Are there any spiritually enlightened people living today?

There are many enlightened people around, at least I can say it confidently here in Uttarakhand Himalayas, where I live.

I can tell you an interesting story about how I met my guru.

His disciples know him by different names, Shri Paroksh yogi ji, guru ji etc. but these are not his real names.

When I met my guru ji in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand India, I had preconceived notions about how a “realised guru” should look like or behave. I used to consider my self an expert in spirituality by reading advance level scriptures & books.

My Guru destroyed all my borrowed knowledge and made me realise that “spiritual ego” is the worst kind of ego and a strong barrier in the path of spirituality.

If you want to progress, leave your so called knowledge aside and meet the enlightened master like a blank canvas. Honestly, a true guru or master would not make you learn new things, but he will use some smart & weird techniques to help you un-learn all the trash you have learned since birth.

Once, I went on a trekking expedition in Himalayan region and a local guide was with me.

At the base, from where the trek was supposed to start, me and my guide were having our breakfast.

We were also waiting for the owner of the trekking company (sir ji) because he was supposed to bring our dome tents.

At the food stall, a sadhu was also sitting on a nearby table who was making his chillum (pipe used for smoking marijuana) .

After a few drags, he asked us where we were headed to and we started a conversation.

Sir ji also came after some time in his car and joined us.

Interestingly, as soon as the sadhu saw his car arriving he stopped smoking & kept his chillum aside (probably out of respect).

Later on during the conversation, I was boasting off my knowledge about deep spiritual aspects like : How we all are ‘one’ and everyone is one single God (ahambrahmasmi, shivoham etc.)

I was surprised to see, that few moments ago sadhu (being high) was talking non stop about spirituality but after arrival of sirji, he was only listening and I was on the talking mode.

All were listening to me silently, except sirji who was busy on his mobile and he was smiling too.

It annoyed me a bit, because his smile was making me feel like a fool, however I am not sure whether he was smiling because of my talks or something else.

I asked him: “It looks like you are not interested in such conversations. May I ask, are you an atheist?”

He smiled and said: “I am interested in everything”

Sadhu intervened : “Guruji is like bhole nath. He knows everything, but he talks less and listens to all.”

After a few days and many conversations I came to know that, although he lives like any modern man would live, he is a realised man.

Now, when I think about this incident, I first met with him, I feel so ashamed that I was such an idiot in front of such an enlightened being.

Even that sadhu knew about him, hence he stopped talking in front of him.

He doesn't make anyone his disciple easily, because he only wants committed people around and not the casual seekers.

He believes that there was a strong reason why this ancient inner science was always kept as a secret, so that only deserving ones get access to it.

He says there is no need for him to come out in public and when the time comes he would prefer to take samadhi without telling anyone.

I believe that is a beautiful way to live & go.

I have not mentioned his real name here because he says, a seeker who is ready for the next step & who is meant to meet him, will find him easily and I respect his privacy.

He is not like any traditional guru and encourages us to live with family because that is more challenging, also he says our vibes should benefit nearby people too.

The best part is, he never asks you to follow any rules or regulations regarding your diet, routine etc. and never asks you to leave anything, because he says suppressing your desires will only enhance them.

He makes you experience a pleasure which is way bigger than what normal people chase in daily life, hence automatically we choose the higher pleasure without suppressing any desires.

He says, Shaiv tradition of India will gradually spread through out the world because it is not a religion which needs rules or regulations.

It is not a ‘belief’ system and purely based on ‘seeking’ the truth within. It is a pure science of spirituality which is contemporary and regardless of what type of person you are, you can still follow it without compromising on your current beliefs.

He says:

The almighty supreme conciousness is everywhere.

How far do you think you are from the God or supreme consciousness?

How much time should it take to realise the true self within you?

Only your mind is making this complicated, otherwise there is no barrier between ‘You’ & ‘God.’

He has numerous different types of meditation techniques and based on the type of person you are, he offers the technique accordingly.

How I convinced him to accept me as his disciple is a different story and I might share it in future. (In fact he made me believe that I am convincing him, but he had chosen me as his disciple way before I even thought about it) .

He has a clear instruction for me, although he allowed me to share my experience publicly after several requests, but I have to remain anonymous and I love that.

Because being his followers, we are away from the temptation of being famous.

Nowadays, many people claim to be enlightened and start commercialising spirituality by just reading few books.

The question is, are they sharing the knowledge which they got ‘experientially’ or they just read about it?

He says:

“One shouldn't consider himself / herself spiritual, till the time you are still seeking pleasures outside. It also doesn't mean that you should leave everything & live in the forest. Live like all other humans in the world, but become so blissful inside that outside situations don't mean anything to you. When 'who am I?’ becomes a burning question and you are ready to die now to feel it, then you can call yourself spiritual.”

Now coming to the question, how to identify the enlightened master?

Honestly, you cannot identify a master easily, unless he himself wants to be identified.

They are free from any kind of identity and usually they do not claim to be enlightened.

But my guru says, a free man can do anything he wants and there can't be any stereotype.

He often says, one should not judge any person whether he is enlightened or not because only an enlightened person can tell the difference.

A realised being just plays a role in the ‘dream’ called life in whatever way he/she likes. It might be a negative role, positive role or a neutral one. (For them it's just another dream playing)

Even Ravana was a realised being (hence Shiva declared him as his greatest devotee) and he played a negative role in the 'dream play' due to circumstances, because of which he is still hated by many people, but Lord Ram knew this hence he asked his brother to touch Ravana's feet to take blessings in the end, before he got 'Mukti'.

Similarly, you cannot judge realised beings like Rishi Durvaasa, Parshuram ji etc. by analysing their aggressive nature.

Recent examples are Shri Ramana Maharishi and Shri Nisargdatta Maharaj, both appeared to have different types of personalities at the surface level.

Shri Ramana used to stay silent most of the time, however Shri Nisargdatta had an aggressive way of sharing knowledge, but deep within both were abiding in the same ocean of silence, fragrance of which has been felt by many.

Hence, you cannot judge or identify a realised being by looking at his activities, because they are 'acting and playing their roles' in the dream, completely knowing inside that all this is just an illusion.

Sometimes, I used to feel, if I would not have gone for that trek, I would have missed such a life changing experience.

But now I know, it was meant to happen hence I was there, nothing is coincidence in this cosmos..

The reason I am sharing all this information here is, those who are feeling lost on spiritual path should not loose hope.

There are many “hidden dormant seeds” in the society who just need a rainfall to sprout (if you know what I mean).

Although I will not give any specific information about these yogis, but I can tell you how you can make yourself so capable, that you will attract your guru in your life soon.

Which might happen where you live or your guru might attract you to their place (believe me they can easily do that…)

Here is your mantra:

The best way to find an enlightened master is by a focused desire to know your true self.

Increase your fire of hunger to know your true self and this fire will cleanse your mind to make you ready for your Guru.

A realised master is basically a manifestation of your own true self…

When you are focused & ready to dig inside, your own ‘true self' will manifest himself into a Guru for you!

I can't reveal more :)

May you live a blissful life…