Bhava Samadhi
Shiva Bala Yogi
Bhava Samadhi
From the Beginning, Shiva bala yogi’s mission had four elements:
1) Giving Darshan while in samadhi;
2) Dispensing blessed vibhuti to improve one’s concentration during meditation and to heal all forms of disease;
3) The gift of dhyana meditation; and
4) Evoking divine experiences — bhava — particularly during spiritual song (bhajans or kirtan) . . . . .
Of the many ways that Shivabalayogi gives experiences and evokes spiritual awareness, the most obvious manifestation is bhava. Bhava is when the astral bodies of divine beings manifest within our being. Bhava has to do with the spirit, and spiritual phenomena are beyond what the mind can grasp.
Those accustomed to the physical world orientation of Western culture can be very skeptical of unfamiliar spiritual phenomena. In traditional cultures, and in Christian mysticism, bhava is well recognized, although under different names. Bhava is an expression of the path of devotion, the attitude of love.
All traditions have great souls who bring forward spiritual and mystical experiences to those in their presence. Ramakrishna frequently experienced the bhava of the Divine Mother Kali and was able to bring bhava to some of his disciples. Shivabalayogi is unusual only in how generously he gives bhava.
“Yogis come in their astral bodies and guide you. All the yogis do that. The yogi guides and helps people through astral bodies.” — Shivabalayogi
As the individual is immersed in bhava, he or she feels a divine power flowing which may initiate physical movement and dance…
Most people experience bhava as feeling of exhilaration, clarity, peace and bliss. A few will become deeply immersed. The divine presence begins to move the physical body, perhaps compelling the devotee to sit in deep meditation, or adopt various mudras (hand postures) or asanas (body postures). Bhava is not of this world, and the experience is unique and ever changing.
“Higher souls induce bhava. It helps in physical, mental and spiritual progress. It is all Swamiji’s wish whether a person gets bhava or not. It is all in Swamiji’s control.” — Shivabalayogi
During the bhajans (spiritual singing), as many as ten, twenty or more people can be immersed in bhava, each expressing the characteristics of different gods…
Those in bhava can remain in this state for hours without fatigue. They can dance and move with eyes closed, yet do not fall down, knock into each other, or even disturb others. Looking at their faces, one gets a glimpse of the bliss they are experiencing.
Bhava, the path of devotion, is a method yogis use to evoke spiritual understanding and to encourage devotees in spiritual practice (sadhana). Only a few may visibly manifest bhava during bhajans, but each person receives the yogi’s blessings.
A unique feature of Shivabalayogi’s use of bhava is that his physical presence was never required. He could have been near or far. It did not matter. Since dropping his own physical body, his use of bhava has increased throughout the world.
“After meditation and before bhajans you should pray to Swamiji, perform an arthi [traditionally, burning camphor] to Swamiji’s photograph, and then you can start the bhajans. During the bhajans when you get the astral bodies and bhava, Swamiji has astral bodies in them. If bhajans are sung properly, bhava will come. It is Swamiji’s astral body that gives you the energy when you are doing the bhajans.” — Shivabalayogi
As the Bhava Samadhi comes over the individual, various divine attitudes begin to be expressed…
At programs organized in his honor, Shivabalayogi asks devotees to sing bhajans (songs of praise to God) after the meditation. The devotion draws the divine. The gods may come in many forms. (The boy in the photo to the left is in Krishna bhava.) Divine forces associated with other traditions and those from the local people or place may manifest.
“Bhava develops the body. It is Swamiji’s responsibility to develop the devotee’s body so that he or she can meditate. A lot more people can do meditation in a shorter time this way. Undesirable influences are thrown out and flee in a trance situation. One should not try to control the trance. Once you understand the value of bhava, then it will start developing. It will start slowly because it is so new, then it will gain momentum.” — Shiva bala yogi
