Sri M – spiritual guide, social reformer, and educationist – was born into a Muslim family on November 6, 1949, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His transformational journey, from a young boy to a living yogi, is a fascinating story symbolized by single-minded discipline and dedication.
Entranced by mystical stories of Sufi saints and a brief encounter with a numinous Swami at a relatively young age, he was not only drawn to the ‘truth’ but also the compelling landscape of the snow-clad Himalayas. At the age of nine, his spiritual transformation was initiated by his future Master, Babaji (also known as Maheshwarnath Babaji), who miraculously appeared under a jackfruit tree in the compound of his house in Thiruvananthapuram. Though only fleeting, this meeting definitively set the stage for their future reunion in the Himalayas at Sri M’s age of nineteen.
For the next three and half years, he lived and traveled extensively through the Himalayas with his Master. Maheshwarnath Babaji guided him right through his initiation, his Kundalini awakening, the grueling journey to Tholingmutt and, the eventual meeting with the Grand Master, Sri Guru Babaji also known as Sri Mahavatar Babaji.
Few years after his Master passed away, he received the spiritual go-ahead to commence his mission. In 1998, he started his teachings, eventually leading to the formation of the Satsang Foundation.
In response to a query on the spiritual progress of a person and the path to that evolution, he responds, “Though my parampara is kriya yoga, I don’t think it suits all aspirants. I propound satsang even between two people. It cuts across barriers of caste and creed. Spiritual evolution is not diverse from regular living. Intervals of solitude are necessary but you cannot shut yourself totally. The world around you is your touchstone to spiritual practice.” Conversant with the teachings of most major religions, Sri M says: “Go to the core. Theories are of no use.” His message seeks to transcend the outer-shell of all religions, by exploring their mystical core to nurture the innate goodness in every human being.
Website: satsang-foundation.org
Books:
- Journey Continues: A Sequel To Apprenticed To A Himalayan Master
- Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A Yogi’s Autobiography
- Wisdom of the Rishis: The Three Upanishads: Ishavasya, Kena & Mandukya
- Jewel in the Lotus: Deeper Aspects of Hinduism
- The Little Guide To Greater Glory And A Happier Life
Second Batgap interview with Sri M.
Interview recorded 10/6/2016
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
- 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
- 00:05:07 – The Sufi Man and the Lesson of Ego
- 00:10:05 – Cautionary Notes for Spiritual Teachers
- 00:14:38 – Judging What to Say
- 00:18:45 – The Limitations of Human Knowledge
- 00:23:25 – Ramana’s Compassion
- 00:27:50 – The Encounter with Maheshwar Babaji
- 00:32:07 – The Search for Great Beings in the Himalayas
- 00:36:13 – A humorous encounter with Babaji
- 00:40:16 – The Limitless Potential of Spiritual Development
- 00:44:00 – The Potential for Spiritual Evolution
- 00:48:38 – Rishabhadeva and the Aim of Life
- 00:53:25 – Encounter with the Yeti
- 00:57:54 – Taken to a Mysterious Room
- 01:02:39 – The Possibility of Life beyond Earth
- 01:06:45 – Encounter with a Blue Serpent
- 01:11:35 – Conditions for Teaching Kriya Yoga
- 01:16:19 – The Mysterious Location of Mauni Baba’s Cave
- 01:21:27 – The Neurological Basis of Mystical Experience
- 01:25:16 – The Circuit of Energies
- 01:29:10 – Swadharma and Self-Discovery
- 01:33:53 – Losing Friends on the Spiritual Path
- 01:38:06 – Disconnecting from the External World
- 01:42:39 – The Conundrum of Enlightenment
- 01:47:32 – The Importance of Spiritual Inclination
- 01:51:45 – Nourishing Diversity in Life
- 01:55:44 – Different Schools of Thought on Enlightenment
- 02:00:28 – Different Angles on the Truth
- 02:04:23 – The Basic Theory of Kriya Yoga
- 02:09:15 – Simple Meditation Technique
- 02:12:49 – Greetings
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