Mindfulness

Just read this article titled Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Rarely Talk About. Here is an excerpt from the article:

A 2022 study, using a sample of 953 people in the US who meditated regularly, showed that over 10 percent of participants experienced adverse effects that had a significant negative impact on their everyday life and lasted for at least one month.

According to a review of over 40 years of research that was published in 2020, the most common adverse effects are anxiety and depression. These are followed by psychotic or delusional symptoms, dissociation or depersonalisation, and fear or terror.

Research also found that adverse effects can happen to people without previous mental health problems, to those who have only had a moderate exposure to meditation and they can lead to long-lasting symptoms.

The western world has also had evidence about these adverse effects for a long time.

In 1976, Arnold Lazarus, a key figure in the cognitive-behavioural science movement, said that meditation, when used indiscriminately, could induce "serious psychiatric problems such as depression, agitation, and even schizophrenic decompensation".

There is evidence that mindfulness can benefit people's well-being. The problem is that mindfulness coaches, videos, apps, and books rarely warn people about the potential adverse effects.

This reminded me of what Meher Baba had to say about the practices like yoga, deep meditation and various forms of asceticism. I used NotebookLM to search 76 sources and summarise Baba's views on such practices.

The Results of Yoga, Deep Meditation, and Ascetic Practices on the Spiritual Path

Introduction

According to Meher Baba, various spiritual disciplines—including the yogas, deep meditation, fasting, and asceticism—have been laid down by ancient sages to help aspirants traverse the spiritual path. While these practices can yield profound inner experiences, deep peace, and advanced spiritual powers, they also contain hidden traps. Without the guidance of a Perfect Master, the results of these practices frequently become severe liabilities, capable of ensnaring the aspirant in heightened illusions, egotism, or even causing a catastrophic spiritual fall.

How These Practices Can Be an Aid

1. Uprooting Past Impressions (Sanskaras)

The true yogas (Karma Yoga, Dnyan Yoga, Raj Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga) serve as prominent signposts on the path to Truth. When followed correctly, they can help uproot the heritage of accumulated impressions (sanskaras) that bind the soul.

• In Karma Yoga, one loses the self in selfless service.
• In Dnyan Yoga, the mind is utilized to contemplation and meditation to check the expression of desires, thereby wiping out sanskaras.
• In Raj Yoga, the aspirant aims to stop the mind from thinking through intense concentration, steadily lessening the grip of sanskaras.

2. Providing Spiritual Rest and Energy

Deep meditation and yogic practices can lead to yoga samadhi (a state of trance). While temporary, this state provides the aspirant with a profound sense of peace. Baba explains that yoga samadhi allows the pilgrim to rest, much like sound sleep, giving the seeker renewed energy to proceed further along the spiritual path.

3. Developing Dispassion and Control

Ascetic practices—such as fasting, solitude, and the denial of physical desires—introduce a "negative assertion" that can help decondition the mind from its habitual attachments to the gross world. When intelligently handled, meditation conserves mental energy, increases the power of concentration, and can occasionally yield inner revelation.

How These Practices Can Become a Liability

Despite their benefits, Meher Baba repeatedly warns that these practices are fraught with profound dangers for the independent seeker.

1. The Trap of Occult Powers (Siddhis)

Intense yogic practices and penance can awaken dormant occult powers, such as the ability to walk on water, read minds, raise the dead, or halt moving trains. However, these powers (siddhis) are considered phenomenal and have nothing to do with true spirituality. They are described as "spectacles of colored glass" that merely alter the appearance of illusion. The fascination with these powers often distracts the aspirant from the true goal of God-realization.

2. The Danger of Misusing Power

The acquisition of these powers becomes a severe liability, particularly on the fourth plane of consciousness, where the aspirant wields infinite energy. If a yogi falls prey to the overpowering temptation to misuse these powers (for either selfish reasons or mere display), it triggers a cataclysmic psychic crash. This disaster completely disintegrates the soul's gained consciousness, throwing the pilgrim all the way back to the rudimentary consciousness of a stone, forcing them to restart the entire evolutionary journey.

3. Addiction to Trance (Samadhi)

The trance state achieved through yoga or deep meditation (yoga samadhi or haal) is entirely different from the permanent divine state of nirvikalpa samadhi (God-realization). In yoga samadhi, the mind is only temporarily stilled; as soon as the yogi returns to normal consciousness, their ego, intellect, and worldly desires instantly resume functioning. Meher Baba likens this state to a drug addiction or intoxication; the yogi may feel like an emperor while in the trance, but eventually suffers a "headache" of worldly strain upon waking. Consequently, some yogis become so addicted to this bliss that they remain stuck in trance for centuries, completely halting their spiritual progress.

4. Ego Inflation and Hypocrisy

Ascetic practices often breed a dangerous spiritual ego. Meher Baba points out that adopting outward signs of renunciation—such as wearing ochre robes, growing long matted hair, smearing the body with ashes, or sitting naked in the snow—can falsely court respect from the public. This public homage nourishes a superiority complex, turning the aspirant into a hypocrite who outwardly poses as a saint but inwardly remains plagued by worldly desires. Baba emphasized that it is easier to sit naked on a snowbound peak of the Himalayas doing meditation than to live with him and obey him implicitly.

5. The Creation of New Bindings

Independent efforts to annihilate the ego through intense austerities often backfire. Penance, mechanical fasting, and rigid yogic disciplines can actually create new bindings. Trying to escape from actions merely results in the action of inactivity, which strengthens the knots of entanglement. Furthermore, premature or unguided awakening of the kundalini through yogic exercises can lead to self-deception and cannot take the aspirant to the ultimate goal.

Conclusion

Ultimately, while yoga, deep meditation, and asceticism can elevate an aspirant to great heights, they cannot permanently destroy the deep-seated legacy of past sanskaras. The ego cannot annihilate itself simply through its own efforts or mechanical disciplines. To transcend these profound liabilities, Meher Baba asserts that the aspirant must rely on pure love and complete surrender to a Perfect Master, whose grace alone can safely remove the final veils of illusion.

An Omen

Look at the table closely. It has a fine crack down the middle. Let's suppose someone is sitting at the table on New Year's Eve with his partner and he leans on it in such a way that this was the cause of the crack (very loud and sudden). What might such a crack portend? This is a dining table where people sit and eat their meals together. In the immediate aftermath of the crack, the man's partner accuses him of stupidity and he storms off not setting a good tone for the coming year. This is a scenario of setting for a coming novel. In terms of plot development what might such an occurrence logically portend given that it occurred significantly on New Year's Eve and in such a significant household location?

The Symbolism of the Fracture

The crack in this specific table is not merely a piece of broken furniture; it is the physical manifestation of a "schism" in the domestic foundation. Because this occurred on New Year's Eve—a threshold moment of superstition and looking forward—the crack functions as a terminal omen for the relationship's structural integrity.

The dining table is the altar of the home. It is where sustenance is shared and where the "family" is enacted daily. A crack running down the center, caused by the weight of one partner leaning on it, logically portends a year defined by the failure of support and the widening of a divide.

Plot Development: The Year of the "Divided Kingdom"

The narrative arc should follow the trajectory of the crack itself. The incident effectively ends the relationship on New Year's Eve, but the physical separation of the couple will likely take the next twelve months to catch up to the reality of the broken table.

1. The Immediate Aftermath: The Superficial Repair

Because the table is ornate and likely expensive (evident in the scrollwork and glass), they will not throw it away immediately. They will attempt to repair it. This mirrors their relationship dynamic in January and February. They will apply "glue" to the situation—apologies for the storming off, perhaps a professional repairman for the table—but the visual scar remains. The plot focuses on their attempt to live "as normal" over a visible wound. They are eating their meals over a fault line.

2. The Rejection of the Hearth

As the story progresses into spring, the table becomes a source of subconscious anxiety. The crack makes the surface uneven. A wine glass might wobble if placed on the fissure; a tablecloth might be used to hide it, symbolizing the secrets they start keeping.

The logical development is that they stop using the table. The man, remembering the accusation of "stupidity," will subconsciously avoid sitting there to avoid triggering the memory of his clumsiness and her contempt. They begin eating separately—him at the kitchen island, her on the sofa. The "hearth" goes cold. The crack has successfully displaced the ritual of communion.

3. The Causality of "Leaning"

The most crucial plot point is the cause of the break. He "leaned" on it. In a relationship, leaning represents a need for support. He put his weight on the structure of their life, and it snapped. Her reaction was not concern ("Are you hurt?"), but judgment ("You are stupid").

This portends that later in the novel, when he faces a genuine crisis (job loss, illness, moral dilemma) and "leans" on her for emotional support, she will fail him again. She will view his need as a liability. The table breaking was the foreshadowing that the relationship cannot bear his weight.

The Climax

The story culminates the following New Year's Eve. The table, perhaps weakened by the initial crack and the changing seasons (wood expanding/contracting), finally gives way completely or is the site of the final argument. The crack that started as a fine line eventually bifurcates the table entirely, leaving them with two useless halves—a perfect mirror of their separated lives as they finally admit the household is dissolved.

Nadine Tolstoy

I came across this interesting article about Leo Tolstoy and remembered that Nadine Tolstoy who married one of Leo Tolstoy's sons was one of Meher Baba's Western followers. Here is the article after which I'll write a little about Nadine Tolstoy.

Leo Tolstoy

Quote of the day by Leo Tolstoy: 'Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself'

Leo Tolstoy stands among the most revered and influential literary figures in human history. Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest writers ever to live, he dominated nineteenth-century literature through the sheer breadth and depth of his work. His monumental novels, including War and Peace, Anna Karenina, and Resurrection, reshaped the art of storytelling, while his short fiction such as Alyosha the Pot, After the Ball, and God Sees the Truth but Waits revealed his mastery of moral insight in compact form. Few writers have explored the human condition with such intensity, realism, and philosophical weight.

A Thought That Defined His Worldview

Tolstoy's writings were guided by deep ethical reflection and personal accountability. One of his most enduring observations remains profoundly relevant even today: "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." This idea encapsulates his lifelong struggle with conscience, morality, and self-transformation, themes that recur powerfully throughout his body of work.

Early Life and Personal Loss

Tolstoy was born at Yasnaya Polyana, his family's country estate located near Tula and south of Moscow. He was the fourth of five children born to Count Nikolai Ilyich Tolstoy, a decorated veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812, and Princess Mariya Tolstaya, née Volkonskaya. Tragedy struck early in his life, as he lost his mother at the age of two and his father by the time he was nine, experiences that deeply shaped his emotional and philosophical outlook.

Education and a Restless Youth

In 1844, Tolstoy enrolled at Kazan University to study law and Oriental languages. However, his academic journey was short-lived. Professors viewed him as disengaged and lacking discipline, and he ultimately abandoned his studies midway. Returning to Yasnaya Polyana, he drifted between Moscow, Tula, and Saint Petersburg, living an indulgent and carefree life. During this period of uncertainty, he began to write seriously, producing his first novel, Childhood, published in 1852, a semi-autobiographical exploration of youth and memory.

Realism and Literary Mastery

Tolstoy's fiction is distinguished by its unwavering commitment to portraying Russian society with honesty and depth. The Cossacks offered a vivid depiction of Cossack life through the lens of a Russian nobleman's romantic entanglement. Anna Karenina interwove the tragic fate of a woman constrained by social conventions with the spiritual journey of a landowner seeking purpose through labor and reform. Many of Tolstoy's most iconic characters reflected aspects of his own personality, including Pierre Bezukhov and Prince Andrei in War and Peace, Levin in Anna Karenina, and Prince Nekhlyudov in Resurrection.

Spiritual Awakening and Radical Beliefs

Following Anna Karenina, Tolstoy underwent a profound spiritual transformation. His later works, including The Death of Ivan Ilyich and What Is to Be Done?, articulated a radical Christian philosophy rooted in pacifism, moral purity, and social equality. These beliefs ultimately led to his excommunication from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1901. He came to reject much of Western culture, even criticizing his own celebrated novels as elitist expressions that failed to embody true Christian compassion.

Final Works and Enduring Praise

In Resurrection, Tolstoy exposed the cruelty of institutional systems and condemned the moral failures of organized religion. He also embraced and promoted the economic ideas of Georgism later in life. His influence has endured across generations, earning admiration from countless writers and critics. Virginia Woolf hailed him as the greatest of all novelists, while Gary Saul Morson described War and Peace as the finest novel ever written, securing Tolstoy's place as a timeless literary giant. 

 

Nadine Tolstoy

Now about Nadine:

Background and Identity

Countess Nadine Tolstoy (also referred to as Nadia) was the daughter-in-law of the famous Russian author Count Leo Tolstoy, having married his son, Ilya. She was a Russian émigré who had studied music at the University of Petrograd and spoke several languages. Described as an earnest seeker of Truth interested in mystical literature and esoteric philosophy, she had previously practiced kriya yoga under the guidance of Swami Yogananda.

First Contact and Recognition (1931)

Nadine first met Meher Baba on 19 November 1931 at the Harmon Retreat in New York. Upon seeing him, she exclaimed, "My search is over!". She intuitively recognised him as the Christ and felt he was her "resurrection". During this meeting:

*   Baba told her she had been waiting for him for a long time and that he would help her.

*   He instructed her that the yoga exercises she was practicing were "not for the West" and not for her, signaling a shift to his guidance.

*   To distinguish her from his cousin Naja, Baba changed her nickname from Nadia to Nadine.

She later brought her husband, Ilya, to meet Baba. Ilya was deeply impressed, stating he felt Baba’s divine influence. Ilya passed away a year and a half later, an event which the sources note "freed Nadine to journey to India to be with Baba".

Discipleship and Service in India

Nadine became one of Baba's close Western disciples, joining him on travels and living in his ashrams in India.

Ashram Life and Duties

*   Nasik (1937): Nadine resided at the Nasik ashram where her assigned duties included translating Baba’s life and messages into Russian and assisting other Western disciples like Norina Matchabelli and Ruano Bogislav.

*   Hospital Matron (1938): When Baba established a hospital for women on Meherabad Hill, Nadine served as the Matron under a woman doctor. Baba explained that he gave her this work to teach her the "real spirit of serving — selflessness". She witnessed the "holy wine" of Baba's embrace reviving the hopes of the destitute patients.

*   Bangalore (1939): She lived with the mandali at the "Links" bungalow and participated in public events, delivering speeches about her experiences with Baba at the Bangalore Town Hall and the Indian Institute of Science.

Personality and Baba's View

Baba described Nadine as a "beautiful soul" and promised to repay her for her suffering with permanent bliss. He once commented on her solitary nature within the group, stating she was "most fortunate" because her nature did not agree with anyone else's, forcing her to lean entirely on him rather than on other disciples. He added that she was so loving she would speak for him "even on the top of Mount Everest with only the snow to hear her".

Return to the West and Final Years

Nadine returned to the West in the early 1940s, eventually living in New York with fellow disciples Norina Matchabelli and Elizabeth Patterson. She continued to work for Baba through "life surrender".

Death

Nadine Tolstoy passed away on 14 April 1946, at the age of 62, in Roosevelt Hospital, New York. Upon receiving the news, Meher Baba cabled: "Tell Elizabeth, Nadia lives in me, with me and for me more than ever before". He referred to her as "one of my rocks on whom I can depend".

Although she died in America, Baba left instructions for her tombstone in India (likely for her ashes), ordering the epitaph: "Nadine Tolstoy, her happiness was Baba".

There's more about Nadine at this location. 

Meher Baba and the Significance of the Number Seven

Based on the provided sources, Meher Baba frequently referenced the number 7 to explain the structure of the universe, the evolution of consciousness, the anatomy of the human form, and the timing of the Avatar’s advent. Additionally, he often utilized the number 7 in his spiritual work, rituals, and instructions to disciples.

Here is a report on Meher Baba's references to the number 7.

1. Cosmology and the Structure of the Universe

Meher Baba described the number 7 as significant to the fundamental structure of creation, originating from the initial clash between Energy (Pran) and Matter (Akash).

• Origins: In the beginning, the clash between Matter and Energy divided Energy’s powers into seven forces.
• Structure: There are seven worlds, seven skies, seven suns, seven moons, seven planes, and seven heavens,.
• Shadows of God: The gross universe is described as the seventh shadow of the original Light of God. The "Original Sound" (Om Point) manifests as seven sounds; the music of the subtle plane is a shadow of this Original Sound.
• The Seven-Fold Veil: The spiritual path involves removing the "sevenfold veil" of illusion. Entering the path involves a "seven-in-one achievement," which includes unfastening the first knot, the disappearance of the first fold, and wiping out the first of the seven deep, dark colors.

2. Evolution and Involution of Consciousness

The number 7 is central to Meher Baba’s explanation of how consciousness develops from the most finite state to the infinite state.

• Evolutionary Leaps: To achieve full consciousness in human form, the soul must pass through seven major leaps of evolution: stone, metal, vegetable, worm, fish, bird, and animal,,.
• Twists and Shakes: In the process of evolution, there are seven twists of sanskaras. After every seventh stage or form, there is a twist. The soul goes through 84 lakhs (8.4 million) of shakes (births and deaths) during this process,,.
• The Seven Planes (Involution): After attaining human form, the soul eventually enters the process of involution, ascending through seven planes of consciousness,,. The seventh plane is the final goal where the soul realizes its identity as God,,.
• Involutionary Stages: There are seven stages of "descent" (winding of sanskaras) and seven stages of "ascent" (unwinding/involution),.

3. The Human Form

Meher Baba explained that the human body reflects the structure of the universe, specifically regarding the number 7.

• Openings in the Head: There are seven openings in the human head: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and one mouth.
• Parts of the Body: The body consists of seven parts: two arms, two legs, two openings (front and back), and the trunk.
• Correspondence to Planes: The seven parts of the physical body (front) correspond to the seven planes, while parts on the back of the body correspond to the seven heavens.

4. The Avataric Cycle and Spiritual Hierarchy

• 700-Year Cycle: Meher Baba stated that the Avatar (the Ancient One) returns to earth every 700 years,. At the end of a cycle, he returns to bestow his "Ancient State".
• 7th Plane Beings: While there are always five Perfect Masters (Sadgurus/Qutubs), the sources note there are generally three beings on the seventh plane in India (two Majzoobs and one Jivanmukta),.
• Seven Realities: Meher Baba gave a specific teaching titled "The Seven Realities," which are: Real Existence, Real Love, Real Sacrifice, Real Renunciation, Real Knowledge, Real Control, and Real Surrender,,.

5. Symbolism and Rituals in Baba’s Work

Meher Baba frequently employed the number 7 in his external work, instructions to mandali, and symbolic gestures.

• The Seven-Colored Flag: In 1924, Baba designed a flag with seven colors to represent the seven planes of consciousness and the sanskaras. He specified that red should be at the bottom (representing the grossest impressions) and sky blue at the top,,.
• Masts and the Poor: Baba often worked with groups of seven poor people (washing their feet and giving money),, or seven masts (God-intoxicated souls),.
• Repetition of Names: Baba often instructed disciples to repeat a name of God or a specific prayer seven times,,,.
• Fasting and Seclusion: He frequently set periods of fasting or seclusion for seven days,.
• Other Symbolic Uses:
  • Baba utilized a seven-metal spade for the ground-breaking of his center.
  • He planted seven mango saplings.
  • He referenced seven types of masts (plus a rare eighth type).
  • During a drive in 1956, he stood at four compass points and worked, wearing a garland of seven sea shells representing the seven stages of man.

6. Numerological Significance

According to an astrological analysis in the sources, Meher Baba's birth date (25-2-1894) reduces to the number 7 (2+5=7). In numerology, the number 7 is described as symbolizing "unifying Good and Evil," the power of spirit over matter, and is governed by the planet Neptune.

The Limited Ego

This was the daily quote from the Avatar Meher Baba Bombay Centre:

(Jan. 1939) . . . Dr. Deshmukh arrived from Nagpur to see Baba in Jabalpur. His mind was quite troubled and he told Baba that people were asking him why Baba was calling himself “God.” They were saying, “Isn’t this the expression of his ego? Isn’t he a supreme egotist?” Deshmukh did not know how to answer them. To pacify Deshmukh, Baba gave this explanation:

In all that a God-Realized soul or an ordinary man says or does, the “I” in him asserts itself. The difference between the two is that the “I” in the ordinary man is limited, whereas in the God-Realized being it is unlimited. If Deshmukh says, “I have written the book,” it is the limited “I” in Deshmukh asserting a certain job he has done. But when I say, “I am God,” it is the unlimited “I” asserting its universal aspect.

The limited “I” must go for the unlimited “I” to take its place. The limited “I” is like a seven-headed demon. The seven heads of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy and hatred must be killed so thoroughly that not even the slightest trace remains. When the false “I” is completely destroyed, another “I,” which is Real and Unlimited, takes its place.

 Lord Meher, Original Publication, Bhau Kalchuri, Vol.7, p. 2354. 

I put the final paragraph to Gemini with the following prompt:

Imagine the following quote as an image that encapsulates the essential message in the text. Harte is the text: “ The limited “I” must go for the unlimited “I” to take its place. The limited “I” is like a seven-headed demon. The seven heads of lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, jealousy and hatred must be killed so thoroughly that not even the slightest trace remains. When the false “I” is completely destroyed, another “I,” which is Real and Unlimited, takes its place.” 

Figure 1 shows its Gemini's response:

Figure 1

Here was Gemini's thinking leading to its creation:

Dissecting Key Elements

I'm now focusing on deconstructing the quote to isolate the critical components. I've pinpointed the key elements: a "limited 'I'," represented as a seven-headed demon, the "Real and Unlimited 'I'," and the core process of destruction and transition. The goal is to visually represent this dynamic.

Defining Visual Representation

I'm now progressing toward the creation of a visual representation. I've broken down the central quote to clarify its key elements. I'm focusing on the "limited 'I'," the "Real and Unlimited 'I'," and the process of change. I'm developing imagery of a seven-headed figure and a glowing orb.

Considering Symbolic Visuals

I'm currently focused on the symbolic representation within the generated content. The aim is to ensure the visual elements effectively convey the intended meaning, specifically the contrast between limitation and boundlessness. The core concern is the accurate depiction of this transition.

Refining Symbolic Depiction

I'm now zeroing in on the visual metaphors used to communicate the core concept. The central focus is on refining how the images depict the shift from constraint to freedom. I will emphasize the relationship between the visual elements to ensure clarity, as this is critical to the image's effectiveness.

Figure 2 shows a seven-headed Naga:

Cambodian seven-headed nāga
at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.