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ing your vessel, whatsoever is poured in will become mixed up, polluted. The purest of milk will not be potable in a dirty glass. It is a question of cleansing, purifying, readying the inner world to receive the best."
There are as many paths of self-refinement and preparation as there are individuals. All the trainings Munishree received were designed to cleanse the senses, purify the speech, and refine the mind. In particular, he followed three major steps: upanishada — sitting close to the master and learning from his exemplary life, upāyoga — becoming aware of how to live in awareness of life in the present moment, and upāsanā — memorizing and absorbing the essential meaning of ancient stanzas and utterances. These steps helped him to peel away layer after layer of illusions, burdens, subtle desires.
The process of training was both gradual and direct. It was intensified by his experiencing it all in silence. It was a process which resorted neither to extreme methods of breathing nor distorted attitudes toward the objective world. It neither despised nor praised; it neither rejected nor idolized.
Upanishada means to sit close to the teacher. It is not an attitude of worship; rather, it is an attitude of reverence and inspiration. The student stays in the company of one who has emancipated from the lower self. He derives constant inspiration from his life.
Since initiation, Munishree had been accepted into the Master's inner circle. He had been leading the itinerant life side by side with him. In this way, he was under his watchful eye and loving guidance twenty-four hours a day. At the same time, he was able to witness how each of his Master's actions and words were permeated with the beautiful fragrance of awareness of life.
He observed the compassionate way in which his guru communicated, with a word or a gesture or a loving look. He noticed the care he took when he ate his meals, cleaned his bowl, or sipped tea. He admired the natural way in which he took rest, breathed deeply, and did yoganidra, the sleep in which only the body was inert while the consciousness was in an alert state of awareness. He experienced the deep peace and bliss emanating from his guru when he meditated. His
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