English Biography and Surya Kriya: The Sun Science of Gyanganj

Interviewer: Pronam, Gurudev.

Gurudev: Pronam, my son. Pronam.

Interviewer: We have seen that three of your Bengali books have been published in recent times. These books reflect various ideologies and thoughts, and many have written about your life. However, those were in the Bengali version. At this moment, one of your great devotees and disciples, Subhankar Bhowmick, wishes to write a biography of your life in the English language. This version will be for the world to read, allowing people globally to learn about you. In this regard, I would like to ask Subhankar-da: what inspired you to write Gurudev's biography in English?

Subhankar Bhowmick: Look, first of all, I don't really have the capacity or the status to speak fully about Gurudev. I haven't yet achieved that level. Still, since you asked, I will speak according to my humble ability. I first learned about Gurudev from someone else during a very dark period of my life. In the few days I spent with him, through his association and company, the light I found and how I was enlightened inspired a thought in my mind.

Subhankar Bhowmick: The way he distributes his valuable knowledge—his discussions on Indian philosophy, Indian culture, religion, ethics, and everything else—shows he is a person of profound wisdom. He has in-depth knowledge of any subject, which anyone can realize after speaking with him for just a short while.

Subhankar Bhowmick: As I began learning about him, different dimensions started unfolding before me every day. Every single day has been an enriching experience for me. I have learned something new and understood him in a new way every day. He is such a dynamic personality, possessing so many "colors" and a vast treasure of knowledge. I felt it wasn't right to keep him confined to a limited space.

Subhankar Bhowmick: His deep scholarship on Indian philosophy, religion, consciousness, and culture needs to be spread. I felt this strongly. He used to practice Gupta Sadhana (secret spiritual practice) and never wanted to be in the limelight. He has spent his whole life in secret practice, which is why we know him as the "Secret Practitioner," Sri Sri Shyama Kapa Maharaj.

Subhankar Bhowmick: Because of this secret practice, his identity or reach didn't expand in that way. Nowadays, you see "Babajis" and "Maharajs" everywhere on the streets and in markets, but they lack even an iota of religious consciousness or knowledge—let alone yogic powers. They just trade on their names, flamboyance, and glamour. They are misleading people and leading them astray. This needs to stop. This can only be stopped by a person who is authentic, religious, and walks the path of truth, like a saintly person.

Subhankar Bhowmick: Such people are extremely rare in today's society; a true saint is not just rare but hard to find. It is our great fortune that we have found him. He was discovered through some of our elder brothers like Shyamal-da, Ajay-da, and others who have been with him for the last 30 to 40 years during his secret practice.

Subhankar Bhowmick: He already has two or three books written in Bengali, as you mentioned. But I wanted this to spread internationally. In foreign countries, there is a great curiosity about Indian religious culture, consciousness, and heritage. People want to know about us—about the 10,000-year-old Aryan civilization, how the stream of knowledge has flowed, how religious consciousness merged with different cultures, how Hinduism emerged, what our philosophy is, and what our world of thought is. I don't think anyone in today's world can explain this better than Gurudev, Sri Sri Shyama Kapa Maharaj.

Subhankar Bhowmick: If you search the internet or YouTube, you will see many "Babajis," but Gurudev's knowledge is what you call "experiential knowledge"—gained through his experience, wisdom, and rigorous, austere spiritual practices over three or four decades.

Subhankar Bhowmick: I felt it was very necessary to spread this to the outside world. For those who want to know about Hinduism, Indian culture, and India itself—like in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany where research on Hinduism and the Gita is ongoing—it's vital. Max Müller did such important research on the Gita long ago. To present these things to the world and inform them is a special need.

Subhankar Bhowmick: So, with my limited capacity, I am trying. With Gurudev's blessings, I hope to submit the manuscript by October, and I expect the book to be released this year. My goal is so that everyone can know and recognize India—not just our religion or consciousness, but to hold India up as a great place to the people of the world. I don't think there is a more advanced or ideal person in today's India than Gurudev for this. This is why I have made this humble effort.

Interviewer: Gurudev, one of your great devotees, who believes in your ideology and thoughts, has expressed his views before you. What are your thoughts on this?

Gurudev: There isn't much to think about. You see, very few people truly "mingle" with us. Many come for their work and leave once it's done. But there are some high-level people who associate with me. What they have gained from that association is what he just described. He has gained this over a long period. Now that he is writing a book, I have to give him time. I give him time almost every day; I call him and give him time.

Gurudev: Usually, I can't give much time because of the crowds, the "oppression" of so many people, and their tears. I haven't seen such things in my life before. He came to me and said, "Gurudev, you have so much knowledge; it must be spread internationally somehow." It won't work only in Bengali. 20,000 of my books have already been published in Bengali. Girija Library has also published books. That's all fine, but it is his heart's desire to write a book in English—a high-quality book.

Gurudev: There are many questions and answers in it. He is asking many questions, and I am providing the answers one after another. He is surprised because he never expected these kinds of answers. I have given those answers and am still giving them. I expect that by October, as he said, the Q&A sessions will be mostly finished. Just one or two more sittings are needed, and then his book will be complete.

Gurudev: After that, he is talking to some very high-level people and they want to know about me. He has already met them; people who have seen me and understood me. Not everyone understands me. Many come and go for their own work. But those who have understood me do not want to leave my side.

Gurudev: So, I told him, "You are writing, so write. Write with your own ideology." I am giving appropriate answers to the questions he asks. Those Q&As are being recorded, and that will be the book. It will be released globally so people around the world can know.

Gurudev: To tell the truth, no one really knows. India has been looted; it was looted repeatedly. The Shakas, Huns, Mughals, and Pathans—they all came and looted everything. We have nothing left. But from what I have studied—and I have studied deeply—I have read the Quran, the Hadith, the Bible, and our Vedas. After studying all of them, my only realization is that spirituality is a unique thing. India is a spiritual country.

Gurudev: Understand this—so many sages and saints were born here. You won't believe it, but their "footprints" are still in India and nowhere else. I don't think so many practitioners were ever born anywhere else in the world. Maybe many scientists like Einstein were born, many great people were born, but the West is now following and researching what our sages said. Research is now being done on the Gita, the Vedas, and the Vedanta to see what they meant. Now people are gradually realizing how great and high-level Hinduism and the Sanatan Dharma are.

Gurudev: The people of India ourselves have never discussed this. No one ever came to ask me these questions. Some people have come who asked very big questions, and I have answered them. They have become—I won't say disciples—but they love me. They love me intensely. In that sense, he is writing the book. I told him to write, and I gave him the names of some high-level people. I helped him talk to them over the phone. He went to some places himself and took interviews. This is the main thing.

Gurudev: I want our "East"—because we are still following the "West"—I want the West to be completely uprooted. Let us discuss the East, which has everything. Your life and your living will be beautiful in the East; it's in our country. No other country in the world has this. Only the Germans or the Greeks, who believe in Hinduism, might discuss it a bit.

Gurudev: And now, our biggest topic of discussion—though I don't stay in Gyanganj—is that we want to go to the Sun in a "subtle body" (Sukshma Deha). We want to go to the Sun in a subtle body and find out what is there. We want to know the Sun. The Sun is our soul; it resides within each of us. We are alive today because the Sun exists; without it, we couldn't survive.

Gurudev: Now, Gyanganj is determined to find out what is in the Sun, which is the soul. This is called Surya Kriya. It is a great Yoga. You can call it Surya Yoga or Surya Kriya, which Gyanganj has now started. They want to go near the Sun in a subtle body. Today, NASA is going near the Sun and taking pictures, but these people want to know what is in the Sun through Surya Kriya and Yoga.

Gurudev: I know they will be successful. There are great people, the top people in spirituality, who are practitioners (Sadhaks). I hope they will succeed. This is the ultimate practice. There is no practice above this. It is a practice based on the "Sun Soul" (Surya Atma). Man will be able to go to the Sun in a subtle body.

Gurudev: This is a very intense matter—more intense than anything else. Still, man's efforts have no end; man's thirst has no end. Man wants to know and understand. Going near the Sun is not a big deal for those who are on the spiritual path. Surya Kriya has started; it is an intense thing. If it becomes successful—and our Gyanganj has started working on it—it will be a great benefit for India. This is not happening anywhere else in the world. It is only happening in Gyanganj, where great Mahatmas are trying to go to the Sun through Yoga, to observe the Sun, how it functions, and what is in it. There is a great desire to know, and the process has started. I hope that in the coming days, they will be able to go to the Sun in their subtle souls and learn everything.

Gurudev: Maybe they won't publicize it later, as they don't believe in publicity. They stay in their respective caves and various places. So, this process is ongoing. We have also joined this process; I don't know how successful we will be. Still, we are gradually moving in that direction. Especially, I am moving in that direction. I really liked this Surya Kriya. I don't know if I will be able to do it until the end, as I have grown old.

Gurudev: Still, I will not lack in effort. My age is physically more, but my age is now 30 years (in spirit). There is no reason why I can't do it. Age is not a factor here. In the spiritual line, age is not a factor; what matters is performing this Surya Kriya. This intense practice has started and is ongoing. I leave the rest to the Sun.

Interviewer: Subhankar-da, I am telling you, you have heard these complex theories from Gurudev. I hope you will bring these theories to the people in simple language.

Subhankar Bhowmick: That will definitely be my effort, with Gurudev's blessings. And what he said about this "secret theory"—I would call it the "most secret theory"—this Sun science that he is practicing... age plays a factor here, but as he beautifully said, "Age is in the mind." As you and I both know, there is a famous quote: "Age is nothing but mind over matter. If you do not mind, it does not matter."

Subhankar Bhowmick: It's all in your mind. If you think of yourself as old, then you are old; otherwise, you have no age. Gurudev is still as energetic as a 25-year-old youth and can work just as hard. You won't believe it if I tell you how he travels to different places, goes on pilgrimages, and his practice is still ongoing. He goes everywhere to provide relief to people. It's unbelievable; it's not possible for people of our age or those much younger than us. Where does this energy come from? It comes from yogic practice.

Subhankar Bhowmick: This is my main goal: to show that practice (Sadhana) is such a thing, Yoga—Indian Yoga—is such a thing that can make the impossible possible. That is what I have to learn from him, and not just me, but people all over the world. This is my effort.

Interviewer: Gurudev, I won't take much more of your time. Your disciple is sitting next to you; he wants to write about your life...

Gurudev: You keep saying "disciple, disciple," but actually, it's not like that. It is a "meeting of minds"—a good exchange of thoughts. I liked his mind, and I liked his purpose. His purpose is noble. If the purpose is noble, there is nothing else to say. He has my blessings, and he will always have them. He has almost prepared the book; only a little is left. I hope he can finish it.

Gurudev: You see, a person doesn't get publicized while they are alive. A practitioner's fame starts after they leave their body. As long as the practitioner is in the body, there is no publicity. This effort you are making to publicize me—you are doing it by force! You are doing it completely by force. I feel bad about it.

Interviewer: Still, if he can hear and understand it from your own mouth, it will be a big deal, right? That is why we have this meeting and this video recording today.

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