The meeting started with chanting, followed by a brief presentation of all participants.

We discussed Sunyoga practice in the absence of the Sun during winter when living in a place closer to the polar regions. The Sun is always available, even if the clouds shade it. We can still practice Sun Meditation, and other alternative meditations are also helpful for our Sadhana.

Next, it was asked if Brahma Murtham changes in winter when sunrise changes. It was concluded it stays the same throughout the year, from 3:00 am-5:00 am. Brahma Muhurta is the time with the highest energy level for meditation during the day, the peak energy time for the lungs. 

The group discussed what we could do to keep committed to our practice and said that writing down a schedule helps and planning to do the activities together in a group. Then it was mentioned that it is essential to write a diary, including goals for success. This detail shows the difference between successful and unsuccessful people. Other examples shared were doing social work, attending Satsang, and reading inspiring books. 

A question was raised about how the practice of walking meditation is done as Sunyogi did in the Himalayas. Swamiji explained that meditation takes longer than Sun Meditation to free the mind from thoughts and get the internal connection. However, he accomplished this and lost the sense of coldness in that cold environment, feeling oneness, comfortness, and inner peace. He had no expectations, the mind was surrendered to Cosmos, and he could do deeper searching. His walking pace increased naturally until he had a balanced speed without thinking about how that happened. This could never happen if not for the basic Yama, Niyama, and Asana that were in place for him.

His walking journey was also a kind of meditation but with a clear intention to it, testing and gaining more experience on Universal Peace and Global Family. It was more about gaining knowledge instead of creating imaginary beliefs. It takes strong discipline, but when you are ready, Nature will challenge you and encounter critical harmful situations you have the confidence to solve. For meditation, 100% awareness is necessary.

The purpose of the Satsang was discussed. It was concluded that it should be open for anyone to join, provided they have a severe and sincere interest in Sunyoga and do not divert the group’s mind elsewhere.

The participants talked about plans for workshops in the upcoming Springtime. Due to uncertainties of the current situation, workshops in Europe can not be determined yet. Preliminary plans in India for forthcoming workshops have been done for several courses before Sunyogi leaves on his 3-year retreat.

Jonathan asked how we can adjust to ongoing friction and changes in the world. He felt a sense of urgency as the conflicts seemed to escalate. As a result, some may question if it is sustainable to have a peaceful future at one’s current place of living, which might be in turmoil. You may think of moving to a place of peace like India and UPC ashram or another place of higher consciousness. Or do we need to become stronger and manage to live where we are? 

Sunyogi explained that where we live does matter, but inner peace is the most important. It will not matter where we live if we don’t have inner peace. We will bring our unsettled minds there and become unhappy. If we can not purify our inner land, where we are, nowhere can we refine it. 

If we choose to live near the river, this will be ten times a better place, if at the mountain tops, even ten times better, near the ocean, additionally ten times better, and even better if we choose to live near both sea and mountains together. However, the absolute best is when the mind is still satisfied and self-content. Where to live is not as important in India, the USA, or Europe. Our inner land is essential. Of course, India has much natural protection and a good atmosphere, as long as we can protect ourselves. In our motherland, how could we successfully do it anywhere else if we do not defend ourselves and our inner Nature? The most important thing is the internal land.

We need to take care of our motherland and respect it. There is a reason we are in our motherland, and we need to figure out how we can help it. If not, how can we respect other motherlands? If so, we lack something in our spiritual journey and may fall. We need to raise our awareness to bring Universal peace. 

Our ignorance creates corruption; our ignorance allows corrupt people and organizations to grow. If we cannot remove our ignorance, we cannot be safe anywhere. If our ignorance is removed everywhere, we will be protected. Around, we would feel like we are at home. The Cosmos covers all countries, the whole of Humanity. Most important is our inner heart. 

Sunyogi shared his revelations received from Babaji at his most recent retreat. He acquired more profound knowledge and comprehension of Asuras (evil) and Devas (divine) forces. The relationship between them is very close, and they share many attributes. Like humans, most of our DNA is the same; we only differ to a small extent. Devas and Asuras are similar; both are good meditators or Sadhaks. The difference is how they are balanced. Asuras have no patience; they want to eat the fruits as fast as possible, and by this, they are breaking the natural law. They spoil the fruits, rotting everything around them and bringing massive pain to their lives. Devas are constant and patient, respectful of Nature to offer fruits when the time comes, eventually returning to their dom.

Then are Devas and God the same? Devas dwell in Sahasrara Chakra; they are our intellect, mind, and discrimination of knowledge (Viveka) and are always trying to connect to Nature. Muladhara Chakra is the place for Asuras; they are our emotions. When they are too much out of balance, we forget our intellect and surrender to emotions, sex, anger, greed, and addiction. We lose our pure thoughts, and the Asuras win. We are protected if the mind and emotions are still balanced in Deva’s place. Yet both Asuras and Devas are needed. The Asuras, evil energy is required to prevent us from laziness. We need someone to kick our back, and they are sending us a repelling force in the right direction. Without those emotions, we would stay in one place. So feelings are not wrong; extreme uncontrolled emotions are. They are essential to us and necessary for a peaceful life, but they must be controlled and balanced. Then feelings are our friends and protect us. Sometimes, the feeling goes higher, sometimes intellect goes more elevated, or vice versa. This is not the solution. Meditation with Newton’s 3rd law is a solution; every action has an equal and opposite resolution.

What is God’s place? When intellect and emotions are neutral, a peaceful atmosphere and inner feeling will be awakened, we expand to Cosmic Nature, and a rhythm starts in Anahata Chakra. Sun Meditation is how we can have the capacity to balance our Sasrahara Chakra and Muladhara Chakra. 

Suppose that Asura represents the forces of the Western world and Devas the East. If we are not balanced ourselves, East and West cannot connect. Devas and Asuras, Sahasrara and Muladhara, both need to connect. They need a bridge to balance their qualities, the inner and outer world. When removing all darkness, our inner life starts blooming. We create an electromagnetic field, and we become like a magnet. Our darkroom has lit up. As a result, whenever darkness comes from outside, it is automatically dissolved and cannot exist inside to disturb us. We are enlightened inside, whatever atmosphere and country we live in.