Yogi Ashwini

While taking a look at any house, any city or country, you will come across many people who lead a similar life and share same problems — health, finances, relationships and emotions.

This is what defines a man in kalyug. His deepest concerns do not go beyond an out-of-shape body, a chronic illness, loss in business, unsatisfactory vocation, marital discord, or an emotional void. The real problem, however, is rooted in selfishness. Selfishness has veiled the vision of man. The man of kalyug sees everything from the point of view of what can he gain. His business mindset has not even spared the energy world; there too he attempts to strike a profitable deal.
Ganesha is often viewed as the elephant-god whose worship will rid you of problems and bring material comfort. And primarily for this reason, every house, every office, every vehicle today sports an idol of Ganesha.
But this is a misconception. Ganesha is the lord of physical creation; the gatekeeper to subtler dimensions. In this heyday of negativity, he is entrusted with the task of letting in only a true seeker and keeping out selfish people by engaging them in material pursuits. So the only way to access the energy of Ganesha is through selflessness, and that will rid you of your problems on its own.
When I ask people to turn from selfishness to selflessness, nobody understands. Their senses do not let them understand it. Limited by the sensory pleasures, they are unable to think beyond material gains. It is same as the case of a little girl: No matter how much you tell her to leave her doll behind, and that there are far greater pleasures in the world, she refuses to part with it.
You must understand that the creation is not run on selfishness. Sun gives away heat and light, rivers distribute water, winds blow, Earth bears plants and animals. Nothing is stagnant, nothing is stationary and nothing is for the individual self. Everything exists to aid creation. Any individual who goes against creation, leading his/her life centered in selfishness is bound to face the earlier mentioned four problems in a major way. The only way out is yoga in the sanidhya of a guru. Practising difficult postures by standing on your head, twisting and turning is not yoga. Yoga is this change from selfishness to selflessness and that, too, naturally.
When you search for a guru, first you must assess why are you searching for one. If it is to cure you of an illness, consult a doctor. If it is to resolve financial troubles, visit a financial consultant. If you are looking to mend relationships, go to a counsellor. If you are emotionally disturbed, approach a psychologist. To look for a yoga guru to resolve these four problems is almost like trying to generate nuclear energy for lighting a bulb. You will be wasting your time. Look for a guru only if you intend to aid the positive forces in the creation.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day when the energy of Ganesha is most easily accessible to human beings. It is a very powerful day and must be devoted to the higher practises of yoga and Sanatan Kriya. A havan done on this day under the guidance of a guru to aid the creation and for general good, enables one to access the energy of Ganesha; opening the doors to the subtler dimensions and to realise your hidden potential.

Yogi Ashwini, the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation, is an authority on yoga, tantra and the Vedic sciences. His recent book is Sanatan Kriya: 51 Miracles... And a Haunting. Contact him at dhyan@dhyanfoundation.com