp was one of the most unique camps on yog in which all elements of ashtang yoga, namely yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dhayan and samadhi were discussed deeply. The participants also were able to put up their questions regarding yog and their own problems. Swamiji replied to all queries in great detail. Experiences were also shared of those who have recovered from chronic problems by ashtang yog.

The knowledge given in the camp was given out from the supreme source – Vedas, with inputs from Patanjali Yog Darshan, Ramayan, Mahabharat and Geeta, Upnishads, Manusmriti, and other granths. Swamiji also talked about his own experiences and gave practical knowledge on incorporating ashtang yog in own personal lives. He also gave insights into various misconceptions and prejudices about ashtang yog that commonly propagated.

The camps are held twice every year – April and December. For more information and registration, please write to us with your postal address.

akshay> Which asanas do you recommend we do before doing meditation and for how long?
Swami Ram Swarup> Ten asans must minimum be done. Siddhasan, padmasan, paschimotanasan, uttaanpaadasan, halasan, sarpasan, vajrasan, sarvangasan, tiddiasan. Every asan must be done at least for 2-3 minutes. But siddhasan and padmasan must be done at least for 1 hour to 2 hour, if possible because on these two asans, naam jaap and meditation is done and gives fruitful results. But these asans must be learnt from an experienced yogi because Vedas say ‘Brahmano mukham aasit’ (Yajurved Mantra 31/11), which means that a yogi who knows vedas and yoga must only preach.

naomi> How many times should I medidate in a day and is it true that meditation will help me in increasing my concentration power?
Swami Ram Swarup> In Saamveda, it is said ‘Thoshavasta dive dive’, which means that twice a day, that is early in the morning, and in evening. Practice depends on available time but after 50 years of age, at least more than 2 hours must be given each in morning and evening. But a sanyasi practises even four times a day because the main objective of the human life is to realise God even while discharging duties towards family and nation. Yoga controls 5 perceptions, 5 organs and mind. So it is perfect meditation and is a complete way to attain samadhi, that is, salvation, which is our motto. The human being, whether family, nation or world, if they do not practice yoga, then they cannot concentrate. And without concentration, anger, selfishness, ego, lobh (greediness) and several other bad habits arise and thus you cannot control and cannot give justice to the public and yourself also.

naveen> I am a diabetic and a heart patient, I want to know in what way can yoga can be beneficial to me? Please help.
Swami Ram Swarup> Yoga is meant for ill-free life. So ardhmatisindriya, uttanpaad, sarpasan, gaumukhasan, bhramcharyaasan and pranayaam can give you ill-free life, if they are learnt and done in presence of an experienced yogi. Please try to attend yoga camp in Dharamsala commencing from December 23. Contact at www.vedmandir.com. One of my disciples, a retired army officer with heart problem, is now fully cured (named L R Gulati of Panchkula), by doing yoga practice.

radha> Is visualisation same as meditation? I read somewhere that it is very good in relieving stress?
Swami Ram Swarup> No because in meditation eyes and every organ becomes dead and meditation is the seventh stage of ashtang yoga. And meditation means a man has controlled all desires and nothing to do with features, sites, etc. and has got ascetism (vairagya) as said in yoga shastra sutra 1/15. In meditation the aspirant knows only two things that he is there and he is meditating to God. That’s all. So he has nothing to do with the world at that time. As regards visualisation, it is some kind of practice, in which one has to see some point parallel to his eyes without closing eyes, as much time as he can and mostly the magicians practice this type of exercise. God is realized inside only, that is in human body by a yogi.

nida> What is patanjali system of yoga and how useful is it? Can it cure psoriasis?
Swami Ram Swarup> Yes, you can cure. Patanjali yog darshana teaches ashtang yoga in full. That is, yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahaar, dharna, dhayaan and samadhi, by which a yogi conrolls chitta vriti and realises God in his body. But the base of this ashtang yoga is yam and niyama, in which bhramcharya and study of vedas are most essential by which only an aspirant is able to know the real God and the way of ashtang yoga.

romidas> How can I keep a control over my emotions? I feel hurt on every small thing? I am very sensitive can yoga or meditation make me strong from inside because if this keeps happening I am going to lose everyone who’s close by this attitude of mine?
Swami Ram Swarup> There is only one way to control all these problems, which is to practice ashtang yoga, which is mainly meant to control five perceptions, five organs and mind, resulting in peace of mind and getting power, energy, mental fitness and physical fitness with long happy life and even salvation. Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, and every muni did this, even in family life and served the human beings too. We must not break the tradition and eternal knowledge by making our own path.

karuna4all> Whevever I try to meditate my mind gets involved in unwanted thoughts, which disturb me a lot. What should I do?
Swami Ram Swarup> It is natural because Pantanjali yog darshan says about two samadhis – sampargyaat and asampargyaat. So, if anyone starts practising real ashtang yoga, starting from yam, niyam, aasan, pranayaam, pratyahaar, dharnaa, dhyaan and samadhi, then you must please know that dhyaan is the seventh stage of ashtang yoga, and dhyaan means meditation. If anybody else does not fulfil the rules and leaves all the first six stages and directly starts from meditation, then it is quite wrong. And if anybody else starts properly then in sampargyaat samadhi, first is vitark, in which, a he has to face the sthool features and ideas, and it is not harmful. When he still continues it, he will have to to face vichaar, where suksham views will come. In the third stage, the aspirant will experience merriment and in the fourth stage, he will realise his soul, which is called asmitanugat-sampargyaat samadhi. Thereafter he gets asampargyaat samadhi, which is called salvation. So this is not the problem that one starts feelings of some outgoing and ingoing ideas or thoughts. Problem is this that whether he practices right from the beginning of ashtang yoga or not.

karuna4all> Apart from asthang yoga, what is the simplest way of meditation which could bring peace of mind and which we can do in this busy life?
Swami Ram Swarup> First of all, one should listen the shabda braham that is the preaches of vedas and shastras (holy books), which is clearly said in Shanti Parv of Mahabharat by Bhishma (53/20) that “O Yudhistar, he who becomes perfect yogi by listening the preaching of vedas, i.e. shabda braham then he only realises almighty God. In addition, one should daily do jaap of holy name of God. But at last, in one stage, he will have to do the meditation also because it is said in shastra that fundamental law of nature can never be changed.”

reeeeeeeeeee> My niece is 12 years old who has been diabetic for the past seven years and now has renal infection. She is at AIIMS now. She in bad shape please help us.
Swami Ram Swarup> This can be cured by practising the yoga. But first one will have to be learned because it is clearly said in Bhagwad Geeta by Yogeshwar Krishna: “Yogo Bhavati Dukha (6/17)”, which means that yoga practice ends all problems or sickness, etc.

siddh> Swamiji my mind is not stable. I am not able to concentrate on my studies, what should I do?
Swami Ram Swarup> You need to practice ashtang yoga, but first please listen to the preachings about yam and niyam. Yam means satya, ahinsa, astaye, bhramcharya, apariygrah and niyam means shauch, santosh, tap, svadhyaye, ishar panridhanani. Shauch means purification, santosh means heart working towards right way and religious deeds, tap means to listening to vedas, etc. Svadhayay means to read religious books which inspire salvation, and jaap. Isharvar paridhanam means faith on God and surrender the all deeds and results thereof to almighty God. Whereas ahimsa means not to harm anybody, satya means to listen to tell only the truth and the facts and qualities of God, which are true only, to be listened. Astahye means to avoid theft. Brahamcharye means to control five perceptions, five organs and mind. Aparhyigraha means that the things which are actually needed are to be gathered and used and avoid baseless and huge quantity of articles, whatever maybe. And thereafter you should awake early in the morning for a long morning walk and exercise. Thereafter you can start one day asan and pranayaam. It will give you full mental and physical energy and concentration.

karuna4all> Swamiji practicing all these things which you told right now is quite difficult for a common man in the present life, for doing so he has to take “sanyas” I think. Isn’t there any shortcut method of getting peace of mind?
Swami Ram Swarup> In shastras, it is clearly said that fundamental laws of nature can never be changed. So, traditional and eternal knowledge of the vedas, originated directly from God and thus cannot be changed. Nowadays there is a pollution, so can any scientist change the fundamental law that man can use carbondioxide in place of oxygen? Moreover studying science, and maths is essential but I think it is more difficult than learning and doing meditation, which was practiced in more than 96 percent of people in family life in past three yugas like Shri Ram, Shri Krishna, Harish Chandra, Yayati King, Ashtak, Shipt and Vikshipt, Manu bhagwan and all their public. So before starting the yoga practice, please control your mind, because only this will give you peace and a long and happy life, which is fundamental requirement of a soul. Mostly present saints who are against the vedas and yogas at their own have started saying the simplest way, which is totally against the enternal knowledge of the vedas, shastras, Geeta, Ramayan and other holy books. And in this way Tulsi has rightly said that “Dvij Shruti Bechat, Bhoop Prashasan”. So yog shastra clearly says in sutra 1/7 about four proofs, that is prataksh, anumaan, vedas and alive mantradrista yogi.

Signoff Message> Human beings, after getting birth, always try to get peace and long ill-free life but it is only attained by hard-working, present pious deeds towards a right path, and by concentration, devotion, dedication, Everybody must do this and the base of all these achievements is a study of or listing of Vedas or doing ashtang yoga practice. So, what is the future? Future is based only on the present pious deeds towards a right path. By which, we can make our nation strong also. The present type of astrology is not mentioned in vedas, 6 shastras, 11 upanishads, Bhagwad Geeta, Balmiki Ramayan, etc. So there is no proof of such astrology and without any proof, it cannot be accepted.

Bala S sent a set of questions on God, life and religion. Swamiji gave detailed reply to his questions. The conversation is, as follows:

Bala S: Pranaam Guruji, At the outset let me say that I am a Hindu by birth. I am putting across these thoughts to you not as a disrespect or to challenge you or your spiritual attainments. The intention is a hope that you will be able to show me a way out of this Jhanjhat called life.
Swami Ram Swarup: Your views are appreciated and I bless you. I would also advice you to go through whole web site where you will gain a lot of knowledge, please.

Bala S: Concept of God varies from religion to religion and from individual to individual. Some say and believe that God resides in everyone and that we are also God. How can that be true? God is that Great Power from whom the Creation has originated. What is then the comparison between the Almighty God and the helpless creature called human being? Why are the religious leaders fooling the common mass by saying that He (God) is the Ocean and we are a drop from that Ocean and hence we are also God. There is water in urine, so does that mean that urine is equivalent to Ganges water? That being the case, Hindus can take a dip in urine tank and attain moksha?
Swami Ram Swarup: Religion to religion is plural number whereas Almighty God is always in singular number. So definition of religion is made by God and not by men. In Mimansa Shashtra sutra 2 the definition of religion is — inspirations from Vedas to perform pious deeds is religion. So to study Vedas, shashtras and holy books are necessary. In chapter 3 shalok 15 Bhagwat Geeta says that all deeds (karmas) are originated from Vedas and Vedas are originated from Almighty God. Shalok 2/6 of Manusmriti says every deed is originated from Vedas. So we the individuals must study Vedas, shastras etc., first from a learned spiritual master to decide religion. But it is bad luck that based on self views the religion is being accepted boycotting the eternal knowledge ortraditional knowledge of Vedas originated direct from God at the time of first creation. So the religion and God is one. Yajurved mantra 40/1 says that there are two kinds of world. First materialistic world created by God from prakriti in the shape of sun, moon, air, mountains, human/animals/birds bodies, earth etc., etc., which is non-alive. The second world is of souls which are alive. Now the mantra says that in both the worlds almighty God is there being Omnipresent.

Mandal 10 of Rigveda and Chhandog upnishad also say that God created the universe and then became omnipresent. You think yourself also that you always says this is your nose, eyes, head etc., but you never say that you are nose, eyes, or head. So it is clear that you are not body. So you are soul resides in the body. I.e., soul is separate and body is separate. Rigveda mantra 1/164/20 says that in human body made by panch mahabhoot there live soul and God in it. So soul, can never become God or sun, moon, etc., can also not be a God being different qualities. This is proof, Samkhya muni says in sutra 2/25 of his Samkhya shashtra that the truth or any matter when is decided by means of solid proof then it can not be denied merely based on self thinking. Because Vedas are eternal proof so the knowledge of Vedas can not be denied.

God has created ocean therefore God can not be a ocean. In ocean there is water and the drop of water can be separated from ocean being non-alive too but God is not a non alive ocean, he is alive, omnipresent, almighty, beyond description and beyond calculation so how we are able to calculate and describe God as ocean and soul as drop, when God is beyond description and calculation? Water can be divided into drop but God is always undivided. To consider soul as a drop of ocean first soul will have to be treated a non-alive element. And God will have also to be treated as a non-alive element like water which is always impossible. We have to worship the creator and not creation. So the example of ocean and drop which are non alive is fundamentally wrong in respect of almighty God who is omnipresent and Alive. But ocean and water drop do not have these qualities. So Tulsi in his Ramayan truly says in Uttrakand verse 100 (kha) that the worship of almighty God explained in four Vedas with ascetics has been left in this kaliyug due to worldly attachment instead self created worship and path have been made against four Vedas.

Bala S:Has any living being seen God? Can anyone from the other side come and tell us if they have seen God and how God looks like? The answer is a big No. If you really believe in what you preach and you are confident that your thoughts and beliefs about God have matured and that they are not going to change, then my challenge to your respected self is:
Swami Ram Swarup: Only a yogi like Vyas muni, Vishwamitra, Guru Vashisht who knew four Vedas and did ashtang yoga practice realised God and the yogi in the same category can only realise God at present because tradition can not be changed.

Bala S: (1) Have you seen God? If yes, then can you let me know and also help me to see Him?
Swami Ram Swarup: In Keno Upanishad it is said that God is he for which the voice is unable to describe but God creates the voice. Secondly if someone says that he knows God then he knows God little bit only. But if someone says that he does not know God then really he has known.

Bala S: (2) In the material world every action has an equal and opposite reaction and everything can be quantified. If I throw a stone on the glass, it breaks, if I heat water it boils, if I freeze water it become ice. Likewise, on the spiritual side can you suggest something like chanting a Mantra n number of times, or singing a bhajan or calling out a specific Godhead or some such thing which will result in a specific result that can be measured and quantified. Your answer to the questions will help restore my confidence in our religious practices and God.
Swami Ram Swarup: The realisation of God or its practice to realise can not be measured. But Yoga shashtra sutra 1/23 says that if you based on study of vedas, believe on God or has full faith on God and surrender all the result of pious deeds to God then there are chances of realisation of God. Chanting of holy name of God—Om and Gayatri mantra makes our mind purify and help us to realise God.

Bala S: My next question – Who is happy in this world? Take the Americans, the Russians, we Indians, the Pakistanis, the Europeans – no one is happy.
Swami Ram Swarup: In Yoga shashtra sutra 1/24, it is said that God has not to bear the result of any deed, God is away from any problem etc., therefore he is always merriment or pleased. So he who worship God and after sometime realises him, that person is always otherwise whole world is in worry, sickness, problems, corruption, fourtwenty, etc., etc. and therefore without real worship of God no one can be happy. Doesn’t matter if he has assets and sons even more than Ravan, Duryodhan, Kans, Napoleon, Aurangjeb etc.

Bala S: The healthy is not happy because he envies the rich, the rich is not happy because he is not healthy, the poor is not happy because he is neither rich nor healthy. The beautiful is not happy because it is not permanent, the ugly is not happy because it is not beautiful. A student is not happy because he has to study, an employee is unhappy because he has to work, an unemployed is unhappy because he does not have work. Man with two eyes is unhappy seeing all the wrong doings around him, a blind is unhappy because he cannot see. Yesterday was unhappy, today is unhappy – can tomorrow be happy? When no one is happy in this world, then what for has God created this world. Does it mean that God is a Sadist sitting and enjoying all this fun? Might, as well it is high time He calls it a day and pull the curtains so that all the living beings are saved this miserable existence. Let the scattered drops get back into the ocean and let us all enjoy the oneness.
Swami Ram Swarup: So happiness is not based on organs or materialistic articles. Soul is separate and organs and body is separate. If anyone sees good sight from eye then it means he (soul) is pleased through eye. Similar is the case for all organs. But Vedas, shashtras says when an aspirant controls all organs ,all perceptions and mind then he realises himself (soul) and afterwards he realises God, gets salvation i.e., permanent pleasure.

Rahul: Recently a Muslim friend of mine is spamming my mailbox with verses of the Vedas and bhavishya purana saying Allah and prophet Muhammad is prophesied in them. Since I do not have proper knowledge of Sanskrit and am thoroughly confused could you please help me translate the verses?

Rigveda bk no 2 hymn 1 verse 11, he says which mentions ila and is pronounced as Allah. I know this sounds stupid argument but could you help me with the meaning of ila?

Atharvaveda book 20. hymn 21.verses 1 to 7.

sitara> Swamiji which is the right time and way to do Pranayam? What are the benefits that one gets from doing pranayam?
Swami Ram Swarup: Pranayam clears all the clots of the veins and resists the senses which go out and come i.e. control on all the senses and perceptions to enable us to get us salvation. Meditation afterwards too gives us final liberation. Meditation is the seventh stage of Astang Yoga whereas Pranayam is fourth. The best time of doing Pranayam is 4 am in the morning and after 7 pm in the evening. But it must be regular and asanas must be done before doing Pranayam. Pranayam gives us mental as well as physical strength and final liberation too with a long happy life.

akshay> Which asanas do you recommend we do before doing meditation and for how long?
Swami Ram Swarup: At least 8 to 10 asana must be done before doing Pranayam i.e. Sidh, Padam, Uttang, Tiddi, Sarp, Ardhmatasyandra, Bhujang, Hal, Sarvang and Gupt asanas. Each asana must be done for at least 2 minutes.

bawa> Do you honestly think that any one who takes full breath through stomach and laughs with open heart needs yoga/dhanya? Why go technical then, instead tell them the basics?
Swami Ram Swarup: Definitely yes. Because full breath and laugh is emotional action but Pranayam is a yoga philosophy, which gives us long happy life with salvation. Whereas full breath and laugh is not worship like yoga.

marc> I have read many of your answers before in which you advised that yogasans should be done at a specific time in order to give a good result. However, due to my bad schedule, I am not able to do them at a specific time. I have not missed a single day of asanas and pranayams in almost last one year but I have not done at a specific time. Is it ok to do them like this or they should only be done at a specific time?
Swami Ram Swarup: But specific time will give you the good result only. However, you please continue because you will be attaining something for sure. God has made morning and evening time, as mentioned in SamVeda: “Dosha Vasthah Dive Dive”. That is, morning and evening, and daily.

reena> How long should one meditate everyday? If I am not able to concentrate one day should I do the entire stipulated duration or should I give a break then and try later?
Swami Ram Swarup: In this connection, no break is required because it is spiritualism. Like we cannot take break in our daily food-taking. Morning one and a half hour, and evening the same time daily is required in family life. And for sanyasi it is more.

rimmee> If someone wants to learn from you swamiji, where should they get in touch with you? Do you take shishya’s also? What is the duration of the course and the charges?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, please. You can contact me on http://www.vedmandir.com. And before coming, you can make telephonic conversation, and first duration of learning yoga takes at least 15 days. No charges please. If you want, you can give a donation.

veena> Swamiji is it possible to break free from the karmic cycle? What should one do to achieve this?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes, it is 100 percent possible by worship, yajna and more astang yoga. Otherwise, there will be no use of human life. Ravan, Diryodhan, etc. could not worship and could not manage to free from karmas. Whereas, rishis, munis, and disciples were out of their karmic cycle due to the true spiritual path adopted by them. The philosophy of karmas is very vast and must be learned through an experienced spiritual yogi who knows four vedas and yoga philosophy (in experience).

Signoff Message> So one success is harmful, that is materialistic, or spiritual. Both success and knowledge is required for maintaining international brotherhood, social services, and making a strong nation.

Q 1) How does meditation help us in relieving stress?
Swami Ram Swarup: Meditation means: to reach at the seventh stage of Ashtang Yoga. That is, right from the beginning, yam, niyam, aasam, pranayam, pratyahar, dharna, dhyan… Dhyan means meditation. Yam, niyam purifies us by means of our daily routine, satya, ahimsa, astaye, bhramcharya, etc. When we reach at aasan, yoga-aasan, the aasan purify our body. Next is pranayam, whose practice purifies our mind, and all types of arteries and veins, etc. Then comes pratyahar, which stops us to do anything wrong or against religion or ved-shastras. When we have achieved all these qualities then from where depression will come? When our body is purified, when our mind (man, buddhi, chitta, ahankar) is purified by means of yoga practice, then from where any illness, depression, or sorrows will enter? Meditation is the next stage after pratyahar where we try to realize God, being purified. Because we have been purified by the practice of Yoga, as said before. And God is also purified, and he loves purification, and he thus showers all merriment, pleasure, long-life, etc. when we do Yoga practice. There is no alternative of Yoga philosophy.

Q 2) Inorder to practice yoga and meditation is it necessary to have a guru?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes. When the world is created, then unsexual shristi (world) is created by God as mentioned in Mandal 10, Sutra 129 of Rig Veda. At that time, no learned person is available because all have left their bodies in the previous earth. So there is only one learned, who is almighty God. So he gives us knowledge as a Guru in the shape of four Vedas, mentioned in 31st chapter of Yajurveda. So, also, Patanjali Rishi in Yoga Darshan, Sutra 1/26 says that God is our first Guru at the time of creation. Thereafter alive Rishis, Munis have been giving knowledge as a Guru because until and unless knowledge is given by anybody else, no knowledge can be attained. As newly born baby, if nursed in a densy jungle cave, and is not given any language or knowledge he cannot be a learned at the age of 25 or 80. So Guru is required, but learned Guru is required who knows the Vedas, Yogas, fully. This is fundamental law of God and cannot be changed. And this law is mentioned in Vedas, Shashtras, Gita, Ramayan, etc. everywhere. But we must be aware of false prophets nowadays.

Q 3) I read somewhere that you are an engineer by profession so how did this transformation happened?
Swami Ram Swarup: I was fond of meeting with the Saints right from the beginning of my childhood. So, in my services too, I used to be alone in jungle or in home, or while posting to Ladakh, or Rajouri Punj sector, and used to study Upanishad, Gita, and used to do Yoga practice. I was met with a great Yogi whom I searched in the densy jungle of Rishikesh, who actually gave me Ashtang Yoga philosophy. So, from the childhood, I have been touched with spiritualism. My father was also in Army, who was also a spiritual person. So, when I became totally ascetic, I got my premature retirement after rendering 26 years service. I am pentioner too. So, when felt one way, and he become addict thereof, he gets the Goal at last. I also discharged my family duties, settled them and side by side I did Yoga hard practice. My disciples know, I used to awake early 2:00 o clock, and continuously used to do Yoga, and in the evening, it repeats. The main aim of the human being to get long-life and peace and to build nation strong is to do realize God. I still serving the people and the nation by donating Yog-vidya and inspiring public to discharge their duties towards family and nation. And in my books, written by me, these preaches exist.

Q 4) Swamiji, is it wrong to wish for wordly happiness and how does one know whether what one is wishing for is right or wrong for him/her? how does one know that what it is wishing for is there for the person in this birth or not? can one know oneself with astrology? is there any limitation to one’s self relisation?
Swami Ram Swarup: Our shastras want proof. As Yog shastras asked for proof to know whether it is wrong path or right path. The main proof is proof of four vedas. So whatever we say for services to people, nation or God, etc., it should be mentioned in Vedas. So if it is according to the Vedas, that is true, otherwise it is wrong. Astrology is not mentioned in the four Vedas, Shastras and Geeta, etc. The luck is only based on hard-working, pious deeds, cooperation, towards a right path say Vedas, Shastras and Holy books. Self-realization is to be attained because we have been blessed by almighty God for the same. If we are failed, then life is ruined. We will have to face our karmas as per the karmas of our previous births. To remove the effect of our previous bad deeds, worship, yoga-practice is needed. Salvation is self-realization.

Q 5) There are many stress reliving methods, why is meditation most talked about?
Swami Ram Swarup: Because meditation, which is fully known as Ashtang Yoga, being 8 path of the same (that is yam, niyam, aasan, pranayam, pratyahar, dharna, dhyan and samadhi) has been preached by the Almighty God in the vedas. So, when in comparison of God, who is almighty, and one for the whole of the world, there is no other God. He is neither born, or will be born. So, there is no alternation of Yoga Philosophy. God is supreme. Sun has been made by God. No other people can make such Sun. So Yoga has been preached by God, so no other alternation of Yoga can be preached by anybody else because nobody can be bigger than God. Almighty means, God has all powers and needs no assistant. Whereas mankind needs assistance. We are soul. Soul needs assistance to see (from eye), to hear (from ear), and so on.

Q 6) What is the perfect way to do meditation?
Swami Ram Swarup: Perfect way of meditation is mentioned fully in Vedas and thereafter briefed by Patanjali Rishi in Yoga Darshan, but until and unless an alive Yogi is met, no Yoga philosphy can be taught. So the perfect way is to search a learned Yogi. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda that an alive Yogi is required. God has briefed and praised Yogi in all four Vedas. It is very sad that nowadays most of the saints are telling that Yoga, Vedas and Yajna is needed not. This is against Indian eternal culture. So alive Yogi is only required to know the perfect way of Yoga philosphy and that Yogi must be learned of four Vedas and philospher of Yoga, like Vyasak muni, Vasisht muni, Kapil muni, and Rajrishis like King Janak, Dashrath, Harishchandra, Yayati, Ashtak, and the public thereof. So in the presence of a learned Yogi, the Yoga philosphy is achieved. This is for all family-holders as well as non-family holders, because our all Rishis munis, and all family-members, even Shri Ram and Shri Krishna, did Yoga practice while in family. So, it is very rough to say that Yoga is not for married personnel. Actually Yoga is meant for whole of the world. Being preached by Almighty God, who nurses the world creation. When sun, moon, air, water, etc. and every article of the world is applicable by all human beings, that is Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, etc. then why not Vedas and Yoga? – which is also made by God. So Vedas and Yoga is not a sect, and must be accepted by all human beings faithfully, as adopted in previous 3 periods – satyug, dvapar, treta.

Q 7) What causes jeevatma to become attached to materialistic articles (prakrati)? You had said that “Satsangatwe Nihisangatwam”. What can be done to cure this attachment if we cannot get Satsang often?
Swami Ram Swarup: The jivatma is attached with its nature of Parishwangdharmi. Without satsang nothing can be achieved.

Q 8) How successful has your philosophy and unique negative approach been for the advancement of Hinduism? What is your modus oprendi?
Swami Ram Swarup: The Vedas and Yoga philosophy has been successful. First of all, for me, because I have felt pleasure like everything and I am away from every kind of dirt and illusion. And the same is being preached by me to my disciples, who have also achieved a lot. And at Internet also, so many answers I receive, in which they say that they are satisfied and they have solved their problems. And this philosphy has also promote the brotherhood internationally, that is why I had tours of America, Singapore, and Indonesia, and specially all religions respect this philosphy. My approach is according to the four Vedas, six Shastras, Geeta, Ramayan. And the Vedas being eternal knowledge of God, so cannot be negative approach. So my way is to preach Vedas and every religious preach by writing books, articles in magazines and newspaper, personal speaks, and daily worship by Yajna and spiritual songs. And I am satisfied for the same, and this approach does not deny other religious philosphy. So, it is not a negative approach being according to eternal knowledge of four vedas.

Q 9)I have done Reiki and meditation both, but sometimes they both are not able to help me relax. What should I do? Am I doing something wrong?
Swami Ram Swarup: The right way I have already told that there is Ashtang Yoga in the world preached by God in the Vedas. So you will get the good result when you will start right from the beginning. That is yam, niyam, pranayam, etc. But, nowadays, so many kinds of Yoga are being taught, like Hathyoga, Sahajyoga, and Laya-yoga, etc. But in Vedas there is only one Yoga.

Q 10) Swamiji, how can one stay away from the fear of ghosts? Does meditation provide any solution to this?
Swami Ram Swarup: Ghost is not on the Vedas. This you can treat illusion of psychological effect, so when we will study Vedas and will become learned automatically this fear is over. Yes, proper meditation also makes a man understand that there is no any ghost. Because the Yoga philosphy will be preached by a learned Yogi, where he will preach Vedas knowledge also, which will clear the doubt of ghost. Already I talked that Vedas asked proof. When there is no any proof in Vedas, Shastras, Upanishads, Geeta, regarding ghosts, so it is not true.

Q 11) Why do good people always suffer and evil prosper, sometimes it makes me wonder if there’s a god or not….
Swami Ram Swarup: This is all due to the result of our previous births’ deeds, which oftenly are not known by everybody. Yajurveda says, human being does deeds and result is awarded by God. So, unnecessarily God does not give problems to human beings. The problem is only due to our own karmas. There are three types of karmas – sanchit, prarabdha, and kriyavan. Kriyavan is important, because kriyavan karmas are being done presently and if we do pious deeds presently, like worship, Yoga, etc. then we become able to finish all the previous karmas, and become happy, because we then have no karmas to face. The karma philosphy is to be understood. Ravan was a King and happy, but destroyed. Similarly, Duryodhan, Kansa, Aurangzeb, etc.

Q 12) Is meditation more effective if done at a specific time?
Swami Ram Swarup: Yes please. The time of meditation must be selected and it must be faithful if it is four o clock early in the morning first. And then can be selected in the evening. Minimum 10 aasans must be done daily and pranayam thereon. Spiritual books should be read. So, the Yoga practice done at the correct time daily is more useful than the disturbed times.

Closing message:
Swami Ram Swarup: We are all human beings and must respect each religion and personnel, and promote brotherhood internationally. Yoga and Veda is not a “mazhab”, being preached by God of all human beings and God is also not a “mazhab”. God has created universe, sun, moon, air, etc. which are being used by all human being, keeping aside the sects, and the castes. So the Vedas and Yoga must be accepted by all human beings for a long, happy, life, which everybody want.

The original name of Vyas Munni was Krishan Dwipayan son of Rishi Prashar and mother Satyawati. He did tapsya and learnt four Vedas traditionally from Rishi and enlighted. At that time no other modren religions raised and there was only four Vedas the knowledge direct from God originated in the heart of Agni, Vaayu, Aditya and Angira originated at the time of creation. Vedas knowledge from mouth to mouth and heart to heart. That is why Patanjali Rishi in his Yoga shashtra says in Sutra 1/26 that Almighty God is the first Guru of our ancient Rishis named above. Vedas are not books this knowledge was mouth to mouth by heart. First time in Dwapur approximately 5300 years back Vyas Muni wrote the Vedas on Bhoj patra and when press came then Vedas were published. It is a fundamental law that untill knowledge is given it cannot be attained by others. When first time universe is created then there become no Guru who could give knowledge to the whole illterate personal of the universe. So God is our first Guru who gives Vedas knowledge to four Rishis and uptill now the Rishis, Munis who knew and knows (at present) Vedas becomes our Gurus. This is fundamental and can not be changed at our own accord. Kapil Muni in Samkhya shastra sutra 2/25 clearly says that the truth based on eternal proof from Vedas can not be denied merely based on our own baseless thinking.

Still if we nurse new born baby in a densy cave of a jungle and do not give him any knowledge then even in the age of 25 or thirty he will not be able to speak and to tell any name of materialistic articles mother or father. Because he was not taught. At the time of creation the whole man or woman in the unsexual world become totally illiterate because the learned Rishi Muni of previous universe which is destroyed are not available in the new creation. So only Almighty God gives knowledge of Vedas to the four Rishis named above. This is fundamental and but natural under law of God at the time of eachcreation. Thus the Rishis studied the Vedas traditionally and got knowledge about Prakriti from whom world is created, jivatma(soul) and God. And endless knowledge of every matter in the universe mentioned in Vedas so our previous Rishis were real scientist too. After getting knowledge grom Vedas the six shashtras, upnishads, Bhagwat Geeta and other holy books were written.

1. Nyay shashtra is written by Mahrishi Gautam. This shashtra has five chapters (538 sutras) in which he has explained 16 matter for obtaining final liberation by which we reach to our motto that is called Nyay. Nyay shashtra mostly explains general knowledge and solutions of problems.Details about soul and salvation and the knowledge of the Almighty God. Butmainly this shashtra says about 16 matters as a proof cited above. Now a days mostly the saints do not give proof of Vedas, mantras whatever they say based on their study and listening which is sin. Manu Smriti shalok 255 chapter 4 says —-YEHA ANYATHA SANTMATMANAMANYATHA——that he who says baselessly (without proof of Vedas) he is thief of his own soul. So based on the knowledge of the four Vedas Rishis wrote shashtras etc., otherwise they could not.

2. Vaishashik shashtra is written by Maharishi Kannad. Rishi means he who has got full knowledge of four Vedas and ashtang yoga but it is astonished that most of the modern saints do not know abc about yoga and Vedas but they write themselves Braham Rishi. Vaishashik Shashtra has 10 chapters (370 sutras). In this shashtra details of six matters, nine dravya, 14 qualities five type of karmas etc., are given and it says that dharms that by which param sukh (pleasure) of this birth and after leaving this body (lok and parlok) is attained.

3. Samkhya shashtra is written by Kapil Muni (6 chapters and 451 sutras) which says about Prakriti, Raj ,tam, sat guna describing 25 main matters. And the main purpose of our birth is to kill sorrows, problems tensions,etc., ( three types of taap i.e., sorrows) to attain salvation.

4. Yoga shashtra is written by Patanjali Rishi (4 paad and 194 sutras) which explains about ashtang yoga i.e., yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar, dharna, dhayan and samadhi, the real way to attain the salvation.

5. Mimansa shashtra is written by Maharishi Gaimini (12 chapters 60 paad, 2731 sutras). This shashtra says that religion is only known by studying the Vedas because Vedas are the self proof being eternal knowledge of Almighty God.

6. Vedanta shashtra is written by Maharishi Vyas (4 chapters, 555 sutras) this shastra says about God. Vedanta means the last chapter of Vedas. It says that we all human beings must follow the right path of Vedas to do worship of Almighty God to get final liberation.

So main object of all the six shashtras is to realise God while discharging moral duties and the knowledge in these shashtras is 100% from four Vedas which every Rishi has told in his respective shashtras. The subjects are different but the motto andviews of all the shashras are one i.e., to realise God which is main motto of four Vedas. Vedas have so many subjects but Rishis has taken one subject from Vedas in their respective shashtra. So shashtras are not contradictory as usually most of the modren saints say. Full knowledge of the Vedas can not be written in one life being so vast and deep so every Rishi haschosen one small subject from Veda’s vast knowledge. There is no any modren shashtra written by anybody else who is a philosopher of Vedas like Vyas or Kapil Muni etc.

Beneficial are only four Vedas, thereafter shashtras etc.

VIPARYAYO MITHYAGYANAM ATADROOPPRATISHTHAM (1/8)
Word Meaning:
Atad- not real;
roop-form;
pratishtham-established;
Mithyagyanam-false knowledge;
Viparyayaha-false knowledge.

MEANING:
Which is not established in the matter that false knowledge is Viparyaya.

Viparyaya means false knowledge. Therefore Viparyaya Vritti is untrue and is not accepted as a proof. For example— In the darkness with few lights we see a rope and doubtfully we consider the rope as a snake. But in fact neither the form of snake did not establish in the rope nor rope itself a snake. But to see the snake in the rope or in the rope we see the form of snake is Viparyaya Vritti i.e., false knowledge. This Vritti is not true and as such is not acceptable as a proof, because when the rope will be seen in the light then the false knowledge will be over and true knowledge is realized that this is rope and is not snake.

Therefore the Viparyaya Vritti of the Chitta is of false knowledge and cannot be considered as a proof. So we can say that the matter which is having its real form and if its real form is not seen in it, then it is called Viparyaya Vritti.
For-example- human body and whole matter of the world are mortal, but due to the attraction and being indulged in illusion we consider the same immortal.

It is due to Chitta’s Viparyaya Vritti which gives sorrows and if an aspirant become an ascetic knowing the word mortal and thus the aspirant starts worshipping God or practicing Ashtang Yoga, then this is Chitta’s Aklishta Viparyaya Vritti which gives no sorrows. We must always think that our forefathers have gone to the final resting place but could not take a single pie with them. But due to the effect of this Klishta Viparyaya Vritti up till the point of death the man or woman remains after the materialistic world. So the Yoga Practice enables an aspirant to remove the effect of Klishta Viparyaya Vritti for attaining Salvation. The description of Vikalpa Vritti will follow.