The Journey of Sri M: From Mystic to Social Reformer
Sri M Videos
Sri M is a modern mystic, an acclaimed teacher of Vedanta and Kriya Yoga, an educationist, social reformer and crusader for inter-religious harmony. He lives a life of a householder with his wife and children, has written a best-selling autobiography, and speaks at spiritual gatherings worldwide.
M was walking along the Ganga near Vanchiyoor one day, when He spotted across the rocky beach a woman who looked ageless. She was wearing no clothes and bare-bodied.
About Sri M
Sri M is a social reformer, educator, spiritual guide and yoga teacher. He established The Satsang Foundation twenty years ago and is involved in a number of initiatives, including free schools, community health, environment and nurturing the innate goodness of humanity. He is well-versed with teachings of most major religions, but he emphasizes transcending their outer shell and reaching their mystical core.
M was born in Kerala as Mumtaz Ali and lived his early life as a normal man with a job, family and all the trappings of modern society. When he was nine, a strange thing happened. He was standing in the backyard of his home in Vanchiyoor and a tall figure suddenly appeared in front of him. This figure touched him and left with a promise to meet him again. He then left for the Himalayas to search for his guru. In the Himalayas, he met a master, Maheshwarnath Babaji, who was to be his guru.
Autobiography
A spiritual guide, author, global speaker and social reformer, Sri M was born into a Muslim family in Kerala, India on 6 November 1948. His transformation into a living yogi is a fascinating story symbolized by single-minded discipline and dedication.
His autobiography, Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master: A Yogi’s Autobiography, was published in 2010, and is a bestseller. A sequel, ‘The Journey Continues’, was released in 2017. Both books detail many apparently miraculous events that challenge modern science and common beliefs about the universe.
He has also written books on the Upanishads and on meditation, ‘On Meditation – Finding Infinite Bliss and Power Within.’ In this book, Sri M explains the benefits of a regular practice of ‘anushashan’ – controlled moderation in Ahaar (intake), Vihaar (movement) and Achaar (conduct). He proves that yoga is not restricted to any religion or belief system in his book, ‘Yoga Also for The Godless.’. This is a must-read for anyone interested in spirituality and inner growth.
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga is a time-tested route for man to attain the supreme goal of life – God-realization. It provides spiritual philosophy, practices, meditation methods, a spiritually-based lifestyle, and initiation. It enables seekers of truth from all religious backgrounds to become masters of their lives.
Through kriyas, the yogi mentally directs life energy to revolve up and down around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, sacral, coccygeal, and sacral-coccygeal). When these energy channels (nadis) work together in harmony, they open the central channel of Sushumna. When this is the case, the yogi experiences a state of oneness with the infinite spirit.
Practicing these ancient yogic techniques helps to clear the mind, to balance the energies of the body and to intensify intellectual faculties. It also enables the yogi to achieve a high degree of mental stability and to overcome ill health and emotional instability. It also leads to an ultimate freedom from material limitations. It takes compassion and patience to perform these kriyas.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body practice that reduces stress, improves sleep, increases self-esteem and enhances intelligence. It can also strengthen the immune system, lower blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and reduce the build-up of plaque in coronary arteries. It can also reduce pain, anxiety and depression and help people to be more creative and less prone to anxiety and negative emotions like anger.
It can also be helpful in improving concentration, learning and memory. In meditation, you learn to focus on one thing at a time and when the mind wanders, you bring it back to the present moment. It is like exercise for the brain, and the more you meditate, the more efficient your attention becomes.
Many people misunderstand what meditation is and what it is not. They think it means sitting in a lotus pose, but meditation is actually about relaxing and reposing in your true nature. It is about regaining a healthy sense of perspective, so you are not stuck in a cycle of regretting the past or worrying about the future.