50 Poems for Self-Realisation (Moksha) - From the Treasure Trove of India's Spiritual Wisdom

Spiritual seekers are found the world over - in temples, in pilgrimages, in rivers and in mountains. From Kailash to Kanyakumari, they are everywhere, but what is difficult to find nowadays is a genuine spiritual guide. Gone are the days of the pure Siddha Gurus and their holy Guru Parampara (lineage). The sacred Guru-Shishya Parampara is much rarer today. Nowadays, there are many fake Gurus, who claim to show you the path, but who are driven by personal motives including a desire for money and fame. Some spiritual leaders have created cults for themselves and make you believe that only their particular approach or path will lead you to Moksha. Against this backdrop, it is essential to cultivate Viveka (the ability to distinguish the good from bad) and adopt the good to grow spiritually. A spiritual path is not an easy place to walk alone - a single mistake can make you fall back down the ladder or into the snake’s mouth, just like in the game ‘Snakes and ladders’. It is hard to roll the dice and get safely to your true home (your Supreme Self) without some form of assistance. The more we walk this path, the more we realize that the assistance we need comes from within us - only we were unable to recognise it. Guru (God) is within us. In fact, ‘we’ all are Guru (God). It is only a matter of Self- realisation (realising the innate divine potential within us), which is given in terms like - ‘liberation’ or ‘Moksha’. In reality, there is no liberation since we all were, are and will always be liberated. The only reason for suffering is ignorance about our true nature. Whatever thoughts a person has at the moment before his/her death becomes his/her reality after death. Our last sincere wishes are always fulfilled. All spiritual efforts that we put in, Dharma that we adhere to, devotion that we inculcate towards the Self (God) is to make that final moment before our death meaningful. Once that golden moment passes, our current life has gone and we must enter a new life with a new set of clothes (body) under new circumstances. And who knows how easy or difficult those circumstances may be for our self-realisation. Hence, we need to use our current life to train ourselves for this final moment in the body. People do not realize the value of their life and waste it in brooding over mundane things. For an average person, the final thought may be something that can give pleasure to his senses, something materialistic, which is nothing but temporary and born out of ego. But, for those who seek the truth, it is only the truth (God) that they’ll think of even at the time of their death. And for such a being, truth will never be far away. The realisation of truth (the supreme Self) is liberation. It is the supreme wisdom that everyone should aim to attain in this very life. It is the very purpose of our existence. You need not wait until your death to realize the truth; you can realize it now and be free. But you have to open up your heart. Wisdom cannot be attained merely by reading or reciting the scriptures. It is attained only through self- reflection that ultimately leads to self-realisation. It requires withdrawing one’s focus from this transient world and focusing it on one’s immutable Self — the truth. This book is a roadmap of a spiritual journey rather than the destination itself, which each reader must reach through his/her own effort. In your spiritual journey, only Dharma, wisdom and devotion (to the Self) will protect you. The Guru or Yogi can only show you the path. It’s ‘you’ who must walk it to reach ‘your’ destination. Just like a doctor can only prescribe the medicine, it is up to the patient to take the medicine to rid themselves of their illness.

Yogamaya was born on 9 March 1987 in Chennai in the Arudra Nakshatra. Although born in a family of staunch Vaishnavites she sees no difference between the names and forms of God, and so, follows Shaivaite and other traditions as well. She is adept in Kundalini Yoga and is well versed in the Vedas and the Vedanta, and the various schools of thought in Hinduism, namely - duality (Dvaita), qualified non-duality (Vishishtadvaita) and non-duality (Advaita).

She shares a special bond with Lord Hanuman due to his utmost devotion for his Guru, Shri Lord Rama. Sometimes she looks at the astrological readings of people and meditates to help them with their destiny. Her father was a distinguished Yogi, who led a spiritual life. He was a humble soul who always helped those in need. He taught Yogamaya several hymns such as the Vishnu Sahasranama, Vairagya Panchakam, Gayatri mantra, and the Hanuman Chalisa.

Yogamaya has a distinguished academic record - she completed her PhD in healthcare management in Europe and returned to India after spending nearly a decade away during which she had a highly successful career. Her spiritual inclination has been apparent since childhood when she learnt devotional songs from her grandmother. A quote from her diary, which she wrote when she was 10 years old reads: "If birds are meant to fly, then why must man be born and die?"

Her spiritual endeavours include setting up of temples in Europe and in India along with devotees and teaching Yoga and meditation at those centres. Currently, she shares her wisdom in the form of articles and poems with prominent spiritual organizations, such as the Sringeri Mutt for their monthly magazine — *Tattvaloka — the splendour of truth’. Her work has also featured in the journal of the Pandrimalai Swamighal Asharam in Tamil Nadu. Her poems are born out of deep penance and do not conform to traditional forms of poetry. They are what she calls — ‘spontaneous spiritual outbursts’ after every session of intense meditation. The messages that the poems contain are firmly rooted in the Supreme Self, which will enable the reader to travel to the core of their heart - the place of truth. Yogamaya hopes that her book will inspire readers to seek truth in this very birth. Any funds collected by selling this book will be used in spiritual activities for uplifting humanity. The photography and paintings used in this book are done by Yogamaya herself.

Spiritual seekers are found the world over - in temples, in pilgrimages, in rivers and in mountains. From Kailash to Kanyakumari, they are everywhere, but what is difficult to find nowadays is a genuine spiritual guide. Gone are the days of the pure Siddha Gurus and their holy Guru Parampara (lineage). The sacred Guru-Shishya Parampara is much rarer today. Nowadays, there are many fake Gurus, who claim to show you the path, but who are driven by personal motives including a desire for money and fame. Some spiritual leaders have created cults for themselves and make you believe that only their particular approach or path will lead you to Moksha. Against this backdrop, it is essential to cultivate Viveka (the ability to distinguish the good from bad) and adopt the good to grow spiritually.

A spiritual path is not an easy place to walk alone - a single mistake can make you fall back down the ladder or into the snake’s mouth, just like in the game ‘Snakes and ladders’. It is hard to roll the dice and get safely to your true home (your Supreme Self) without some form of assistance. The more we walk this path, the more we realize that the assistance we need comes from within us - only we were unable to recognise it. Guru (God) is within us. In fact, ‘we’ all are Guru (God). It is only a matter of Self- realisation (realising the innate divine potential within us), which is given in terms like - ‘liberation’ or ‘Moksha’. In reality, there is no liberation since we all were, are and will always be liberated. The only reason for suffering is ignorance about our true nature.

Whatever thoughts a person has at the moment before his/her death becomes his/her reality after death. Our last sincere wishes are always fulfilled. All spiritual efforts that we put in, Dharma that we adhere to, devotion that we inculcate towards the Self (God) is to make that final moment before our death meaningful. Once that golden moment passes, our current life has gone and we must enter a new life with a new set of clothes (body) under new circumstances. And who knows how easy or difficult those circumstances may be for our self-realisation. Hence, we need to use our current life to train ourselves for this final moment in the body. People do not realize the value of their life and waste it in brooding over mundane things. For an average person, the final thought may be something that can give pleasure to his senses, something materialistic, which is nothing but temporary and born out of ego. But, for those who seek the truth, it is only the truth (God) that they’ll think of even at the time of their death. And for such a being, truth will never be far away. The realisation of truth (the supreme Self) is liberation. It is the supreme wisdom that everyone should aim to attain in this very life. It is the very purpose of our existence.

You need not wait until your death to realize the truth; you can realize it now and be free. But you have to open up your heart. Wisdom cannot be attained merely by reading or reciting the scriptures. It is attained only through self- reflection that ultimately leads to self-realisation. It requires withdrawing one’s focus from this transient world and focusing it on one’s immutable Self — the truth. This book is a roadmap of a spiritual journey rather than the destination itself, which each reader must reach through his/her own effort. In your spiritual journey, only Dharma, wisdom and devotion (to the Self) will protect you. The Guru or Yogi can only show you the path. It’s ‘you’ who must walk it to reach ‘your’ destination. Just like a doctor can only prescribe the medicine, it is up to the patient to take the medicine to rid themselves of their illness.

**Contents and Sample Pages**