In the Summer of 2023, Ashwini Guruji of Dhyan Ashram was in the UK and met an informal gathering at Yogashram in the UK.
A volunteer had asked Guruji: “Why is it when you clear your baggage more lands on top of you?”
Guruji asked each attendee - “Do you want to leave your baggage?”
Everyone there said, “Yes.”
They all wanted to leave their baggage…
Guruji explained that 'Baggage is a thought and nothing more. If you think you have baggage, you have it; if you think you have no baggage, you don't have. Ultimately you have to leave your physical body also... the baggage of the body also has to be left behind, so what baggage are we talking about? It is just our thought.'
Guruji then told a story from the Upanishads, about baggage. There was a devoted saint who performed daily ritual of offering milk to a Shivling with unwavering discipline for many years. Despite his dedication, his Guru told him that he had not evolved. The external practices were there but the inner transformation was missing. When the saint asked for guidance, his Guru instructed him to go to the mountains. Trusting his Guru completely, the saint obeyed and leaving his family behind, settled in a remote area in the mountains near a village. He continued his daily ritual of offering milk to the Shivling with the villagers' help.
During a severe storm one day, the saint went to great lengths to ensure his practice did not break. Moved by his devotion, the villagers gifted him a cow so he would no longer depend on them to procure milk. For further assistance, the villagers arranged for a woman to take care of the cow and help the saint with his daily chores. Over a period of time, life in the peaceful mountains unfolded naturally. The saint, believing he had renounced his “baggage” by leaving his family, unknowingly created new attachments. The woman became pregnant and soon the saint found himself responsible for another family. Then suddenly the Guru turned up as the Guru knows everything and does everything for the evolution of his shishya. The saint confessed all that had happened and that now he had two families, instead of the one he had previously. The Guru laughed gently and said this is what I wanted to give you the gyan of.
If the thought inside you is of the physical, you will remain in the physical and create physical even if you are in the remotest areas of the Himalayas. Do not have the thought of the physical. That thought is your baggage. Don't look at the symptom of the baggage—certain people in the family or friends whom you think are baggage, look at the thought of the baggage. Drop that thought. Yoga begins after you empty your mind of this baggage as yoga is “yoga chitta vritti nirodha”.
Fast forward to December 2025. Recently in 2025, Guruji recounted what had happened to all those individuals in the UK who had told Guruji that they wanted to leave their baggage? Guruji had warned in the earlier session, not to take him lightly and be careful what you say in front of him.
- One family who have been in the foundation for over 15 years and who would be with Guruji without fail when he was in UK, now could not even come to visit Guruji in his recent trip, instead they had prioritised going on a month-long family holiday to Australia.
- A young man in his mid-20s who had known Guruji since he was a little kid, achieved great fates and was working for a top Investment Bank in London, had ended up with a failed engagement and caught in compromising videos and was no more in the Foundation.
- A young lady, who had a successful career in London and enjoyed all that life had to offer, was now divorced and is away from London.
- Another young boy who had a long-term illness and whose parents travelled across the world seeking Guruji's blessings, found himself fit and strong and with a successful job. But now he has no time to meet Guruji.
What will be the fate of all these people?
In stark contrast to these, were two others also who were present.
- One person, who is successfully working in marketing for a Tech firm and at the same time, managing the gaushala at Yogashram, full time.
- The other person has recently retired after 33 years in corporate IT consulting; now financially independent for life. Now after establishing Yogashram in Wales, he is continuing his journey by establishing a centre in Malaysia.
Who all gave up their baggage? Who all evolved? What do you think?
