A spiritual teacher explains how Niyam, or self-imposed discipline, is essential for spiritual realization. He describes his guru's three requirements for seeking Shiva: slower breath, deeper meditation, and reduced food intake. The speaker spent two years in Lucknow practicing austerity, eating mainly aloe vera and garlic.
It is the Niyam that is creating the balance in the universe. Realization can be in two ways. One, it can happen naturally. But in reality, what you think is two ways is not 2 ways, it's only one way. Even the realization that happens naturally, it is a realization that comes out of discipline. Comes out of what? Discipline. And it's not that I am realized so that the discipline now is not applicable on me. That is what led to the downfall. If you want to impose a niyam, start by first following it. That is how it goes in Shivayog. If you cannot follow a niyam, you have no right to impose it. My Guru told me, you want to take Shiva, you will have to do 3 things. I said, what? He said, one, your breath should be slower than anyone who is sitting in the hall. Second, your meditation should be more than anyone who is sitting in the hall. Third, your food should be lesser than anyone who is sitting in the hall. If you can do that, then we will talk. For 2 years I was in Lucknow eating nothing but aloe vera and garlic. Every Sunday I would eat good food. There were few people who would bring me nice food. That's it. The rest of the week I was eating aloe vera. Bleh! And garlic. It was my father's trick. Whenever there would be pretty woman, I would go, 'Namah Shivaya, stay away.' I think the garlic was his trick. But if you cannot follow a niyam, do not dare impose it. That is karma. And only that person can inspire the one who follows. Follows what? Niyam. On the path to realization, your best friend is Niyam. Your best friend is, is Niyam. And Niyam is guidelines. That I give to myself, which I have learned from my Guru, the guidelines that help me grow, evolve. For I am like creeper, I am like a creeper, and the Niyam is like the stick on which the creeper grows. A man that doesn't have Niyam will have not honesty. A man who doesn't have Niyam, his Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moha, Ahankar will find a way to seduce such a man on any path. But if I have Niyam, I will simply ask myself that this reaction that my subconscious is ready to give, Is it under my guideline? And if the answer comes no, then how can I do it? Human being is the only being that can flout niyam. Every other being is bound by natural niyam.
