In Quest of Truth - Q&A with Shri Babaji

Shiva Rudra Balayogi

Anyone interested in meditation will find this series of questions and answers of interest. A Realized Meditation Master, Shri Babaji (Shri Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj), answers questions from people around the world on meditation and spirituality. His spontaneous answers are based on the wisdom gained from his own direct, first-hand experience of years of intense meditation (Tapas) and the teachings of his Guru, Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj. He explains how meditation works and the purpose and benefits of spirituality in clear, simple terms. These recordings are taken from a live online meditation class that Babaji holds every Saturday. They are precious opportunities to receive direct guidance from a Realized Master. To register please visit: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Yoga Vasistha - Creation Pt2 | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 266

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Yoga Vasistha - Creation Pt2 | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 266 Recorded on 14 March 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro 0:29 The story of Leela from the Yoga Vasistha 9:51 The story of the 10 sons from the Yoga Vasistha 21:46 "When the tree dies, the seed doesn't die, but when the seed dies, the tree perishes with it." 29:23 Why does this creation idea have to exist? 32:00 The story of the man with many hands beating himself in the dense forest. 39:27 Apprehension about facing the thousands of thoughts in meditation. 43:04 Does the resolution power to achieve Self Realisation have to be finally dropped before achieving it? 45:57 If I sit for 1 hour meditation and there are constantly thoughts in the mind, is that time wasted? 46:50 Is it possible to overcome negative choices, even after repeated failures? 48:35 If unable to sit upright due to a broken leg, how to avoid falling asleep? 50:17 I dream of previous lives, different characters - why does the monkey mind play these games? 52:24 How to overcome bodily discomfort in meditation. 53:52 Breathing suddenly stops during meditation. 56:19 How to ensure the mind stays calm for 1 hour and beyond that? ___ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    58 min

  2. 13 APR

    Babaji's Life Story | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 265

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Babaji's Life Story | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 265 Recorded on 21 March 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro 0:07 What were the characteristics that Babaji's parents demonstrated that helped impact the development of His character? 7:57 Innate characteristics of Babaji's personality as a young boy that were unusual compared to those around Him? 13:24 After Babaji first heard the song 'Bhaja Govindam', would the people around him have noticed a change in His behaviour or temperament? 19:43 What was the attraction that Babaji had to the Hanuman temple near His home? 37:18 How Babaji came to enter Swamiji's service after waiting for 3 years. 46:16 Stories that there are other lokas where you can achieve god realisation. 49:42 How to get over the fear that one will be reborn into the world again. 52:59 If we want Self Realization will we all have to do Tapas for many years? 55:39 How should one look at an appearance of either Swamiji or Babaji in a dream? 56:52 For Babaji, what kind of association is there to the memories of early life, considering that no ego is now left? 59:14 During Babaji's 5 year Tapas, did Babaji stretch out His legs, changing posture? 59:53 An experience of hearing a heavenly voice chanting 'narayana' - what was that? 1:01:11 Why did Babaji seek a Guru and not god? 1:02:13 The difference between a devotee and merging with the Self. 1:03:09 The worry that moving the eyes to the centre and meditating is unsafe for people who are impure. 1:05:25 In meditation, how to go beyond the witness, the observer. 1:06:04 How to overcome past sing and guilt? 1:07:22 Who was Swamiji's master? ___ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YHFKcPK_XT96VO7xuk6RQ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    1hr 8min

  3. 4 APR

    Special Instruction Pt1 - Ashtavakra Samhita | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 264

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Recorded on 9 November 2026 with US participants 1:16 "..one cannot become established in the Self unless everything is forgotten." 3:10 You don't have to erase all your memories, but stop all the thoughts? 3:44 "Reading and listening to the teachings of great Masters alone cannot give Self-realization." 6:50 "By habits only, consciousness goes out of control, and by habit only, it can be brought under control. That's the practice of sadhana." 9:13 What happens to those people who meditate for a long time, but they don't progress? 11:19 Bringing the attention back to focusing when the mind goes off onto thoughts. 13:12 You start meditating, you focus, and then shortly you're off on thoughts. 14:13 No matter what you acquire, the mind will never be satisfied. 17:16 How can you become quiet mentally all the time and be active in the world? 20:17 A Self Realized person can be engaged in activity, but at the same time they're always aware they are the absolute. 20:46 "While trying to do sadhana, often, seekers are likely to be in a rush and force it upon themselves" 24:45 You say there's nothing coming to the mind, but you're talking to us. Isn't there something in the mind? 26:00 All these answers are just coming out spontaneously? They're not coming from your mind? 26:29 Is there anything we can do during the day to help us quiet our mind or keep it quiet? 27:39 Though a yogi remains in the Self at all times, a yogi will show compassion. 31:11 The difference between detachment and indifference 32:13 Would it be true to say that true detachment requires true compassion? 34:00 If a Yogi is not involved in any way, then who's doing it? 36:36 What are karmas? 38:00 What does prārabdha mean? 39:10 "There will not be any imagination of doership, and there shall not be any desire to achieve anything." 40:53 It says that abiding in the Self, there's no need for anything? 41:44 So the body, the mind, just responds to what is necessary at the moment without any additional craving? 42:28 Would any Self-realized person want their body to live indefinitely?  43:34 When doing your tapas, did time go by very fast? 44:41 "That one who neither likes nor dislikes is neither attached nor unattached." 46:35 The body moves during meditation, and the eyes will open. What can I do to dissolve this habit? 50:14 The mind keeps trying to go into imaginations and doesn't stay silent.  Why is this? 52:06 If there is an idea of peace or losing all desires, why does the mind go into a depression? 53:58 Body can go through prarabdha of pain, but Babaji is not involved in it? 55:30 Is there a technique that we can use to disconnect from our body, so pain and suffering doesn't come up? 57:15 Is there a technique where our mind is focused on Self Realisation and our body is mechanically doing the day to day activities? 1:00:02 I feel the past all the time so it is hard to meditate. 1:01:37 Does a Yogi not differentiate individuals, only the one Self is seen? 1:03:37 How much effort should you make to concentrate your mind and sight between the eyebrows?  1:06:01 What is the connection between our breath and the mind?  1:07:08 If the mind shifts to the breath during meditation, is this ok? ___ Website: http://www.srby.org Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    1hr 8min

  4. 28 MAR

    Paths of Spirituality | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 263

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Paths of Spirituality  | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 263 Recorded on 7 March 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro 0:35 What are the different paths of spirituality? 7:59 What is the right path for a rational, scientific temperament? 12:00 In Yoga Vasistha, through explanations only, Rama is able to achieve Self Realization.  Is that a valid path for this Kali Yuga? 15:08 What kind of mindset is needed for one to be successful in Dhyana marga (path of meditation)? 23:59 How does the path of self-enquiry, as recommended by Ramana Maharshi, compare to Jangama Dhyana? 26:20 Some saints recommend the path of Nama Japa, repetition of a chant.  Is this a valid path and how does it relate to Jangama Dhyana? 31:13 Some teachers advocate pranayama techniques, controlling of the breath.  Is this a valid path for Self-Realization? 36:11 Institutions established by Shankaracharya recommend the traditional Vedic path; learning the vedas, following the various ritual etc. Is this a valid path in this current age? 41:18 Is the path of tantra a valid path for Self-Realization? 44:37 Can one follow multiple paths simultaneously? 46:21 How do I know what is the best and quickest path for me for Self-Realization? 50:42 Has 'yearning' for the truth of existence more depth to it than intelligence or rational thinking? 52:08 Is wisdom through the path of enquiry through intelligence? 54:23 In meditation is our attention on the attention? 56:08 Where to focus in meditation 57:06 If we make our body absolutely still, our mind becomes still. How to avoid our attention being divided between attention on the point in-between our eyebrows and on our body being still? 58:22 Do we need to put some effort in to keep the body still? 59:01 How to eliminate pain in the body so that we can keep our attention in-between the eyebrows? ___ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6YHFKcPK_XT96VO7xuk6RQ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    1hr 1min

  5. 16 MAR

    "The True Knower" - Ashtavakra Samhita | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 262

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  "The True Knower" - Ashtavakra Samhita | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 262 Recorded on 1 March 2026 with US participants. 0:00 Intro 0:40 Ch 17, verse 6 1:34 What is the eternal Soul? 4:30 The consciousness of existence. 6:06 Is the Soul the Parabrahman or the consciousness of existence? 6:51 Pure consciousness 7:37 Pure awareness 7:56 Chapter 17, verse 6 contd.  8:32 What is the mechanics of how the Self-Realized Souls can come to you? 9:34 Is it our love and faith that makes the Guru manifest to us? 9:59 Verse 7 - "A Yogi neither longs for the dissolution of the universe, nor is averse to its existence." 11:15 Is it because a Yogi is aware the he is not the body or the mind? 11:35 What is it like to be a Self-Realized Yogi? 13:28 'Existence appearance' 14:07 "Even if the world disappears, it doesn't matter to a Yogi, as their attention is not at all on this universe." 15:04 The achievement of Nirvikalpa Samadhi 15:31 Savikalpa Samadhi 18:00 A Yogi, externally would appear like any other ordinary human being but consciously they're never attached to their body actions. 19:41 Verse 9.  For a Yogi there is neither attraction nor aversion. 20:58 "For a yogi, the appearance of this universe is like a vague dream." 22:18 "Conscious attention will be on the Self." 22:59 During meditation, if our attention is on anything that is in the mind, then our attention is on the world. 24:30 "They are the ever silent one in consciousness." 25:50 What has made it possible for us to be here hearing this wisdom of the Self" 26:29 Our own consciousness has manifested You as this form to guide us back to the Self? 26:50 Once you've kind of gotten this far, can you get off the path? 28:50 Verse 11. 29:06 Does the Self-Realized person enjoy being alive in the body? 30:30 "Supreme Peace is beyond Bliss". 31:16 Does a Yogi know when they're going to drop their body? 33:11 Often you hear that the Guru is going to come back in another body. 34:08 A Yogi is never attached to anything of the world. 36:49 Awareness of who we are. 38:49 A Yogi remains in the Self, allowing the body to act mechanically. 40:38 Is survival wired into nature? 41:23 Was it difficult to get rid of the sense of 'I am' in Tapas? 42:24 A Yogi is free from the dualities of either accusing or praising somebody. 44:31 Is awareness a sense of knowing? 45:34 How to overcome the 6 enemies of the mind during meditation? 48:35 Is it ok to meditate while rocking my daughter to sleep? 49:17 When we see Babaji, we're seeing a person, but what we're really seeing is consciousness? 50:28 The moment you have your awareness in the present, is the consciousness with God? 51:33 Hearing a little cricket sound in the brain during meditation. 52:01 The first day Babaji met His Guru, was the faith already there? 53:20 What was the first experience of the nature of the mind? 54:08 Is every single thought continuing our illusion? 55:53 In my business life, can I trust that what is coming is exactly what I need? 56:28 Dwell in the 'I am' but not the words 'I am'. 57:24 When was it that you surrendered to your Guru? Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: htt Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    58 min

  6. 8 MAR

    Purushartha - Self-Efforts | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 261

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Purushartha - Self-Efforts | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 261 Recorded on 28 February 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro from Babaji 0:56 What does the word purushartha mean? 3:34 How do we put in efforts to know Oneself?  What is the process? 14:37 If there is a single thought within the mind does that mean we still need to put in efforts until eventually the mind is purified of all imaginations? 19:09 Some people might think that spirituality is something mystical where a power descends on us and we can immediately achieve Self Realization.  Does it happen like this? 32:06 If the guru is not physically there to scold you, how do we catch that grace?  Is it through faith? 36:10 Does daily meditation help us to not get too involved into the world? 41:11 Can we use the mind to create our reality through imagination, or does everything just naturally unfold and we should simply let go and remain a witness to what is happening? 42:24 If destiny is acting against us, how to exercise purushartha? 45:04 If we want something to happen a certain way, we pray to the Divine or the Guru - is that ok, or should we accept whatever happens? 46:03 While meditating do we need to stick our mind to god's name or chant god's name? 47:50 Shravana, manana and nididhyasana 48:27 Outside of meditation, we can analyse? 48:48 Is worshipping with form easier than worshipping without form? 49:42 Ultimately do you have to give up the form? 51:47 Can purushartha lead to a better destiny? 52:14 Does the word Niyati, as used in the Yoga Vasistha, mean destiny? 53:05 We have to put in purushartha to achieve Self Realization, but at a certain point we need to have acceptance that it has not happened yet? 53:49 When doing purushartha, I notice things come up in life with more intensity, stress and pressure becomes worse.  How to stay motivated and inspired to continue? 56:50 When I am quiet internally, how to have discernment on how to respond to things externally? 57:58 Why does good and bad exist when the Divinity does not have discrimination and is all-pervading? 59:34 How has the identity of the mind happened? 1:00:49 Does the mind have a unique identity after the body dies or does it merge with the consciousness? 1:01:57 Does the mind with vasanas have an identity? 1:02:47 When my family go to wedding parties, my meditation routine gets disturbed - how to deal with this? ___ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    1hr 4min

  7. 1 MAR

    Time and Space | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 260

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  Time and Space | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 260 Recorded on 7 February 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro 0:27 Are time and space two different things, or are they thoughts and perceptions? 2:41 Can the mind go beyond time? 3:59 The story of Leelavati from the Yoga Vasistha in the context of the discovery of entangled particles in quantum mechanics. 15:00 Is the mind, consciousness and space one and the same thing? 19:21 When a Yogi attains Self Realisation, how is that awareness beyond time and space? 21:44 What is the status of the mind of the Self-Realised Yogi? 23:43 When one becomes space, where is god then? 26:34 The universe is expanding, so the space is also expanding? 28:54 How does this existence of pure consciousness take the form of an object? 31:25 What is the cause of the separation from the pure consciousness and how to go back? 34:21 Is our existence the same as the supreme conscious energy, but because of the mind we suffer in duality? 37:04 As there are fewer thoughts in meditation, is the perception of time less? 39:45 In Tapas is it a thrilling thing as one becomes aware of the Self? 41:50 Is it true that the past, present and future occur simultaneously - and we cannot change the predetermined incidents in our life.  Thus what is the purpose of time and space? 45:35 Is the mind and the consciousness the same entity, and who or what creates the illusion, is it a different entity or is it the mind itself? 48:19 How do we understand that the universe is timeless? 51:00 Is there a need to study science as it has increased understanding of the universe? 55:22 Science as a quest for the truth of existence. 57:07 If god is the god of love, what is left of love in the space of silence? 58:27 What is the state of the mind in a dreamless deep sleep? ___ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    1hr 37min

  8. 21 FEB

    The mind and the Self | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 259

    Send us Fan Mail Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang  The mind and the Self | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 259 Recorded on 17 January 2026 with worldwide participants 0:00 Intro 0:07 The feeling that we exist, beyond the thoughts. 3:30 Your existence beyond your thoughts. 7:05 Applying the mind to itself, the infinite entity. 10:17 How is the imagination within the Self, but also away from the Self? 15:38 The vastness of the universe is only in relativity. 17:15 Why there is a feeling of individual consciousness, within the all-pervaded consciousness. 20:36 To be quiet in the mind, does the ego have to completely disappear? 23:56 Only because of the existence of the brain, the consciousness gets sucked into it, and then it becomes an obstacle. 29:15 Science does not understand what anything is. 30:26 You can be your best friend or your worst enemy. 33:01 Once Self Realisation is achieved, how is the connection between the consciousness and brain maintained?  Why does the body not drop? 40:28 If one is not supposed to react to anything during meditation, why did Babaji interact with the manifestations of HIs Guru during Tapas?  How did He know not to ignore them? 42:13 Does meditating regularly help to eradicate fearful thoughts? 43:07 How can we develop wisdom to differentiate between true and false and moral versus immoral? 44:08 Did Babaji face challenges when He started on His meditation journey and how did He overcome them? 45:16 Is ok to tell myself to 'just watch' during meditation? 45:56 Does karma of our last birth affect this birth if we are going for Self Realisation? 47:04 After the Self has been experienced, do we have to make effort everyday or only have to sit still and calm the mind and Self will be experienced again? 48:09 Does the boundless space also only have appearance value? 49:05 The diffenrence between the mind and the brain and how they diffently play upon the consciousness. 50:23 When you are asleep and dreaming, is the power of creation the energy part of the consciousness? 51:09 Is the awareness of the Self the same for all human beings? ___ Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/ Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang  Website: http://www.srby.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivarudrabalayogi Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRBYmission Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivarudrabalayogi/

    52 min
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About

Anyone interested in meditation will find this series of questions and answers of interest. A Realized Meditation Master, Shri Babaji (Shri Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj), answers questions from people around the world on meditation and spirituality. His spontaneous answers are based on the wisdom gained from his own direct, first-hand experience of years of intense meditation (Tapas) and the teachings of his Guru, Shri Shivabalayogi Maharaj. He explains how meditation works and the purpose and benefits of spirituality in clear, simple terms. These recordings are taken from a live online meditation class that Babaji holds every Saturday. They are precious opportunities to receive direct guidance from a Realized Master. To register please visit: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/en/online-satsang

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