Sri Humananda
Advaita Vedanta Tantra Yogi
Questions and Answers
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What is the meaning of the title "Sri" and how come it is your title?
How long have you been doing Yoga?
Do you meditate? And how often? And how long?
How can I get into Yoga?
What style or type of Yoga should I choose?
Do I need a Teacher, an instructor, or a Guru?
What is this Individual Soul you speak of?
What is a Mantra?
Will Tantra inprove my sex life?
Do you teach any of the Tantric sexual practices?
Do you touch people and transmit spiritual power to them?
Q: What is the meaning of the title "Sri" and how come it is your title?
A: Most Sanskrit scholars would advise that the word "Sri" is best left untranslated. It is a recognition. It really means "auspicious". You cannot name yourself "Sri". It is attributed to you by an Enlightened One only, at least in the world of Yoga. My Teacher and Spiritual Friend, the Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger is the instrument of my title of "Sri" in the sense that I was so recognized and referred to by him. I know that is not very clear, but that is how it is. It's better for you to ignore it really.
Q: How long have you been doing Yoga?
A: The truth is that I do not do Yoga - Yoga does me. But, to answer your question, I am now in my 34th year of practice.
Q: Do you meditate? And how often? And how long?
A: Whenever I can. I enjoy early morning and late night meditations. But one can "meditate" at any time. Even in the waiting line at the grocery store. It is less a matter of meditating than it is a matter of turning Inward as often as you can, although meditation gives you the foundation to turn Inward at any time, or rather, at any time you so will it. In yoga, the key is moderation. Twenty minutes is sufficient to get the general effects of relaxation and revitalization. Sometimes though, one needs more - a lot more. (See more on the effect of meditation).
A: Truly, it is not something you should concern yourself with too much or at all. There is no Yogi who has chosen to "do" Yoga as such. It is said that you are chosen by Yoga. If that is the case you really have no choice. You can delay for a while - a long time sometimes - but in the end, if you are so chosen, Yoga will come to you in one way or another whether you like it or not.
Q: What style or type of Yoga should I choose?
A: Yoga is very versatile, and it caters to all kinds of personalities. Sometimes the great trick for you will be to identify which of the many Yoga orientations to follow - which one suits your own personality. So it depends what you want or what you are looking for. Once you find your path you are like a duck in water. You will know when you spend some time with a particular Yoga orientation. Do a bit of research into the various Yoga Paths. Try a few of them that seem interesting and attractive to you. It will soon become clear to you. Then, stick with that until it either works for you or doesn't work at all.
Q: Do I need a Teacher, an instructor, or a Guru?
A: Even in the world of Yoga, there are diverse views on this - strong views. Always try to be practical. Also, simplify things. In today's world, you have access to a vast array of information. Do a bit of research. There is much you can do on your own and much you can learn by yourself.
However, if your search continues and deepens, at some point it may be more conducive to your development to elicit some help. Yoga is an art but it is also a science, and like it is with any science, at some point you will find yourself at a loss. Then, find help.
There is more to this though; in Yoga it is said, and it is also my experience that a Teacher will become available to you at the time that you need one. It is also said that you do not so much seek out a Teacher as what it is that the Teacher has been waiting for you - perhaps for some time already - and will become known to you at the appropriate time. Personally my advice to you is to not overly concern yourself with it. The Divine has a way of furthering the Divine so you'll be fine.
Finally, on a subtle level, in Truth you, the Teacher (the Guru), and the Divine are not separate entities. Think on that and consider the implications, then reconsider your question.
Q: What is this Individual Soul you speak of?
A: There are differing views, but I follow a philosophy and Path of Advaita (non-duality), and as such, there is no essential difference between your individual soul and the Absolute Divine Oneness. In the Upanishads, this is so beautifully and powerfully stated as:
“Om Tat Sat – Tat Twam Asi” (I am That – That I am).
Perhaps a story that utilizes imagination will do now…
Imagine you very rarely see the ocean, and one time you finally happen to be sitting on the beach once again. You are quite enchanted with the ocean, which is not a difficult thing even for people living right on its shores.
You decide to buy a fine crystal container, round-shaped with a tiny lid and you fill this little container with some water from the ocean and seal it. The water looks so good in the container and you really like the whole idea of the special water in the fine crystal container and decide to keep it with you.
On the long journey back to your home far from the ocean, from time to time you bring out the container and look at the water again. You show everybody who seems to even have the mildest interest in it, and when people ask you, you tell them it is the ocean.
Over time you grow a good deal attached to the little ocean-container and keep it nearby you all the time. It becomes dear to you and very close to your heart. You think of it as the ocean.
The Individual Soul (or “Jiva”) can be seen in a similar way.
By means of the scalpel called “I”, you cut and divide the Absolute Divine Oneness of your Self and take a tiny part of it as something you love and adore. Over time the tiny self is seen as all that there is, but of course this is a limited view. This self-limited self is what can be seen in a way as the Individual Soul. It is usually the basis for what you call "I" or "me", which you given (or accepted) a name – your name – and an identity and characteristics and personality features, even though none of these really belong or attach to it.
The Yoga philosophy states that the Jiva can be found quite easily and quite naturally. It is situated dead-center in the chest, one digit (about an inch) to the right, and it is the place your fingers touch when you emphatically say (and point to) “me, me”. Right there is where it resides as individualized consciousness. So simplistic and to the point is Yoga. Nothing complicated.
The aim of Yoga is to take your fine crystal container full of ocean water (your Jiva) and gently, but ever increasingly put pressure on it. At enlightenment the crystal shell is crushed and the water can return to its source - the ocean. In the same way the Jiva (your individualized self) can merge once again with its Source – the Absolute Divine Oneness – or your true Self.
A: Mantra is a Sanskrit word. It means “sacred utterance”.
There are various mantras for various reasons. Initially they can serve a multitude of purposes for you. They can be inspirational, serve as a reminder, calm you down, etc. But the true purpose of a mantra, generally speaking, is to help you focus your mind while at the same time relaxing your mind. In this way, it becomes easier for you to then “follow” (the slowing down of) your mind back to its Source – your Self.
A mantra is repeated – usually in sets of 108 - using mala beads. Some Yoga philosophies suggest that the repetition of a mantra is in this age the easiest way to reach Enlightenment. However, Mantra Japa is a very complex science in many ways. There are various mantras, usually given to you by your Guru or Teacher. Some of these mantras are unique to you and are kept secret for all time. Many others are "public domain".
For general purposes, you should find for yourself a well-known, established mantra that sounds pleasing to you and try to repeat it as often as you can. These mantras carry with them the consciousness (you can almost say “vibe”) that were instilled in them originally (and over time), but also contain the power inherent in its very sound.
More specifically, and more spiritually, after long practice you do not say your mantra – it says you. It never leaves you, even under the most terrible of conditions. You “become” the sound and vibrations and the consciousness of your mantra. On this level, you and your mantra and the Absolute Divine Oneness (your Self) are not separate entities but are all One.
So initially the mantra relaxes your mind while at the same time focusing your mind. As your mind slows down, while focused (which is called 'meditation') your mind disappears into its Source (which is your Self). At that point you understand (Know) that You were, You are, (and You will be again) the creator of your mind.
As you emerge from meditation - as your mind returns - you see how it once again starts creating your "I" or "me" and your world by means of and according to the tendencies of your mind.
But the residue of the memory of Knowledge is a little bit stronger in you afterwards and you have taken a step further (or really, deeper) into your Self Inquiry and Self-Realization. The next meditation will be just a little bit easier. I have written about Mantra here, if you'd like to see.
Therefore, do Japa (repeat a mantra), serve, meditate, and Realize.
Q: Will Tantra improve my sex life?
A: Tantra will inprove your understanding of yourself and your life and the world around you. Any change in your sex life will not be directly related to the domain of Tantra as such. Tantra, when practiced and blossoming in you will improve your entire life experience. Since sex is part of your life, that too will become better experienced. I hope that's clear.
Q: Do you teach any of the Tantric sexual practices?
A: No.
Q: Do you touch people and transmit spiritual power to them?
A: The question surprises me, but no. The practice you are referring to is "Shaktipat" ("shakti" means power and "pat" means touch), whereby such power can be passed from guru to disciple. Besides the fact that I am not your guru and you are not a disciple - I don't even work in those terms; I prefer the term "Friends" - the practice of Shaktipat I will leave to other yogis for a number of reasons. I would much rather bless you like you are blessing me now with your transmission of kind vibrations. Then we can become friends. But think deeper on this; even if we are miles apart it can still be so that we touch one another. If that touch happens in kindness and gentleness, with empathy, care, respect, and honor, is there not then also Love? That's more how I see this whole thing.
