Among the great spiritual luminaries of the modern era, Shivapuri Baba stands as a profound yet enigmatic figure. A Hindu sage renowned for his deep meditation practice and extraordinary longevity—reportedly living over 136 years—he led a disciplined and contemplative life, emphasizing righteousness, self-discipline, and inner stillness.
One of the most intriguing aspects of his legacy is his influence on Dr Ainslie Meares, an Australian psychiatrist and world-renowned expert in medical hypnotherapy. Their brief meeting in Kathmandu had far-reaching consequences, shaping the course of modern meditation therapy. Dr Meares, already a respected medical professional, emerged from the encounter with a transformative perspective on pain, suffering, and healing. This led him to pioneer a meditation technique that would later revolutionize pain management and holistic health.
Who Was Shivapuri Baba?
Shivapuri Baba was a mystic, philosopher, and meditation master whose extraordinary life spanned three centuries. Born in India, he devoted himself to deep meditation and yogic austerities from an early age. Unlike many traditional Hindu ascetics, he did not withdraw entirely from society. Instead, he embarked on a global pilgrimage, engaging with world leaders, intellectuals, and spiritual seekers.
Shivapuri Baba’s life was marked by remarkable journeys and profound teachings. He traveled extensively, including a notable visit to England, where he reportedly became a close confidant of Queen Victoria. His philosophy, though simple, was deeply impactful, centered on three core principles: right living, right thinking, and deep meditation. These teachings emphasized ethical conduct, mental clarity, and the transformative power of meditation.
In his later years, Shivapuri Baba chose a life of solitude in the Shivapuri Hills of Nepal. There, he practiced extreme self-discipline and spent hours each day in silent meditation, embodying the principles he taught. Despite his reclusive lifestyle, he remained accessible to spiritual seekers from around the world, offering guidance that blended Eastern spirituality with practical self-mastery. His wisdom attracted a diverse following, from humble aspirants to intellectuals and scholars.
By the time Dr Ainslie Meares encountered him, Shivapuri Baba had become a revered sage whose teachings resonated deeply with spiritual seekers and academics alike. His life and insights left an indelible mark on those who sought his guidance, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern spiritual inquiry.
Dr Ainslie Meares’ Journey to Nepal
Dr Meares had already established himself as a leading expert in medical hypnotherapy, using hypnosis to help patients manage pain and psychological distress. However, despite his success, he sought deeper, non-pharmaceutical methods to alleviate suffering. This quest led him to Nepal where he had the rare privilege of meeting Shivapuri Baba.
During their conversation, Meares asked the sage how he managed physical discomfort, expecting to hear about advanced yogic techniques. Instead, Shivapuri Baba offered a response that profoundly altered Meares’ understanding of pain: “I experience pain, but it does not hurt.”
This seemingly paradoxical statement struck Meares deeply. Could it be possible to experience physical pain without suffering? Was pain purely a biological response, or could the mind be trained to separate pain from distress?
Intrigued, Meares pressed for further insight. Shivapuri Baba explained that meditation allowed him to cultivate a state of detachment, where pain was simply an experience, not a source of suffering. This concept challenged conventional medical wisdom, which viewed pain as something to be eliminated through drugs or surgery.
The Birth of Stillness Meditation Therapy
Upon returning to Melbourne, Dr Meares immersed himself in meditation, using himself as an experimental subject. Inspired by Shivapuri Baba’s teachings, he developed a novel approach to meditation that emphasized deep relaxation and effortless mental stillness rather than concentration or visualization.
This method, known as Stillness Meditation Therapy (SMT), differed significantly from traditional forms of meditation. Key elements influenced by Shivapuri Baba included:
Letting Go Instead of Focusing: Unlike mindfulness or mantra-based meditation, SMT does not require focus or effort. Instead, it emphasizes complete mental relaxation, akin to Shivapuri Baba’s detached awareness.
Experiencing Pain Without Suffering: Meares incorporated the idea that pain could be felt without emotional distress, a concept he first encountered with Shivapuri Baba.
Healing Through Stillness: Rather than relying on visualization or breath control, SMT allows the mind to enter a natural state of deep stillness, activating the body’s self-healing mechanisms.
Physiological and Psychological Transformation: Deep relaxation reduces stress hormone production, improves immune function, and enhances mental clarity.
Meares introduced this technique to patients suffering from chronic pain, anxiety, cancer, and other serious illnesses, achieving remarkable results.
Scientific Recognition and Impact
Dr Meares’ work gained international attention with the publication of *Relief Without Drugs* (1967), a groundbreaking book that popularized SMT as a medical therapy. His research demonstrated that deep relaxation through meditation could significantly improve health outcomes, paving the way for further studies in psychoneuroimmunology and holistic medicine.
In the years following his groundbreaking contributions, meditation began to gain recognition as a legitimate therapeutic tool among medical professionals. Techniques such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and other clinical meditation practices emerged, many of which integrated principles first introduced by Dr Meares. Additionally, modern neuroscience provided validation for Shivapuri Baba’s core insight, demonstrating that meditation can rewire the brain, thereby reducing the perception of pain and alleviating emotional suffering.
While Meares never publicly credited Shivapuri Baba as the direct inspiration for SMT, his encounter with the sage played a pivotal role in shaping his understanding of meditation’s transformative power.
Legacy of Shivapuri Baba’s Teachings
Though Shivapuri Baba remained relatively unknown outside spiritual circles, his teachings directly influenced one of the most significant figures in medical meditation research. His wisdom continues to resonate in modern pain management, holistic health, and the growing field of meditation therapy.
His insight—that pain does not have to lead to suffering—has been echoed in contemporary studies on mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and neuroplasticity. Had Meares not encountered Shivapuri Baba, he might have continued his work solely in hypnotherapy, never pioneering meditation as a medical tool. Yet, through their brief meeting in Kathmandu, ancient Himalayan wisdom found its way into the heart of modern medical science.
A Bridge Between Ancient Wisdom and Modern Medicine
Shivapuri Baba and Dr Ainslie Meares represent the convergence of ancient and modern worlds, redefining our understanding of pain, suffering, and healing. The sage’s profound yet simple insight, conveyed in just a few words, planted the seed for a meditation technique that has helped countless people worldwide.
Today, as meditation gains recognition in mainstream healthcare, the impact of their meeting remains one of the most fascinating and inspiring stories in the history of mind-body medicine.
(Ojha is a meditation teacher with a PhD in Communication. He can be reached for comments at: [email protected])
