Aghor Yoga (also referred to as Aghor) is a spiritual tradition that originated in Northern India around the 11th Century C.E. The word Aghor literally means "that which is not difficult or terrible"; according to its adherents, Aghor is a simple and natural state of consciousness, in which there is no experience of fear, hatred, disgust or discrimination. Accordingly, believers contend that any time that humans experience a state of discrimination, we limit our wholeness and fall prey to disruptive emotions such as anger, fear, jealousy, greed, and lust. The practices of Aghor Yoga today reflect reforms made in the 1960s, shifting the focus of Aghor to seeking a balanced life of selfless service and personal practice. Baba Bhagwan Ramji encouraged the practitioners of Aghor to follow the vamachara ("left-hand path") by embracing socially stigmatized and neglected people, such as street children and people with leprosy and other "untouchable" diseases. Today, the followers of Aghoreshwar Bhagwan Ramji have established a large network of schools, orphanages, medical clinics, or other social service projects.
Teachings and practices
The modern teachings and practices of Aghor are known as Aghor Yoga. Aghor Yoga can be practiced by anyone without regard to religious or ethnic background and irrespective of whether s/he adopts traditional Aghori dietary practices. The essence of Aghor Yoga is that fundamentally humans are each an individual whole, at one with divine consciousness. Aghor Yoga believes that by learning to identify with one's wholeness, one becomes free from a limited way of being. As a result, the energy that was previously invested in limitation becomes accessible for being directed towards the greater good.
The teachings and practices of Aghor defy easy categorization. Some adherents classify Aghor as a non-dualistic (advaita) Hindu philosophy. Classic nondualism explains that only the one eternal Self – alternately referred to as God, Brahman, or Atman – is real. Accordingly, Aghor believes that all of humanity is a part of this higher Self. Beyond this, everything else in the universe is mere illusion (maya).
The teachings of Aghor are meant to be universal, transcending all particularities of Hinduism or Indian culture. The contemporary Aghor lineage of Baba Kinaram includes people from many religious faiths and countries of origin, including the United States and Europe. The lineage also recognizes great spiritual beings of all religions (such as Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed) as abiding in the realized state of Aghor – that is existing in wholeness and at one with the Divine.
Aghor focuses on the idea of jivanmukta, or reaching liberation from material issues in this lifetime. Thus, one does not have to die before reaching a state of Aghor.
Any disciplined effort that one makes to connect with one's wholeness is called sadhana (spiritual practice). A consistent effort that is in tune with human nature, simple to comprehend, and easy to practice bears fruit. Such a spiritual practice is thought to connect one with fullness, and when one is full, that fullness overflows into the outward action of seva. Seva is the selfless service one contributes to the community and world. Sadhana and seva form the two foundational aspects of the Aghor Yoga Path.
Guru
A disciple of Aghor Yoga often relies on a Guru – a capable spiritual teacher – to provide guidance when forming their practice of sadhana and seva. The Aghor definition of the word Guru is "remover of doubt." The Guru is meant to function both as a bridge between outward action and spiritual wisdom, as well as an example of realization of the Aghor path. One distinguishing feature of the Aghor Yoga path is that the Guru is very accessible to the students. A bridge does not just provide a means of passage between two realms of thought; it is also a lookout point from which one can see the blessings floating on a sustenance-giving river.
The Guru is also believed to reside within all beings in the form of a higher Self. In order to form a conscious connection to one's own Self, a Guru is chosen for guidance. Eventually, it is hoped that an understanding of Gurupeeth (literally, the seat of the Guru) in oneself is formed.
There is no restriction of any kind in accepting a Guru. A Guru is a person in whose company one feels inspired and reminded of one's divinity and wholeness. In Aghor Yoga, a Guru is commonly a person who has walked the path and is willing and available to guide the practitioner in their own practice.