Interviewer:
Gurudev, my humble salutations to you.
Gurudev:
Salutations, my son. Speak.
Interviewer:
Today is June 16, 2020. The world is currently devastated in various ways. For the welfare of this world, a special Homa (sacred fire ritual) has been organized today here at Shantikunja, in the Mother's abode. As you can see, the ritual has already begun. During this Homa, we would like to hear from you about Jyoti Darshan (the vision of divine light).
Gurudev:
Jyoti Darshan... yes, it is a profound subject. You see, there is a scientific aspect to it and a spiritual one. I must explain both.
Gurudev:
First, the scientific aspect: Within our body, the heart is functioning. The heart is often referred to as the soul (Atman)—that which is constant and pulsates. Now, surgeons who have performed bypass surgeries or have seen the heart outside the body during surgery know about the electricity within it. That electricity is immense. It is difficult for an ordinary doctor to control that heart; it jumps with great force. Only highly trained surgeons can manage it. This electricity exists within the human body; it is what keeps us alive.
Gurudev:
Beyond humans, you might know about the "jewel" in a snake's head. Snakes also possess a form of electricity that they can manifest. Similarly, there are many fish in the ocean that have their own electricity, which they use to stun larger predators. So, essentially, every living being has a form of electricity. This is what we call Jyoti (light) from a scientific perspective, and its existence is a proven fact.
Interviewer:
And the spiritual aspect?
Gurudev:
Spiritually, the process of drawing this electricity out of the body is called Jyoti. Without attaining Jyoti Darshan, one cannot achieve Bhagavad Darshan (the vision of God). Many people talk about Jyoti Darshan quite casually, but it is a very difficult thing to achieve. When this electricity, which runs the heart and the entire body, is drawn out, the heart becomes almost still.
Gurudev:
Some people tell me that after intense meditation or chanting (Japa), they see a light emanating from their forehead or their "Third Eye." While meditation can indeed produce a faint light from the space between the eyebrows, that is not the full Jyoti Darshan.
Gurudev:
The true Jyoti is the electricity that powers you. Just as a motor runs on electricity, your body runs on it. The day it stops, you die. Great saints and deities are often depicted with a halo (Boloy) around their heads—that is actually this electricity, this Jyoti. While the practitioner may not always see it themselves, those around them can often perceive this aura.
Gurudev:
Think of Rishi Aurobindo. When he was in Presidency Jail in Kolkata, he remained in deep meditation for fifteen days. During that time, intense light emanated from his body. Even today, in that specific cell where he was imprisoned, many people claim to see that light at night, even though he left for Pondicherry many years ago. This light is a result of the spiritual work he did there.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we have heard from many of your followers that while you are sitting here in Shantikunja, you have been seen in Puri, Tarapith, or other places at the same time. Is that what you call the "subtle body" (Sukshma Sharira)?
Gurudev:
Yes, exactly. There is no doubt about it. Many people come and tell me they saw me at Tirupati or other places. When I don't feel like staying in one place, another "me" emerges from this body and travels. While I sit here, my subtle body wanders where it is needed.
Gurudev:
Through Yoga, one can visit various places in this subtle form. We have seen this with Lokenath Baba, Bama Khepa, and Tailang Swami. They could be in one place and then suddenly appear elsewhere. They haven't truly "died"; they live on in their subtle bodies.
Interviewer:
So their physical bodies may not be visible, but they are wandering the world in their subtle forms?
Gurudev:
Correct. People like Ashwatthama, Hanuman, and Markandeya Muni are said to still exist in their subtle bodies from thousands of years ago. Parashurama is also said to be present. If one is fortunate, one may even have a vision of them.
Gurudev:
Returning to Jyoti, it is the ultimate shield. Nothing negative can enter that aura. This is why great saints can choose the time of their death (Ichhamrityu). They tell their followers, "I will leave on such-and-such day," because they have mastered this internal electricity.
Interviewer:
You often mention that Homa should be performed in every household and temple.
Gurudev:
Yes. If every temple performed a Homa daily with proper rituals and devotion, many problems could be resolved. I am doing this for world peace and human welfare. I don't know how much it will achieve on its own, but we follow the ancient Vedic path.
Gurudev:
People come to us for one thing: peace. "Give us peace, Gurudev," they say. Beyond these rituals, there is little we can do. If everyone—not just one person—performed these rituals with faith, the collective energy would be different.
Gurudev:
Look at the current situation with the Coronavirus. Who created it? No one can say for sure. Even today, there is no definitive cure. If science cannot solve it, then it is in God's hands. Just as He created it, He will take it away.
Gurudev:
In conclusion, Jyoti Darshan is not something that happens in a single lifetime; it is the result of many births of spiritual practice. Understand that everything is within your own body. Your heart is the battery. Through discipline and Yoga, you can realize this light and even travel in your subtle body.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, we are enlightened to hear your words on Jyoti Darshan. I offer my deepest respects to you.
Gurudev:
Blessings to you, my son.