This Page attempts to list some of the more significant reviews of Laghu Guru Upanishad

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Review by Dr. Jeffery D. Long
Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies
School of Arts & Humanities
Elizabethtown College

I wanted to inform you that I have, at long last, finished my reading of Laghu Guru Upanishad: Spiritual Teachings of Sri Sivabala Yogi. As I mentioned in my previous note, I have enjoyed it thoroughly. It is not, of course, your average book. I found that I needed to read small portions each day and then reflect upon them, rather than reading large batches quickly, as I do most books. I also found myself, interestingly, slipping into a meditative state while reading it on a number of occasions. This slowed my reading, but also made for a unique experience. This is a powerful book, full of spiritual truth conveyed in a clear and concise way.  It speaks to the conscious mind, but on a subtle level as well.

Sri Sivabala Yogi’s emphasis on Silence, and what he means by it, is certainly a central piece of his teaching.

As a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna, I was very happy to see him mentioned several times in the book, including it being noted that he and Sri Ramana Maharshi were the only two satgurus to appear in India in the course of the last couple of centuries. I found everything in the book to be consistent with the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, even though expressed in a somewhat different way. Of course, the great Masters are all having the same experience, so there will be an ultimate harmony of all their teachings, even if expressed differently for different groups of aspirants.

So I want to thank you for introducing me to this important Master. I can see myself referring to this book in my own future work, as well as using it as a guide to spiritual practice.

Dr. Bob Waxman, Ph.D.

The Open Center

What a wonderful book you have written! I truly enjoyed every chapter. Additionally, your clear explanations of difficult concepts will help beginners and advanced students to understand the essence of Guru Upanishad. 

The book touches on many important themes found other ancient texts such as: the other Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, Vedantic teachings, Pantanjali’s writings, and many profound concepts in scholarly Indian Philosophy. You’ve emphasized the importance of oneness, unity, non-duality, and the path to self-realization for those searching for inner peace, contentment, happiness and the true meaning and purpose of life.  

The answers given are to the point, non-redundant and have a sense of compassion, which exemplifies your empathy and talents as a teacher. This is not a religious book, but rather a “how to manual” for focusing the mind and learning how to control it. It’s refreshing to read about going deeply within to find our true inner nature which is rooted in the One Reality. Additionally, I related to many of the most powerful teachings you spoke of in Jnana Yoga (my personal favorite).

Again, many thanks for sending the book. It should be used as a primary text for teaching others about The Paths of Yoga, Silence and Knowledge. It’s the best book I’ve read on Indian Philosophy that explains the need to do the work, practice constantly, control the mind, and move closer toward Samadhi.

My only suggestion for a Western audience is to increase the size of the typeface and split the book into two volumes. It will be easier to read and the editions will be smaller.

Review By Lt Gen Ajai Singh, PVSM, AVSM (retd) the former Governor of Assam.

Before sharing my views on reading this ‘SPIRITUAL MARVEL’, I am inwardly compelled to give my brief introduction so that what I write is read in the proper perspective. Here are some basic facts about me:-

I come from a very conservative family of Rajasthan where spirituality in traditional form occupied a pride of place in all social activity.

• By tradition and profession, I am a soldier with that background and concomitant mind set.
• At adulthood in my professional career, I was introduced to ‘SPIRITUALITY by a senior colleague of mine and my mind suddenly awakened and became intensely curious to pursue the intellectual logic written in various SCRIPTURES ( like Bhagavad Gita, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Sri Raman Maharishi to name a few).

• In my Regiment because of this sudden inclination towards spiritualism, I got into a group of likeminded officers among whom; Gurprasad happened to be one. Initially at least Gurprasad and I did not take to spirituality with the seriousness it demanded; but our interest and fascination never faded away. It was by a stroke of good destiny that we came in contact with SWAMIJI and were blessed with his ‘DHIKSHA’ from then onwards we never turned back. The fact that Gurprasad took it more seriously and I continued to remain casual is a separate matter.
• Our chance meeting with Swamiji is a story by itself, but it will be out of context to narrate it here; suffice it to mention that, to surprise of the reader, it was I who was responsible for getting Gurprasad and our other colleagues in contact with the Swamiji.

• Swamiji has been very protective and kind to me in so many ways; both in my professional and personal endeavors and I could just keep recounting those innumerable events to the reader’s amazement. However despite those unusual episodes and blessings in abundance that I had the good fortune to receive, till I read LGU, I failed to grasp the LOFTY DIVINE STATUS of our BELOVED SWAMIJI. I have just completed reading this marvelous spiritual legend and my first reaction was of a ‘THIRSTY MAN SITTING NEAR A FLOWING FRESH WATER RIVER AND NOT KNOWING HOW TO QUENCH HIS THIRST’. I really feel that all my spiritual reading, limited attempt at practice and being in spiritual company of highly evolved people including my very dear WIFE has still left me nowhere in my sincere spiritual pursuit. I now understand why every time I met Gurprasad he told me “TIGER (that is how we fondly address each other) AP ‘DHYAN’ KARTE HO YA NAHIN? ‘DHYAN HI DHYAN KARTE RAHO AUR SWAMIJI AP KO SAMPURNA GYAN DE DENGE”. Having now read this remarkable BOOK he has authored, I know why he was constantly insisting on just ‘DHYAN’; because that is the only WEAPON which can PIERCE through the MAZE of MAYA to reach the source of CREATION and final NIRVAN.
• Finally, let me be very honest; I do not claim to be ‘a BOOK review writer, so what follows in this write up are purely my subjective views about LGU; but ‘subjective ONLY when viewed from my personal view point’. That is why I have given the title ‘IMPACT ON MY MIND AFTER READING LGU’. So far as the contents of the Book are concerned; I will try and be as OBJECTIVE as my mental horizons permit me and NOT be carried away by the fact that it has been written by a dear friend of mine.

This brings me to my impressions about LGU. I have always felt that any form of communication; verbal or written can only be perfect if the originator and the receiver are on a matching FREQUENCY; which is seldom there? To add to, this if the subject deals with ABSTRACT matter like SPIRITUAL dimensions; the communication gap widens further. This is the most MYSTIC power that MAYA (the phenomenon world) possesses and no living being has been absolved of it except ‘AWTARS’. Any number of lofty scriptures is available expounding spiritual paths to tread for understanding the mystery of CREATION to the find ULTIMATE REALITY, but because of limitations of; firstly LANGUAGE and then the MENTAL evolvement of the INDIVIDUAL, very few can maintain the FIRM RESOLVE needed to tread the path to its end. LGU therefore has to be viewed against the backdrop of the modern social cum spiritual milieu, the popularity of international language (ENGLISH), the reading habits of the present day book reader, the diminished zest for spiritual quest and the multiple hazards of modern day life style.

If LGU is viewed in the above context, it is a MASTER PIECE OF LITERARY WORK ON SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE. I state this with so much conviction because of the following reasons:-

• I have personally known Swamiji and Gurprasad very intimately and hence EVERY word written in the BOOK is not only authentic but loaded with SWAMIJI’S DEPTH OF SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND UNQUALIFIED CONFIDENCE IN HIS LOVED AND CHOSEN DISCIPLE GURPRASAD TO SPREAD IT AROUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MODERN WORLD SOCIETY TO SEEK SALVATION.
• I must compliment Gurprasad for adopting the very personalized theme of ‘QUESTION and ANSWER’ as it makes the book not only very readable but almost takes you into it as a live LISTENER.

• The language used is also very remarkable and unique as he has managed to communicate very abstract spiritual events, philosophical content, visions, realizations and so in very simple understandable manner which is easy for even a RAW spiritually aspirant to grasp.

• The RANGE of questions he has posed to Swamiji is the very ones which must be irking any common man for clarification/elaboration.

• He has also taken the initiative to summarize the essence of Chapter’s content at the end of each chapter to simplify the lofty contents which Swamiji’s answers so graphically were elaborated.

• The narration of Swamiji’s most awe inspiring life sketch has been beautifully put across and once the reader starts that Chapter it is difficult to take one’s eyes off. After reading it I felt very sorry to realize that I only saw only that MOST LOVING, EVER SMILING GURU OF MINE; who was so kind and affectionate to one and all; but did not realize that I WAS SITTING IN THE PRESENCE OF MAHADEV CUM PARVATI in ONE FORM.

This brings me to the matter of my greatest concern. When one reads LGU there are some questions that start bugging the mind and I can list out a few ones that I could guess:-

• Is this dialogue between Swamiji and Gurprasad authentic or made up as best seller for the present day sue do spiritual communities which are mushrooming cheaper by a dozen?
• Or is it well constructed Book for a common reader who wants to learn about spirituality by taking well-arranged extracts from existing scriptures?

• Can a devotee in DHYAN get so much GYAN in such well-arranged and logical manner?

• Will any enlightened SOUL reveal so much to a simple aspirant?

• Who is GURPRASAD? An apostle who has accompanied Swamiji to spread his WISDOM or just a normal devotee?

• How did Gurprasad retain so much data revealed by Swamiji and in such a cohesive manner as this was all being revealed during Dhyan?

This logically brings me to the very subtle way Swamiji has organized the MISSION for which he had to take a HUMAN incarnation with all its MAYA hazards. To my simple mind, GURPRASAD has been chosen by Him as the FOUNTAINHEAD to propagate his WISDOM in ‘KALYUG’. There after it is his indirect COMMAND that all those who have had the benefit of his blessings must become the CONDUITS to Gurprasad to spread his ‘GYAN’ through LGU; which has been mentally and literary pitched at the level at which the SPIRITUAL ambience is prevailing in this materially oriented YUG; (a YUG, which is a very fertile FIELD for MAYA to operate adlib).

Without in the least being presumptuous, let me suggest to all Swamiji’s devotees that they should read this Book to fully understand who this DIVINE BEING was and why he came, did what he did and like the whispering wind left this relative existence; leaving behind SPIRITUAL FRAGRANCE IN THE FORM OF LGU TO READ, GET INTOXICATED AND IN THAT STATE, SEEK THE ULTIMATE REALITY AND MERGE WITH IT FOREVER. If the devotees take this approach, I am more than confident that they will be able motivate some of their close relatives, friends and associates to acquire LGU, read and popularize it. NO better service Swamiji is expecting from his large number of his devotees who were beneficiaries of HIS DIVINE GRACE.

Finally here is a word of advice to a spiritually very raw but inquisitive reader. I would suggest that he reads Chapter 5 first; as that graphically narrates the entire spiritual journey of Swamiji. It is only after reading through it will the reader realize and understand WHO THIS DIVINE BEING WAS AND WHY HE DESCENDED ON THIS EARTH. Once Swamiji’s IMAGE captures and grips the reader, all the other Chapters read in the sequence they have laid out will flow out; impacting the MIND in a SLOW, SOOTHING, And SYSTEMATIC and HARMONIOUS RHYTHM.

I will not do justice to this long write up if I do not convey my genuine, sincere and loving gratitude to Gurprasad for allowing me and the entire HUMANITY to share this PROFOUND SPIRITAUL WISDOM that Swamiji had revealed to him throughout his intense and determined SADHANA. Equally I must admire and compliment him for taking all the trouble and effort to reducing all the acquired KNOWLEDGE so lucidly in writing and that to in such simple language, which is within the understanding of all range of spiritual seekers – from BEGINERS TO THE INTELLECTUALS AND TO THE EVOLVED.

Let me wind up by the great saying of Granthsaab:-

“GURU GOVIND DONO MILE KA KE LAGUN PAON; GURU BALIHARI APKI GOVIND DIYO MILAYE”

To conclude, this I feel is the essence of the entire BOOK and being a SOLDIER let me put it in that language. There are basically THREE weapons to REACH the OBJECTIVE; these being – LOVE, CONCENTRATION and FIRM RESOLVE. The individual cannot fore sake the THIRD, but has a choice between the first TWO. The romantic ones can chose the FIRST and the WARRIORS the SECOND. Ultimately both backed by the THIRD will meet at the OBJECTIVE and the SURPRISE of MISSION accomplishment will be OVERWHELMING. LIFE is basically a WAR against MAYA, LGU was spelled out the above STRATEGY, now it is for the SEEKER to brace himself and LAUNCH to fulfill LORD SWAMIJI’S MISSION for the happiness of the wayward HUMANITY.

Review by Christopher Quilkey from The Mountain Path

LAGHU GURU UPANISHAD – Spiritual Teachings of Sri Sivabala Yogi
By Gurprasad
Publishers – Partridge India
ISBN Softcover – 978-1-4828-6997-2
eBook – 978-1-4828-6996-5

We published an article in the previous issue of the magazine on the life of Sri Sivabala Yogi(1935-1994). His teachings are fully revealed in a considerable book yet to be published Guru Upanishad, but in the meantime the questioner and compiler, Gurprasad has given us the consent of the guru, a Laghu(smaller or condensed) Guru Upanishad, Even so this is a major book dense with spiritual knowledge. One realises quite quickly after a short perusal of this book that Sivabala Yogi is no ordinary person. His vast knowledge of yoga practices which are the means to obtain advanced states of consciousness, and his comprehensive understanding of the metaphysical nature of reality are self-evident. Throughout the book is the constant refrain about the importance of the practice of dhyana and control of mind if one is to understand the higher teachings. The tone is one of common sense and practicality.

Sri Sivabala Yogi gives detailed instructions on the path of seva, love and devotion, knowledge, silence, powers, samadhi, realisation and tapas. Many readers who have years of meditation practice will be familiar with broad sweep of most of the teachings given here with their characteristic common sense but what is different here is the comprehensive nature of the explanations given in a reasonable, matter of fact and logical way. We are in the presence of a master.

“Every seeker begins his quest from duality (i.e. a jiva’s current state of ignorance) and passes through qualified monism (in which an aspirant experiences his or her subjectivity, i.e. destruction of the ‘I’ sense or mind or ignorance). In other words, duality is experienced in the stages of manolaya (subsidence of mind), qualified monism in lower samadhi and non-dualism in the highest samadhi”

Part Five of the present book under review is an extensive extract about the life of Sri Sivabala Yogi followed by a detailed questioning of him about his life and teachings he directly imparts.

The book can be ordered on amazon.in

Christopher Quikey
The Mountain Path

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Review By Amar Singh a Devotee from Kota

Most people find present day life stressful and there is a feeling of inadequacy in their quest for sustained happiness. Some have spiritual inclination but do not know how to proceed beyond reading holy books, visiting places of pilgrimage and indulgence in ritual forms of worship. Laghu Guru Upanishad (LGU) offers hope for all, as it is a guide and virtual textbook for anyone wanting to pursue a spiritual quest and seek contentment, peace of mind and eternal happiness, provided he or she is prepared to make the right effort.
Sri Sivabala Yogi, (Swamiji, as he was known to his devotees) has made accessible divine knowledge to all struggling souls who wish to understand the essentials of a spiritual inquiry and start practice. The knowledge given in LGU has been revealed in bhava samadhi to the author, Gurprasad. It is indeed a rare phenomenon in this kaliyuga (dark age). Very few can comprehend how this vast knowledge could be acquired without any physical speech or written communication! Gurprasad with his own insight on the subject has questioned Swamiji in a very systematic manner. The text is laid out in questions and answers for ease of assimilation, particularly for those not very familiar with the subject. The central theme of Swamiji’s teaching is the control of individual mind, yet in a wide sweep all aspects of spirituality have been covered.
The initial chapter contains instructions of a general nature. Tradition of guru-disciple relationship is the bedrock of the Indian method of spiritual teaching. All aspects of this bond have been discussed. Swamiji emphasis on the absolute necessity of a competent guru, one who is compassionate to teach and has earned the divine power to remove the last vestige of ignorance from an aspirant’s mind. How to find a suitable guru? Swamiji’s advice is that anyone even remotely concerned with name, fame and wealth must be avoided. Self-effort is the key to success. Issues pertaining to method of practice including place, posture, timing, diet, sleep, etc. are all covered. Besides regular practice, effort must be made to control the mind by inculcating divine qualities of love, devotion, discrimination, detachment, faith and humility; undesirable traits of attachment, desire, pride, anger and greed must be curtailed. It is a slow process and constant effort is needed.
The next two chapters detail the ultimate goal of practice which is to control the mind and not to find Reality which is attained on its own if success is achieved in the former. The nature of Reality is discussed. Although, It cannot be described in words, yet guru’s instruction indicates what It is not. Maya (ignorance) and its effect have been elaborated. A broad knowledge of the genesis of creation has been explained. Divine play (leela) and an individual’s place in the divine scheme of things is highlighted. The functioning of the individual mind and its control has been dealt in great detail. What is mind? How does it function? What is implied by control of mind? How is it disciplined and purified? Why is it so difficult? What is the role of effort and guru’s grace? All this and much more has been meticulously answered. Role of intelligence and will power in controlling the mind have been highlighted. Method for a beginner to go about a spiritual quest has been laid out. The primary methods to control the mind or the paths that lead to it have been covered. Traditionally these are the Paths of Service, Love and Devotion, Yoga, Knowledge and Silence.
The final chapter is about the life and mission of Sri Sivabalayogi. The account of his tapas (highest form of yoga that can be practised only by a divine incarnation) is awesome. Swamiji has been gracious to reveal the details of this unique spiritual feat which is most uncommon. The tapas was a stupendous event that in twelve years transformed an uneducated village boy into a yogi of the highest order. In essence, the tapas was undertaken to acquire spiritual power to grant salvation to his devotees.
The trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) has been charged by divine will to create the sensual phenomenon and perpetuate it in a cycle of sustenance and dissolution followed by recreation in the matrix of time (kal). The tapas was to control these forces in the cosmic mind for large number of his devotees who may seek Realisation. He took upon himself immense suffering to absolve his devotees of the harmful effects of their karma. The tapas has serious lessons for all aspirants. Important ones are to practice with determination, desirelessness and in a spirit of self-surrender.
Being a devotee of Sri Sivabalayogi and having known the author, one has been seriously practicing the teachings given in LGU for some years. The knowledge revealed by Sri Sivabalayogi is no doubt a key to the treasure-trove of liberation but sincere practice is a MUST. One’s own experience of contentment, detachment and a underlying feeling of peace are more than convincing of the veracity of the teachings and most of all, Swamiji’s Grace that takes one forward.
Blessed are those who read and practice the wisdom given in this Upanishad.

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Review By Brigadier SPS Dhaliwal(Retired) a devotee of Swamiji

Sri Sivabala Yogi (24 Jan 1935 – 28 Mar 1994) was a great saint of modern India. Born in Adivarupetta, a small hamlet in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh he was only 14 years and some months old when a divine event changed forever the course of his destiny. Ishwara (God) in the form of Sri Shankar Bhagwan appeared all of a sudden and blessed him resulting in his going into samadhi (the highest state of Self-Realisation) immediately. He was thereafter guided by him throughout his tapas (a special yogic discipline, practiced only by divine incarnations), which lasted for 12 long years from 07 Aug 1949 to 07 Aug 1961. He was then instructed by his guru (Shankar Bhagwan) to spread the divine teaching and initiate people on the path of yoga; it was to be made available to all those desirous of pursuing a spiritual quest. Sri Sivabala Yogi’s life story, specifically the severe tapas that he undertook, has many lessons for serious aspirants (sadhakas). Similarly, his teachings practiced faithfully offer hope to anyone who wishes to achieve one’s desired end; that could be a lower aim of living a peaceful and a happy life sans worries or strive for the highest state of knowing the Reality.
Sri Sivabala Yogi’s teachings were first revealed to Gurprasad in the primary book, Guru Upanishad, which is an exhaustive guide for aspirants of various grades and temperaments, who are curious to know the Truth. The word Upanishad, means to sit near a guru and listen to his or her divine teachings, on the Truth, in a mood of devotion.
The book contains divine knowledge of the highest quality, which is of special value for those seekers who want to pursue a spiritual quest seriously. To spread the divine word to a larger audience, not too familiar with spiritual matters but are yet keen to learn its basic knowledge, Swamiji (as Sri Sivabala Yogi was called by devotees), had directed Gurprasad to prepare an easier to read version of Guru Upanishad after its completion. Laghu (meaning smaller or condensed version of) Guru Upanishad has been written with that end in view.
Sri Sivabala Yogi’s basic teaching deals with control of mind and it does not advocate any religious beliefs. Mind is the cause of one’s suffering and unhappiness and it also has the power to get rid of them. The focus of the book is on “How to obtain real HAPPINESS” in these modern times where life is so very competitive and stressful.
The author is a veteran of the Indian Army who has penned this work under a pseudonym as directed to him by Sri Sivabala Yogi, his Guru. Gurprasad had spiritual leanings from his young days and he was initiated in the discipline of meditation by Sri Sivabala Yogi in April 1977. Over a period of a few years the divine knowledge given in Laghu Guru Upanishad was revealed to him, in bhava samadhi (a state of a highly purified mind). Sri Sivabala Yogi, taught the path of Silence, a composite of all spiritual disciplines that could, in effect, lead an aspirant to practise any path suitable to his or her nature. However, the primary focus in the initial stages was to practice meditation by following the path of yoga.The essence of the teaching of Sri Sivabala Yogi is that “liberation is attained by making the mind silent through the practice of meditation on the self (atman dhyana), a variant of the path of Silence.” Practice (sadhana) is the systematic and disciplined effort done regularly by an aspirant to put into effect the guru’s teaching. It culminates in Realisation and must not be given up till that goal is achieved. One who indulges in practice is called an aspirant (sadhak) or seeker (of Truth).
I have had the good fortune of being initiated and blessed by Swamiji way back in 1982 on his visit to Ambala, which was a turning point in my life. Mind you, at that point in time, one was too busy with one’s professional life and did not devote enough time to make the most of his blessings. On hindsight, I could have always squeezed in time for meditation with a view to control the mind, the essence of Swamiji’s teachings. Yet, I have always felt the presence of Swamiji around me all my life, who has taken special care of me and my family, especially during difficult times.
I did not realise, that one day Swamiji would give me the honour of assisting Gurprasad with the proof reading, correction and the final publication of this book, which has been one of the best experiences of my life. I consider myself truly blessed.
The book is set out in question and answer format. The questions, asked by Gurprasad, have been framed from an aspirant’s point of view. Questions and doubts like these arise in the minds of all those who want to follow a spiritual path. The Guru has given answers that are suitable for ease of understanding by beginners as well as more advanced aspirants. In doing so, the Guru has adopted a rational approach suited to the modern generation and covers all well-known paths to realise the Truth.
The author suggest three steps leading to complete understanding of the work. First, the Truth must be heard from the teacher; second, it should be reflected upon; third, it should be practiced under the guidance of a guru; practice (abhayasa), when it matures, results in Self-Realisation. Initiation by a guru is an essential part of the quest. The aspirant thereafter needs to make the effort to control the mind, by no means an easy task. But, serious aspirants need not worry about the ever wavering mind and continue their self effort and leave the rest to Swamiji.
The author has laid out the book in three parts; Part one contains preliminary instruction dealing with subjects of a general nature that have a bearing on a spiritual quest. Part two deals with theoretical aspects of the nature of Reality and non-reality from different viewpoints, culminating in a holistic overview to establish that none of them is antagonistic to each other. It sets out the proposition that is to be proved through spiritual experience only. The third part discusses various methods used to control the mind to attain Self-Realisation.
Each part is divided into a number of chapters with a suitable heading. The instruction in one chapter leads to the teaching in the next. The essence of teaching is given at the end of each chapter and, also, after discussing important points within it. The language used is very simple and an attempt has been made to employ elementary logic to discuss some issues. A brief life sketch of Sri Swamiji, along with a few questions on his life and divine mission, is given in the last chapter.
Laghu Guru Upanishad is an important and timely contribution to the rich spiritual heritage of India and the world that appears now to be under the dark shadows of excessive materialism. It is a ‘must read’ book by all those who those have some spiritual leanings. However, it must be emphasised that too much reading is no substitute for practice of meditation; the sooner one starts the better. Sri Sivabala Yogi’s grace is available to all without any consideration of race, caste, creed, sex and so on.

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Review By Amandeep Singh a devotee of Swamiji

It is said that the starting point of spiritual practice is to listen and then deeply contemplate on the Guru’s word. Laghu Guru Upanishad, which contains Sri Sivabala Yogi’s teachings unceasingly serves that purpose for me.
Having heard about Sri Sivabala Yogi (referred to as Swamiji by his devotees), I was curious to know more about him and his teachings. So I googled Sri Sivabala Yogi and started to read about him on the internet. The one thing that stood out was Swamiji’s insistence on spiritual practice (sadhana). There were no rites or rituals, no sects to join or camps to attend. Just daily practice of mediation (to control the mind) was stressed.
That sounded simple but I did not know what a spiritual practice looked like, not to mention where and how to start. Anything that I tried felt like 1 step forward and 2 steps back. It was at this point in my quest to seek guidance, I was fortunate to receive the draft manuscript of this book.
Laghu Guru Upanishad appealed to me for the following reasons –
First, it was in English and the language was simple and easy to follow for the most part.
Second, it is written in a question and answer format, where the questioner is a spiritual aspirant posing questions to the teacher (the Guru) who answers. As a raw beginner, I could relate to some of the questions and found the answers as insightful and uplifting. I was happy and excited to see my doubts being addressed. It also helped that I could also skip those questions and answers that seemed too esoteric.
Third, it laid out right upfront what a spiritual inquiry is and how one begins it. It clarified some of my basic doubts. For the first time, I understood why control of mind was important and how that could make me happy.
Fourth, it explained to me that different paths suited to individual temperaments are available and that Swamiji guided aspirants on the path best suited to their temperament and not just meditation.
Five, while it laid out the broad contours of a spiritual journey, it went deeper and spelled the details of the various paths available for an aspirant and the pitfalls associated with them. This was very important as I could focus on the path that appealed to me and ignore the details of the others.
Six, it introduced me to the saga of Sri Sivabala Yogi, key incidents during his 12 years of Tapas and established for me that Swamiji was someone who led by example and practiced what he preached.
Seven, it made me receptive to initiation from Sri Sivabala Yogi, start my practice and helps sustain my practice. I try to read Laghu Guru Upanishad regularly, a little a time and reflect upon the teaching. As one practices, one’s understanding of the teaching in the book matures.

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Review by Anil Bhat published in “The Asian Age”

This book is about Sri Sivabala Yogi, born as Sathyaraju Allaka on January 24, 1935, in a small village of Adivarapupeta in Andhra Pradesh.

Former Army Chief late Gen. Bipin Joshi used to say that India is a land marked by the tapasya of many saints and spiritually elevated beings. Tapasya translated in English as “penance”, really means much more in the context of Hinduism as it is a way of life based on austerity, minimalism, distance from materialism and meditation. Whenever General Joshi mentioned this, he implied that our enemies do not realise what they are up against.

This book is about Sri Sivabala Yogi, born as Sathyaraju Allaka on January 24, 1935, in a small village of Adivarapupeta in Andhra Pradesh. His father, Bheemanna, was a poor weaver who died before Sathyaraju was three. Raised by his mother, Parvatamma, and maternal grandfather, Goli Satham, they were among the poorest in the village. Sathyaraju was by nature extremely determined, honest and found untruthfulness and injustice particularly difficult to tolerate. On August 7, 1949, when he was 14 years of age, Sathyaraju experienced Samadhi (enlightenment) while sitting on the bank of the Godavari irrigation canal just outside the village.

The author, an Indian Army officer, who prefers to be known by his pen-name, Gurprasad, had spiritual leanings from his young days. Though he read a number of books on the teachings of many saints and sages, his quest for divine knowledge fructified only when he was initiated in the discipline of meditation by Sri Sivabala Yogi in April 1977. Over the next few years Sri Sivabala revealed to Gurprasad the divine knowledge, which he has presented in a question-answer form in the book, This format helps in understanding the acts and terminologies to any beginner aspiring to become spiritual and even aims to convince the person to become spiritual.

What stands out about Sri Sivabala Yogi is his insistence on sustained sadhana (spiritual practice). To those who he gave deeksha (initiation), involving the process of initiating a devotee into spiritual life, he neither recommended any rites or rituals, nor the need to join any sect or attend camps. He only stressed on daily practice of mediation — the act or effort of concentration and controlling the mind.

Having interacted with and interviewed many soldiers on their battle experiences related to close encounters with death, constantly facing the risk of death or disability, fear in the battlefield and how it is overcome, what motivates them to acts of tremendous bravery, determination, how they deal with or treat the enemy captured by them etc, this writer found some significant facts emerging. These were that most of very brave/courageous/valiant and as such, real life heroes, are basically simple/modest persons, large-hearted, generous to others’ faults or weaknesses, with good sportsman’s spirit and mainly, having survived against many odds in the battle when many of their comrades did not, they are quite close to spiritualism or have quite a potential in them to become spiritual.

Gurprasad is one of the several Army officers who became full-fledged devotees of Sri Sivabala Yogi. Two more known names are late Lt. Gen. Hanut Singh, deeply spiritual and highly revered as a very sharp military mind on armoured warfare and Lt. Gen. Ajai Singh, former Governor, Assam. While all these three are from the tank regiment, Poona Horse, nick-named by Pakistan army as Fakhr –e-Hind (pride of India), many other armed forces officers became Sri Sivabala Yogi’s devotees or at least attended his discourses at his ashrams in some of parts of India.

Chapter 1 of the book is a preliminary introduction to this work and the need for it. The central theme of these teachings is a control of mind and the use of one’s intelligence to earn divine grace as the way to achieve control of mind. This chapter also lays out how best to study this work and the following chapters.

Chapter 2 outlines what a spiritual journey entails and how one embarks upon such a journey, stressing the importance of a guru (spiritual mentor). Issues pertaining to the method of practice, including place, posture, timing, diet, sleep, etc. are all covered.

It advises readers to contemplate on the teachings in the book and imbibe their meaning i.e. make these as a part of one’s mental being. The next step is to act on the conviction and practice the teachings. It lays out the attributes that help calm the mind and guide how to cultivate desirable attributes so that one’s practice of a spiritual path can fructify.

Chapter 3 discusses the nature of reality, and elaborates on maya (ignorance, or the power of illusion used by the Lord) and its effect and endeavors to explain a broad knowledge of the genesis of creation.

Also dwelt upon are leela (divine play), an individual’s place in the divine scheme of things and the functioning of the individual mind and its control in great detail. What is mind? How does it function? What is implied by control of mind? How is it disciplined and purified? Why is it so difficult? What is the kind of effort and the guru’s grace? All this and much more, including the role of intelligence and will power in controlling the mind have been highlighted.

Chapter 4 provides detailed information about the five basic paths available to spiritual aspirants — the path of service, the path love and devotion, the path of yoga, the path of knowledge and the path of Silence — and how they help in controlling the mind. Also delved into are samadhi and tapas.

Chapter 5, the longest of all, is on the life of Sri Sivabala Yogi and is indeed fascinating. Readers are encouraged to read this first and then the other chapters. In today’s world, where many charlatans have succeeded in fooling not just the gullible masses but even the wise and well read, this book is recommended as a wake-up call. It is a very heavy reading, but worth the effort.

The writer, a retired Army officer, is a defence and security analyst based in New Delhi.

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Review by Nick alias Guru T in his blog

A decade or so back, when you bought some expensive piece of electronic equipment it would usually be accompanied by a thick instruction manual in a dozen languages. Times have changed and … If you buy a computer or TV …. The instructions are accessible on line WITHIN the machine itself under a “help” tab.
My Guru Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi primarily taught in silence in his life on earth, and only towards the end of his life (the conventional history goes) did he actually speak much, and this came because he began to tour the West and westerners asked him numerous questions relating to sadhana etc. so he answered the questions.
But generally, what he had to teach was only accessible once you began to meditate and follow his line of teaching. So it was bit like a modern day computer…you turn it on and then find the instructions within. The aim of the Guru’s teaching was to unfold to the sadhaka all the necessary instructions, while the sadhaka made every effort to tame the mind and curb the vasanas and thereby open a conduit for clear apprehension of the teachings. So the instructions and guidance are there at every step, as long as the path of practice is followed with focus, determination, and a dash of devotion.
But here we now have a most intriguing book, the LAGHU GURU UPANISHAD, which is freely available on Amazon, and over 300 pages long. It is a condensation of an even larger work which has not yet been published.
This book contains pages of teachings from Shivabalayogi, given in “trance” – a very poor translation of the phrase “Bhava Samadhi” – to a long-term disciple of the Guru called Gurprasad. It is written in English and transmitted to Gurprasad during the Guru’s lifetime and after. You could file this unexpected wonder under “everything you wanted to say to Shivabalayogi but were afraid to ask”. Pretty much the whole of creation, the role of sadhana, the Guru, the Guru’s pain-filled tapasya, different approaches to God… It is all discussed in this book. Even the confusion following Shavabalayogi’s mahasamadhi in 1994 and the claimants to his role come under discussion.
For a little disciple like me, far from the action of ashrams, centres and such like, this book is sort of like sacred scripture. It is a fantastic aid to sadhana. And for the gossip in me, it contains some very colourful revelations as well about the subtle difficulties the Guru faced as he went about his tapasya as a young Yogi. Like the Guru itself, it is fairly uncompromising and realistic about the troubles all those on sadhana face… The battle to conquer samskaras awoken in each life by prarabdha karma. It paints a bleak picture of the spiritual state of this world in Kali yuga. But it offers hope and support, too.
This is such an unexpected boon… Like dialling a phone number and getting the Guru at the end of it saying “can I help you?” I hope that the uncondensed version eventually makes it to press, too.
If you are a devotee of Shivabalayogi get hold of this book and study a little every day. It is not to be rushed through, and something that is the ground for study, contemplation and action. What a gift!Type your paragraph here.

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Review by Ramneet Shergill published in Journal of Dharma Studies

During the Vedic period in ancient India, gurus imparted divine knowledge about higher consciousness and nature of the supreme God. The “Upanishads” thus originated as a collection of such knowledge. Etymologically, the word Upanishad means sitting near an enlightened teacher and listening to the divine knowledge. Upanishadic knowledge is the highest form of any knowledge and it alone leads to self-realization. In the ancient times, due to the lack of printing facilities, the Upanishadic knowledge was passed down by word of mouth from a sage to the disciples. After many generations, it was penned down in Sanskrit. This knowledge is abstract and concise, making it difficult to imbibe by most people. In due course of time, these have been translated subjectively by various scholars; thus, the original gist or instruction may be missing or altered according to the spiritual maturity of that author. Various speculations and philosophies have thus been developed.
The book Laghu Guru Upanishad aims to revive the quintessence of Upanishadic knowledge suited to this age. It is written in an easy to understand English language. “Laghu” literally means short version of the original book Guru Upanishad. Laghu Guru Upanishad has been recorded in Bhava Samadhi, by the author Gurprasad. Bhava samadhi is the most intimate form of guru-disciple relationship. It is a state of highly purified and introverted mind, concentrated on itself or on the pure form of the object of one’s worship. It is achieved through self-surrender and done out of love and devotion. Teachings revealed in bhava samadhi fall in Upanishadic category of instructions. Many of the world’s greatest scriptures have been written in bhava samadhi. Laghu Guru Upanishad has been written in question and answer format.
Chapter one “Introduction” unfolds the central theme of the teachings, i.e., control of mind. It also contains answers to the basic questions like who is a competent guru, why the need for this work when a large number of scriptures already exist. It does not hurt the sentiments of any religion or scripture and pays respect to all saints and scriptures from all countries in equal measure.
Chapter two “Instruction in General” talks about various positive (love, devotion, discrimination, compassion, etc.) and negative (attachment, desire, doubt, fear, pride, greed, etc.) attributes that each individual mind has and how an individual can cultivate the positive ones to aid in control of mind. The overall state of an individual mind is determined by the level and type of attributes that it has. It specifies that aim of any spiritual practice is to control the mind and not to find God, which in essence is found on its own when the mind is destroyed.
Chapter three “Reality” explains the metaphysical nature of the Reality, which is also called by many names like Brahman, God, and Truth. It describes the concept of how absolute reality (nirgun or formless) by the use of invisible power called maya (principle of illusion or ignorance) appears as phenomenal world (sagun or with form). It conceptualizes the theory of karma (action done by the individual in the past or present), atman (the higher self, which is covered by the five sheaths), and moksha (liberation by control of mind and ultimately destruction of the ‘I’ sense).
Chapter four “Control of Mind” elucidates how to achieve the control of mind through various paths and disciplines. Gist of various paths like the path of service, the path of worship, the path of yoga, the path of love and devotion, the path of knowledge, and the path of silence is given. How to carry practice on each path as well as pitfalls are explained. Throughout the chapter, it is emphasized that mind is a disease as well as its cure, highlighting the role of discriminative intelligence and will power. The stages in the control of mind are self-discipline, self-purification, self-abidance, self-subsidence (manolaya), and destruction (manonash). Importance on any of the above spiritual paths is described as persistence through practice of the teachings and not merely reading the book.
Chapter five “The Satguru” paints a biographical sketch of Sri Sivabala Yogi, who at a tender age of 14 years had attained self-realization following initiation by Sri Shankar Bhagwan or God himself. He sat in tapas which is the highest form of any spiritual discipline, carried out only by divine incarnations after self-realization. He was in continuous samadhi (transcendental and super-sensuous state) for 23 hours a day for the first 8 years and then 12 hours a day for next 4 years. This chapter elucidates the intolerable levels of hardship that Sri Sivabala Yogi faced during those 12 years and thereafter. He thus gained tapas power, which he imparts upon initiation to his devotees to help control their minds.
Rather than outward act of doership, Laghu Guru Upanishad calls for an inward search for the supreme Brahman and mystical union with Him, in a rational way. It contains divine knowledge of the highest quality, which is of special value for those seekers who want to pursue a spiritual quest seriously. The teachings put forth must be put into action to gain spiritually. Only then one can appreciate the positive effect on one’s own mind.
The severe austerity in human form that Sri Sivabala Yogi took is awe-inspiring and commendable. No ordinary human being can undergo such a severe penance in a human form, indicating that Sri Sivabala Yogi is a divine incarnation.
Laghu Guru Upanishad undoubtedly sets a platform which crosses all social, cultural, and religious barriers and demystifies spirituality in this age. It can be used as a guide to complement one’s existing spiritual quest and encourages raw beginners to take up spirituality.

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Below are thoughts on the book by the editor of the blog Realization.org

I’ve probably read thousands of spiritual books over the last few decades (far too many) and I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never run across a book before that goes into so much detail about the mechanism (that’s not the right word but I can’t think of a better one) of Realization. Well, I suppose there are many books that go into equal detail but they are fantasies written by people who don’t really know what they are talking about. I think Gurprasad knows what he’s talking about.