ekaM, dvayaM, trayaM, catuShkaM, panchaM, ShaTkam, Saptak - (Monad, Dyad, Triad, Tetrad, Pentad, Hexad)

एकं, द्वयं, त्रयं, चतुष्कं, पञ्चं, षट्कं
(Monad, Dyad, Triad, Tetrad, Pentad, Hexad)

A list of common classifications in our scriptures. I wonder at the depth vision of our elders who had investigated any and every thing - physical, mental ans spiritual, and classifed/codified them.

EkaM (Monad) - One by itself. Kevala is the word used in Advaitha - KaivalyaM is the state of being by oneself. No other entity for you to know about or to know about you. Only Brahman is in this class.

DvayaM (Dyad) - A set of two. Two which go together. Dwandwa is pair of opposites. Dwiteeya is second.

TrayaM (Triad) - A set of three. Truteeyam is third. Tri is three.

- Taapatraya. Three afflictions caused by:
1. Due to instrinsic nature. Bodily afflictions Named Adhyaamtika.
2. Due to extrinsic nature. Inflicted by other indiviuduals, human or animal or bird and even inanimate objects. Named Adhibhoutika.
3. Due to supertnatural. Inflicted by nature (rains, cyclone , floods etc.) and by ghosts, evil spirits etc. Named Adhidaivika.

Note: Chanting Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi is the praying for peace by overcoming the three afflictions.

-Gunatraya: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas

-Triad of connections. Conjunction, inseparable inherence and identity

-Shareeratraya . We have five bodies comprising five sheaths (Discussed later) and the following three bodies out of these five sheaths:

1. Sthoola shareera - Gross body called annamaya kosha.
2. Sookshma shareera - Subtle body comprising praaNamaya, manomaya and vijnaanamaya sheaths.
3. KaaraNa shareera - Causal body. Cause of first two. Aanandamaya kosha.

- Karmatraya. Sanchita, Aagaami and Praarabdha . Commonly known.

-Avasthaatraya. Three states - Wakeful , dream and deep sleep.

ChatuShkaM (Tetrad) - A set of four. Chaturtham is fourth. Chatur is four.

- Saadhanaa chatushtaya. Dealt in detail in an exclusive blog.

- Purushaartha. Dealt in detail in an exclusive blog.

- Chaturupaadhi - Four adjuncts:
1. ViShaya - subject matter
2. Prayojana - aim
3. Sambandha - relationship
4. Adhikaarin - the person for whom the work is meant

- Chaturaashrama -Brahmacharya, GRuhasta, Vaanaprastha and Sanyaasa

- Chaturkarana - four instruments
1. Manasa (mind) - the moon is its deity
2. Buddhi (intellect) - Brahma is its deity.
3. Ahankaara (ego) - Rudra is its deity.
4. Chit (thoughts, intelligence) - Vaasudeva is its deity.

- Chaturkalpa. A Kalpa is a Yuga. Epoch.
1 Kruta yuga: 1,728,000 years.
2. Tretaa yuga : 1,296,000 years.
3. Dwaapara yuga : 864,000 years.
4. Kali yuga : 432,o00 years.

PanchakaM (Pentad, set of five) - Panchamam is fifth. Panch is five as well.

- Panchapraana and Panchopapraana - Discussed in an exclusive blog.

- Panchakosha. Our bodies comprise five sheaths.
1. Annamaya. Sheath of food. Gross physical body.
2. PraaNamaya. Sheath of Prana (vital air) with its instrumentality of "vital airs "and nervous system.
3.Manomaya. Sheath of mind with its patterns of desires and motives,which form the complexity called mind.
4. Vijnaanamaya . Sheath of intellect.
5 Aamandamaya. Sheath of bliss. Being closest to Brahman this sheath has taste of bliss.

These koshas are not like one over another. They are intermingled, a difference in subtlety. Like salt in water. Annamaya is grossest. Take a bread piece soaked in coffee. Every bite has
bread, coffee, milk, sugar and water included in it.

God being the subtlest, is within all five sheaths.

- Panchendriya
1. Senses of perception. Ear, eyes, nose, tongue ans skin. Ears and eyes are special: you can "visualise" sound and scenes.
2. Senses of action. Tongue, hands, feet, the motor organ of evacuation and organ of procreation.

-PanchaakSharee - Om NamaH Shivaaya (Om is not counted)

-Panchakrutya
1. SRushti (creation)
2. Sthiti (maintenance)
3. SaMhaara (destruction)
4. Tirodhaana (obscuration)
5. Anugraha (grace)

- Panchabhoota - Five primary elements - earth, water, fire , wind and sky - much research is required here.

- Panchdevataa. Brahma presiding over earth, ViShNu over water, Rudra over fire , Eeshaana over wind and Sadaashiva over space.

-Panchpaapa - five great sins
1. Brahmahatyaa - killing of a brahmin
2. Suraapaana - consumption of alcohol
3. Steya - stealing
4. Gurvanganaasangamana - adultery with teacher's wife
5. Samsarga - association with anybody guilty of first four

-PanchdhaaraNaa - concentration of mind. Fixation. Meditation. Five modes:
1. Repetition of OM
2. Concentration on a spiritual centre in the body such as heart centre or lotus of heart
3. Concentration on the heart of an illumined soul that is free from passion
4. Concentration on a dream experience about a holy personality or divine symbol
5. Concentration upon any divine form or symbol

- Shatka - (Head, sextet) - A group of six

- Shatsampatti - six valuable characteristics. See item three of saadhanaa chatutshaya.

- Shadripu- Dealt in detail in an exclusive blog

- ShaDaishwarya - six great qualities. Called Bhaga. He who possesses these six is Bhagavaan.
1. Aishwarya - supremacy, sovereignity, might, power, sway, dominion, affluence, wealth, greatness, divine faculties of omnipresence, omnipotence and so on.
2. Veerya - prowess, valour, vigor, strength, virility, energy, firmness, courage, potency, splendour, lustre, dignity.
3. Yashash - Fame, reputation, glory, renown
4. Shree - Prosperity, plenty, wealth, riches, royalty, majesty, beauty, grace, lustre, virtues, excellence.
5. Jnaana - knowledge, learning, cognizance, sacred knowledge acquired by deep meditation on hugher truths of religion and philosophy.
6. Vairaagya : Absence of desires and passions, ascetism,

- ShaDRutu - six seasons:
1. Vasanta - spring months of Chaitra and Vaishaaka (mid-March to mid-May)
2 GreeShma - summer. Months of JyeShTa and AaSshaaDha (mid-May to mid-July)
3. Varsha -monsoon. Months of Shraavana and Bhaadrapada (mid-July to mid-September)
4. Sharad - autumn. Months of Aashwija and PhaalguNa (mid-September to mid-November)
5, Hemanta (hima) - Months of (mid-November to mid-January)
6. Shishira -cool. Months of (mid-January to mid-March)

- SaptakaM -
-- Saptajihvaa : Seven toungues ( flames ). Fire in Yajnakunda had seven flames. Different food offerings are to be in different flames .One is KRUSHNA jivhaa i.e, BLACK FLAME.(! ? )

TWO SET OF seven LOKAS. (already discussed )

-Ashtaka.

----Ashtaangayoga . Explaind in detail in an exclusive blog.

-ASHTAKSHARAMANTRA OM NAMO NAARAAYANAAYA

--Ashtamoorthi. God is manifested as 1. Earth, 2. Water, 3. air, 4. Fire, 5. sky , 6.sun, 7. Moon and Humankind.

-- NAVA

Naarada BHAKTISOOTRA gives NAVAVIDHABHAKTI

--Dasha

- Dashaavataara .Requires no elaboration.

- Dashapraana. Just Panchapraana and Panchopapraana put together.

- Chaturdashaloka.
WORLDS of higher order. 1. Bhooloka , 2. Bhuvarloka, 3. Svaroka, 4. Maharloka, 5. Janarloka, 6. Taparloka and 7. Satyaloka.
Worlds of lower order . 1. Atala, 2. Vitala, 3. Sutala, 4. Rasaatala, 5 . Talaatala, 6. Mahaatala and Paataala.
( Itis not clear whether they are graded by subtility or physically.

Shodasha Set of 16 .
-- Shodashasa poojaa .Described in Poojaavidhi.

-Shodashakalaa. GOD has 16 kalaas and HE DESCENDS AS avataara with one or more or the kalaas. Krushna had all 16nkalaas . He is thus called Poornaavataara. Vivekananda was not respectful towards Krushna to begin with because of His "flirting " with Gopis" ended by accepting Him as Poornaavataara.

MUHYAPRAANA is one of the kalaas. Hanuman, Madhwaachaarya and Samartha Ramdas are manifestations of mukhyapraana.

--Chaturshashti

There are 64 kalaas i.e. arts.Some great persons have these 64 kalaas. Rest of us are blessed a few of them.

TIME units- KSHANA IS FOUR-FIFTH OF A SECOND.
TRUTI IS ONE-FIFTH OF A SECOND

Meghadootam (The Cloud Messenger)

मेघदूतं
(The Cloud Messenger)

Kaalidaasa is the uncrowned king of poetry and dramas of our land; why, even in the world, amongst all languages. The sweetness is missing in Shakespeare. Goethe, the best of German poets sings - In Kalidaasa, we see flowers and fruits the same time, colourful spring and colourful leaves the same time. Even Sri Aurobindo would go into raptures and has written books on Kaalidaasa's dramas and poetical works. Philosophy and nature worship in one place.

Kaalidaasa has written three dramas - Shaakuntalam (on Shakuntalaa from puraaNa), Maalavikaagnimitra (historical ) and Vikramorvasheeyam (mythological). Also two epic poems -Kumaarasambhavam (love and wedding of Paarvatee and Shiva and birth of Kumaar) and RaghuvaMsha (on Solar Dynasty in which Raama was born).

Rutasamhaara - Collection of beauty of six seasons. Considered his earliest work. One gets the unmistakable jhalak of a great poet in the making here.

Meghadootam is a khandakaavya - a poem of about 150 shlokas, in Mandaakraanta metre, a slow moving taala. A young YakSha, in the service of Kubera, is in charge of collecting flowers from the gardens for morning worship by the king. He is newly married. One morning, he wakes up late and hurriedly collects flowers worn by his wife and gives them to the palace. Noticing hairs in the flowers, the king is furious and exiles the yakSha for one year.

He settles for a lonely life below the Vindhyaa Mountains on the Raamagiri hills. Monsoon comea. Time for travellers and traders to return home to their families. The yakSha cannot.

One day a huge cloud settles on the hill top. Looking at it, the yakSha salutes it and offers poojaa with kutaja flowers and praises the cloud for pouring rains and cooling down the weather. Then he requests the cloud to take his message his beloved on the Himalayas, Alakaapuri, the place of his residence.

Firstly he wishes godspeed to the cloud and pleasant flight all through. Then he charts out the route, visiting natural beauties and places of pilgrimage. Gives a rough idesa of our country in his times. (In Raghuvamsha, Kaalidaasa gives s larger circuit taken by King Raghu during his conquering days behind the Sacrificial Horse. Here he touches our Konkana coast where the warriors drank fermented coconut drink from cups made out of taamboola (betel) leaves.)

His drescription of Ujjain and prayer to Lord Kaalabhairava at the city is very picturesque and respectful. His flight over Sangam, the holy confluence of sacred rivers is bewitching. (In RaghuvaMsha, Kaalidaasa had over twelve shlokas in which Rama desribes to Sita the beauty of the confluence as viewed from the Pushpaka vimaana on their return journey from Lanka.)

His references to the village lives enroute provides heartening reviews of rural people, simple and down to earth. Once Alakaapuri is sighted, directions with landmarks are given for the cloud to follow to reach his residence. Nice bird's eyeview of the rich city. Followed by detailed description of his residence. A loving description of his wife. A secret anecdote known to him and his wife only is narrated so that the wife will know the cloud is a genuine messenger. Finally the message of encouragement to hold on a month more until he comes home.

I had this whole poem by heart and used to sing it to tune while pacing up and down the verandah after night meals. Mother picked up a few lines and would sing them when she was working in the kitchen. I remember the lines she would sing even now.

BraahmaNasya VijaanataH - To him who has realised BRAHMAN

DO NOT EDIT NOW


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A shloka from Geethaa : Where the area is flooded, of what use is a well ? To a man who has realised Brahman of what use are the Vedas ?

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A Braahmana is not a person born in the Brahmin caste. He is a person who has realised Brahman. The sacred thread is a sign of the Brahmin caste and not necessarily a sign of enlightenment.


( Amchigele BAAMMUNU is husband but rarely a BRAAHMANA.)



Your saadhana can take you to a certain point. Beyond that a great force takes over and you are dragged into a vortex. You feel inundated in a flood of peace and bliss.



You learn the alphabet a the first step towards gaining knoweledge. Later you read words and do not read individual letters that form the words. They have lost significance. You pass over Vedas when you reach the source of Vedas.

( Later, as in speed-reading, you do not read individul words but read line by line OR as a whole.

Vivekananda read the first page of a book and then the last page and gave you the full contents of the book which a normal man cannot give even after reading every page of that book..)

Raamakrushna and Ramana had necert studied scriptures.But both could explain most difficult passages from any scripture. Their realisation had made them wise and when a passage from any scripture they esasily understand it because of their personal EXPERIENCE. AND PERHAPS WHAT THEY STUDIED IN PREVIOUS BIRTHS WAS RECOLLECTED. IT IS LIKE HAVING ACCESS TO THE MAIN COMPOUTER WHICH HOLDS ALL KNOWLEDGE.OR THEY PICKED FROM SOMEBODY ELSE'S BRAIN. Ramana has talked of all three POSSIBILITIES

Na KarmaNaa Na Prajayaa Dhanena (Not by Action, Children or Wealth)

न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन
(Not by Action, Children or Wealth)

This is the beginning line of a vedic prayer in daily recitation of vedic prayers in RamaNaashramam. RamaNa often recited it by himself and encouraged others to learn it and recite regularly.

The poetry is thrilling. An attempt is made here to catch the spirit in a translation.

Renunciation is not connected with karma, children or wealth. Good karma, children by their good acts, including pinDadaana, and wealth, enable you to help others - this gives you puNya and enables you to move Godwards, and, over many births, bring in mukti. These three, htus, are generally expected to help you but not to obtain mukti. Renunciation is living in God Awareness whether or not you have children or wealth. By no amount of actions, by no account of having many children and many to support or by pots of money earned can you achieve Immortality. By renunciation only can you hope to reach Immortality.

Children offer pinDas - offerings to the manes. An agency exists to transport the food to them. RamaNa said - the food will reach them even if they are reborn on earth. However, the pinDas do not ensure that the recipient will attain heaven much less mukti. Incidentally a Mukta is not dependant on pinDas. Just as there are agents to carry the pinDas to the manes, there are different agents for different duties. We know people who die in UttaraayaNa go direct to heaven but those who die in DakShinaayaNa miss the bus. In DakShiNaayana, some agents take these souls to a parking lot and when UttaraayaNa comes again, they move to heaven. The
Bible talks of angels and so does the Kur-ran. Darwin talks of over 400 super-human agents.

Note: SharadaamaNi says that when naivedya is offered after pooja, a ray of light emerges from eyes of of the deity, touches the various offerings, tastes them and withdraws.

Jnaanis, who have completely mastered their senses, feel in their hearts the many-splendoured shining wonder of Him Who grants Immortality.

By yoga and sanyaasa, Jnaanis have made their hearts pure for Him to come and reside. By gaining the Knowledge Supreme by study of scriptures and arriving at the Truth by meditating on truths in the scriptures, they have succeeded. They are SiddhapuruShas. Nityamuktas. They reach Brahmaloka.

A Shokamukta BraahmaNa (kah mohah, kah shokah - A BraahmaNa has no delusion. Without delusion, desires do not arise. Without desires, there is no frustration. What shoka will he have?) ever worships the Resplendant One in sookShma shareera in his heart.

That One is beyond the sacred Aadi Shabda, Om. Beyond Vedas. Without beginning or end.

Mother means Aammaa. The word "mother" does not evoke the same response as Aammaa to an Amchigele person. Of course, mother is a sweet word for babies whose mother tongue is English. A translation of such a word into a different language is at best a mirror image.

Sarvadharmasamanvaya (Salutations to All Gods)

सर्वदेवसमन्वय
(Salutations to All Gods)

The shloka reads -
Rain water fallen anywhere reaches the sea ultimately. Namaskaarams to any God reach Keshava ultimately.

The Lord says in the Geetaa - whosoever deity you worship, you worship Me only in that form and Name.

Keshava , KRuShNa and other Names are just symbolic. KRuShNa does not refer to KRuShNa, the son of Devaki. All the Names ultimately merge in one God that is without name.

Whatever religion you follow, whatever language you pray in , whatever be the mode of your worship to reach God represented by your IShTadevataa, you will reach God.

This is Sarvadharmasamanvaya held out by RaamakRuShNa.
No other religion gives you this freedom - freedom for hatred and fanaticism, freedom from fear. Only Love and Peace.

Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

HaMso HaMsah Bako Bakah (A Swan is a Swan, a Stork is a Stork)

हंसो हंस: बको बकः
(A Swan is a Swan, a Stork is a Stork)

Our scriptures and literature are full of references to nature, to animals, plants, mountains, rivers etc. Here is a shloka telling us how to evaluate two simliar things.

A swan is white. A stork is white. When it comes to neeraksheervibhaaga, i.e., separating water from milk, you see that a swan is a swan and a stork is stork. When a swan drinks milk, some chemical in its beak turns the milk into a solid substance and water. It swallows the solid and spits out the water.

A wise man is conversant with neeraksheeravibhaaga i.e. discriminate between right and wrong. He accepts the former and rejects the latter.

A similar shloka ends with " kaakaH kaakaH pikaH pikaH" - a crow is a crow, a koel is a koel.

Vadantakaale sampraapte i.e. when spring comes, a koel begins singing and you can easily spot it and shoo off a cawing crow.

As you know, a swara shadja is picked from a peacock's cry. Peacock's cry indicates that rain is imminent. Like the rain tree. Well, monsoon is mating season for peacocks and they are in singing mood.

Oour Gods are connected with particular animals and trees. The significance is lost to us. We should try to search for the significance and not join the westerners in laughing at it.

In one upanishad, recommendations are found to choose the sex of child before conception. In the book Samskaara, they give special food to be taken by an expecting lady to chose the main charactetristic of the child- intelligent, devoted , warrior , etc. The prescribed food is the brains of different birds!

The cow is the most sacred animal for reasons now clear to science.

Kaivartakah Keshavah (Keshava is the Boatman)

कैवर्तकः केशव:
(Keshava is the Boatman)

These are the only two words from the scriptures that Vaaman Baappaa talked to me about. He had read out to me, actually sang out to me, poet-laureate Govind Pai's long poems on Jesus and Buddha. Other than this, he kept a low profile on religion and scriptures. He performed poojaa at home when Ajja could not. He would fall flat for namaskaar in front of devaa kooda before going for meals. And he never prayed for anything, he told me. Incidentaly he told me of RamaNa in 1950 when papers published articles on MaharShi who had expired that year.

Our scriptures and literature give long winding similes to describe events or characteristics. Kaivartaka is a boatman. Saamsaara is compared to sea/river hard to cross without help of a boat and the Guru/God is called the boatman. The shloka which ends in two words - kaivartakah Keshavah decribes the great war which KruShNa helped PaaNDavas to negotiate and reach victory on the other shore. BheeShma and DroNa are two steep banks. Jayadhratha, brother-in-law of the Kauravas is the turbulent water. Shakuni is the rocks preventing smooth sailing. Shalya is crocodile waiting to rock the boat and get at you. KRupaachaarya is skyhigh waves. KarNa is the rising tide. Ashwatthaama and VikarNa are reptiles. Duryodhana is the vortex to toss and sink the boat. The PaaNDavas crossed the river safely, Keshava was their dependable boatman. (The shloka is from the Geethaastuti prayer. I recite it after bath evey morning.)

Kaivartaka has become KhevaTa in Hindi. Recollect Tulaseeedaasa describing Guha not taking fare for taking Raama across the river? Guha had said - When I come to the river you ferry me across (to heaven).

Shankaraachaarya has used this methodology to din into our ears some point. Like comparing the seed of a thought to final loss of peace of mind to a tree from roots to fruits. And Kaalidaasa has made great use of upamaas (similes ) in his works. They say - Upamaa Kaalidaasasya. None can excel Kaalidaasa in similes. (A joke - what is Kaalidaasa's favourite food - upamaa!)

RuNaM KRutvaa GhRutaM Pibet - (Eat ghee even if You Have to borrow to buy it)

ऋणं कृत्वा घृतं पिबेत्
(Eat ghee even if You Have to borrow to buy it)

Chaarvaaka Samhitaa is a great book on Materialism. Chaarvaaka is cunning and puts up good arguments and confuses you to fall in line with his line of thinking. His book was taught in Gurukulas as an exercise to whet the intellect of students to discriminate between truth and "sham" truth. Not to support the Chaarvaaka-view but keep guard against "flowery" words. No Truth, only hollow words.

The Lord takes up one full chapter of the Geetaa to explain the undesirable qualities of humans, not to give any importance, much less any credit, to them. It is only to make it easy for us to recognise the wrong things in life lest we fall into the trap of believing the wrong as good. Telling lies, taking bribes are tempting, when on looks at people making money riding lies and bribes. A friend once told me that when he got into the railways, his naani asked him - what would be his "oopari " income - income over and above the salary.

An Advaita student is taught Dwaita as well. The idea is that no validity is accorded to Dwaitha. It is like a hired mourner wailing at a funeral of a person not related to him.

Chidren must be told the mistakes they should avoid. And keep away from people who commit mistakes. It is a delicate task. The dislike for those persons as such should not be encouraged. In family, we may have fun of some another family but children must be taught that others may have something to laugh at our family and we should not bear hatred or anger at others.

Vada Me Vatse -4 (Tell Me, Dear Child -4)

वद मे वत्से - 4
(Tell Me, Dear Child - 4)



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How does the body decide that the baby in the womb is ready to be delivered ? Time device ? An erratic device as the period varies . Any chemical device ?

What triggers stopping feed to the baby, if it is still undelivered even after grace period allowed ?


What is the Material of "glue " which hold the umblical cord until then and then dries off and the the cord is pushed out?
What pushes water from roots to the leaves high up on the tree ? And indeed by what force the roots suck in water ?
Water and food goes up. CO 2 is given back to the air by the leaves. Is food produced by the leaves sent down to branches, trunk and roots ? Mixed with water ? Are there separate paths for the water mixed with food go down ?

DOES ANY EXCESS DRAWN IN by roots dissipates through leaves ?

Like the " glue " material referred to earlier what is plant "glue " material that holds on the leaves/flowers/fruits to the stems and dries up to drop off the ripe leaves/flowers/ fruits ?

There must be matching tubes between stems and leaves/flowers and fruits for transfer of food from stem to them ? When does the feed stops and what orders the shutting off?

CO2 -O2 exchange takes place on the bottom side of the leaves. Top sides receives heat from the sun. This is so so that when dust covers top side the exchange does not cease.

Radhmam told me that being a doctor he believes in existence of God looking at the wonderful machine that our body is. What is written above is proof enough for scientists ,at least botanists in existence of GOD

SharaNaagati (Surrender)

शरणागति
(Surrender)

We have discussed surrender under AatmasamarpaNa. SharaNaagati is the word in use by those on the Bhakti Maarga.

RamaNa said - It is a mistake to think that surrender is a passive posture in which we wait helpless and supine for something to happen miraculously with Guru's or God's Grace. Surrender is not a feeble,vulnerable attitude of abject submission nor a magic ticket which frees us from the responsibility to make efforts. Right surrender is intense and subtle at the same time. You remain alert and open to the workings of God or Guru. It requires firm faith and trust that whatever happens is for our best even in the midst of seeming discord or disaster.

There are critical times in our lives when we apparently have definitive choices and we are faced with decisions which irrevocably affect our lives. RamaNa said - Bear in mind that the real choice is whether you identify with these choices or not. Pay heed to each moment. Nothing is too insignificant to be discarded outright without appropriate consideration. Judge the events and people involved in proper perspective, surrender to the moment and do what is apt, without thinking of results or consequences. God will take care of it as indeed He takes care of you as well. *

Surrender is living in the present. Our duty is to be alert and remain engaged in and attentive to the current moment without identifying with it. No thoughts of past. No thought of future. Thoughts always come in pairs - attraction and repulsion, love and hatred, humility and contempt, activity and indolence and the like. Concentrate and realise they are part of a whole which only God only is aware of. You will be free from the binding dwandwas. This enhances the richness of your understanding; they turn into friends, no longer enemies.

Problems in life are actually opportunities for you to test yourself. The dhobi beats the dirty clothes on rock to clean them, not to tear them.

How will our future turn out right if we do not think about it, plan for it ? Well, you plan for it. But do not worry about it, waste no time in anxiety over it. If the plan fails, try again but with with no regrets or frustration. If you succeed, thank God but don't waste time to gloat over it and rest on your oars.

Ramana was running a high fever. But he was sitting and correcting the proof of some book to be published. When devotees asked him to take rest, he continued in proof reading, saying - There are many here who worry and take care of this body. Let me do my job! That is subtle humour and a lesson.

God looks after your work. You act to fulfil the actions required for the work to be done. Do your best and leave the rest to God.

Surrender means giving up the work as my work and doing it as God's work. You will do it better. Do it for the pleasure in doing God's work and not for some personal gain - money or name. Pleasure in doing God's work cannot be "purchased" by the money you earn in doing any work.

Smiles on the faces of children is your reward. Smile on God's face is a bigger reward. The point is not success of your work but the manner in which you did the work.

Joan of Arc was on the pyre. They were burning her alive for witchcraft. She prayed to God while helping the guards to tie the ropes properly her! Surrender makes you strong.
NOTE :
* A MOTHER IN THE KITCHEN KEEPS HER EARS TUNED to the voice of her child outside. She passes over its normal cries. When she senses pain in the cry, she rushes out. GOD is ever tuned to you -both audio and visual. HE passes over loud wailing and over copious tears. But when HE finds you cry from the mind, from the heart He rushes to you.

Aananda (Bliss)

आनन्द
(Bliss)

Nanda , a verb, means to please. In a bhajan mother sang, KruShNa is called Nandanandana - His father Nandaa's source of pleasure (Nandana)

Aananda means much pleasure.

RamaNa was operated for a cancerous growth on his left shoulder. No chloroform. He was blissfully unaware of any pain.

A Sufi saint was pierced in the chest by an arrow. Remove it when I offer Namaaz , he said. He did not feel any pain then as he was bliss personified at that time.

In Bhaja Govindam , the Aachaarya sings - A Jnaani is not an Aanandi, who has happiness but but is Aananda, the very form of happiness. He alone truly rejoices whose mind delights in Brahman, be it in company or in solitude, be it in divine communion or immersed in pleasures.

The following is inspired by reading an article in The Mountain Path magazine of Sri RamaNaashrama. (Is the english word path an adaptation of the Samskruta word patha?)

Aananda is absolute happiness , eternal, perpetual and unchanging; unconditional bliss; freeedom from any lack or limitation; fullness.

Even a child wants freedom, feeling tired of restrictions and limitations. It has full faith in its mother and returns to mother 's arms after tasting a little freedom. Mother is like Aatman. Ignorant, w erush out and return to mother during sleep to experience supreme happiness without the outher world and without even the prison house of the mortal body.

The Infinite alone is Bliss: perpetual , uninterriupted Happiness; there is no happiness in captivity, in the finite. Therefore, Aananda means infinitude, limitlessness, wholeness as the very nature of Aatmaa. Free from shackling limitations, absolute happiness is a natural corollary of self-knowledge.

A Jnaani, a self-realised soul, crosses all sorrows once for all and is absorbed in positive bliss, not a mere absence of misery but a fullness with not the slightest want and hence utter cessation of desires and fears. He is Aaptakaama.

RamaNa's Who am I? begins with - "As all beings desire to be happy always, and being endowed with supreme love for oneself, and happiness being the only reason for such love, one should seek and know the self."

Yajnavaalkya's discourse to his wife, Kaatyaayani, on this subject (found in the BRuhadaaraNyakopaniShad) is very illuminating.

ViShayaananda is sense pleasure. Classified as Priya, Moda and Pramoda. These are corrupted forms of aananda, aanandavikaara. Just lost in thoughts. Priya is a flash of joy, say when a ripe mango is seen. Moda is when you buy it and take home. Pramoda is when you eat it and recollection thereof. Just droplets of bliss of Brahman which mistakenly taken as coming from external objects.

Vidyaananda comes out of book knowledge. An appropriate line in knowledge resolves the wanting of some information by the ego brings in joy which again is partial manifestation of inherent bliss but mistakenly taken as coming from the information gathered.

Yogaananda comes from personal experience - not intellectual appreciation - of knowledge gathered. Still in the the shade of manifestation.

Swaroopaananda, Aatmaananda - means merger with Brahman, Aatman. Bliss. "You forget all that you have learnt, but still remain in bliss," says RamaNa. Unconditional bliss - shining full in its pristine and unfettered glory.

Jesus said: Be still and know I am God. Watch the verb - know. If He had said -think, it would have been yogaananda , experiencing happiness through intellect. Know means direct experience, transcendental.

Visiting temples, worship at home give viShayaananda a necessary stepm to start the journey.

NOTE : 1. GOD is ever present in our hearts. HE is the only source of BLISS. Happiness is a taste of this BLISS. When we feel happy, our mind is inturned. When we are unhappy, our mind is outurned in the mundane world.

Nimittamaatra - Kaakataaleeya (Just a Tool in God's Hands - like The Crow and The Palm Leaf)

निमित्तमात्र - काकातालतीत
(Just a Tool in God's Hands, like The Crow and The Palm Leaf)

Nimittamatra is a well-known word in the Geetaa. You are just a tool in God's hands, used by Him for keeping the show on to keep the world going. You are only a facade for actions to be done. You may like it or not, it may please you or not, you may do anything to stop it or not, the planned action will be done. Nature will force it on you. And somthing that is not meant to happen will not happend even if you do sheershaasana to try to make it happen.

When a crow sat on a palm leaf, it fell off. Coincidence, you say. The crow did not sit to dislodge the leaf nor the leaf was waiting for the crow to come and sit and trigger the falling off. The leaves have ben falling off even before Newton thought of gravity.

As you progress in spiritual life or even as life teaches you by knocks on the head, you come to realise that your separate individuality is a phantom. You begin to come face to face with your own intristic being. You realise you are part of a bigger family where every living being, human or animal or plant, river or mountain has a role. When this Jnaana dawns, surrender is imminent and inevitable.

You come to see the seeming co-incidences are all pre-planned and there need be no surprise over them. Do you call it a coincidence when a newborn drinks when the mother takes it to her breast? Do you call it a coincidence when a rainbow appears in the sky after rains? Can love at first sight be termed a coincidence?

Is breathing voluntary or a series of coincidences?

RamanA says even miracles just happen. He denies his involvement in miracles in his presence or attributed to him.

Every single action, however mundane and insignificant it be, is preplanned - eating, walking, fighting, etc. The Lord has made it clear - Naiva Kurvan Na Kaarayan. You do nothing nor is any action caused by you.

NOTE;
BAAPPAMMAA TOLD US OF THIS ANECDOTE. Arjun was proud when the war was won. i have won ,killing many brave warriors, he told Krushna. Hanuman ,sitting on the flag laughed and said- I have seen a CHAKRA going round and killing warrios .Your arrows were nimittamaatra.

Once you are convinced of nimittamaatra significance , you see HIS CHAKRA moving about making all people act this way or that way. You stop finding faults in others, much less envy and hate others. God is teaching you a lesson by actions of others, good or bad actions.

krutakarma /karmakrut - A person who has done his JOB.

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Krutakarma and Karmakrut are two combined words ( karma and krut ) meaning the same. Both are used in the Geethaa. It defines a person who has achieved his goal in life successfully.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We have two goals in life - first for sake of family, society and motherland and second for personal uplift i.e. spiritual .

Acquire knowledge and work and earn. Marry, raise a family. Bring up children , educate them,
get them married and see them happily settled. Retire from work , live in peace on a hill station. This is generally considered a successful life.
This life has achieved the first three goals set for man. The fourth goal is lost sight of. Moksha is forgotten . This fourth goal is to be pursued simultaneously during toiling for the first three. Otherwise, it is like travelling to see God and getting off at the garden of God's palace and being content with the flowers in the garden. Such persons have not succeeded in life, not done their job well. One has to cross the doorstep and enter into the presence of God.

THE GOAL MOKSHA can be and should be pursued from the beginning itself and simualtaneously with other three wordly goals. But this Moksha is after shedding the body.

We have four aashramas and the last aashrama can be entered without passing through earlier three. Shankaraachaarya, Ramakrushna and Ramana entered sanyaasa aashram even while still in the first aashram. The latter two did even study scriptures. ( THEY did their homework in previous births.) They are called ATYAASHRAMEES. THEY HAD TRANSCENDED THE GAMUT OF AASHRAMAS. THEY ARE MUKTAS WHILE STILL IN THE BODY -JEEVANMUKTAS .

Katakarma or Karmakrut is another name of a jeevanmukta. (Like an emeritus profeesor freed from any assignments. His own master. ) They may be seen performing actions like a common man. They are all good actions because they are done by GOD. They are uncocerned about the results and what others will think. Praise or blame make no difference to him. He lives in the PRESENCE OF GOD -HERE (no waiting for heaven after ) and in perfect bliss a long as his destiny has fixed the span of life. IT is immaterial to him whether his body is given an honourable farewel or thrown into a gutter. He had discarded the body long back.

A fan continues to rotate for some more time even after electricity is switched off. Momentum . Jnaani's body carries on by momentum.

You hold to bars tight when you kearn cycling. Once you get balance your grip loosens. You may give hold even . Jnaani has his hands off his body once for all.

Thoughts rush out from your mind. A Jnaani has to exert to get a thought out.

Now what is the KARMA done by then blessed souls ? Karma here is the effort put in to gain spiritually. Getting a degree and earning money is not meant.

Krutakrutya and Kruthartha are two other words used in general . Narendra is krutakrutya by his service to parents. He is Krathartha, has given a meaning to life by his selfless service. His life is SAARTHAKA.

paropakaaraH puNyaaya paapaaya parapeedaNam

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Olden days housewives were real housewives , not going out to earn bread. In the afternoon they had the puraana reading sessions. Thus generally, ladies learnt many samkrut shlokas . My Baappammaa recited about a dozen shlokas. One of the shlokas she recited said-In all his 18 puraanas ,Vyaasa had stressed on two things - Help others if you want to earn punya. Troubling others increases you load of paapa.

Jesus said -Love thy neighbour. The easy way to earn punya.

In olden days, homes were open houses. Any visitor during me meal time stayed for meals. During festivals guests from outsations came to stay with families. And the postman, school teacher , station masters and others were standing guests. Even for events like wedding in the family.
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ANOTHER SHLOKA from Baappammaa's bag- When the body is weakened by age and diseases make life miserable, God is the only doctor and Gangaajal is THE medicine.

People were not afraid of death. In AFRICA , amongst some tribes when death is calling, the man just walks out and sleeps below a tree. Without food for days on. PURE FAITH.

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3rd shloka- A LEAF, A FLOWER, A FRUIT, A SIP OF WATER IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED TO PLEASE GOD. BUT OFFER IT WITH DEVOTION.

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SHREERAAMARAAMETI , YADAA YADAA HI DHARMASYA AND PARITRAANAAYASAADHOONAAM WERE A FEW OTHERS I HEARD FROM BAAPPAMMAA. My mother never recited any shloka but God was very much present in her life. Thus I had a good base to stary on my journey towards God.

It is essential the children accept the Existence of GOD and develop love for HIM. Know of powers and HIS love for us.

Parkinson was a professor in SINGAPORE and he formulated the Parkinson's Law. During his visit to Bombay, during a lecture he had said the children in Hindu fsmily rule the children BY THE HIDDEN POWER of the father. I WILL TELL FATHER WHEN HE RETURNS HOME was the stick. These days mother also goes out and being financially independant , asserts her own power. does not easily accept a supertior. Children sense it .

God's HIDDEN POWER had to be invoked as an alternative .Children should realise their parents are not rich on their own right. God's Mercy is very much essential to keep them rich. Thus God has as place - and an indespensable place in life. CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT THAT .

samkramaNa - crossing star raashis

Makara and Karkaataka are the two samkramanas when the sun changes " dierction." But in each direction it crosses five constellations (raashis ). A year is completed when all 12 constellations have been covered.

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A Sourswamaana year is 365 days during which earth completes one round round the sun. It is a fraction of a day more and we have leap years when one day is added to the days of February. Souramaana is measurement of time by earth rotating round the sun .

A Chandramaana year has 354 days only. The difference of eleven days rises to difference of 29 days and a half in two years and eight months of solar calendar days. Therefore during 33rd solar month, 30 days are added to the lunar year and both years are drawn in line. Actually the difference is little more than 29 days and the extra 30 days are added only once in 29/31/33 and 35 years. The extra month is called ADHIKAMAASA i.e. EXTRA MONTH. The extra of leap year may be called Adhika Divasa.

Lunar month starts after Amavavaasya. In between Amavaasyas there is a Sakramana. LUNAR YEAR starts after samkramana. If there is no Samkramana between Amavayasas then theAdhika Maasa is introduced. When Adhikamaasa exceeds 30 days, KSHAYA MAASA IS INTRODUCED. ONLY ELEVEN LUNAR MONTHS THAT YEAR. THIS IS RARE.

Sun is named different between Samkramanas. Bhanu, Tapana, ----- and Soorya. ( WONDER WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEB DIFFERENT NAMES. ANY SPECIAL CHANGES IN SUN'S MOVEMENTS OR CHARACTER? DURING ADHIKA MAASA THE HEAT AND LIGHT IS FROM SOORYA MANDALA ! NOT THE SUN !)

EVERY MONTH is named after a different God. Adhikmaasa is called PURUSHOTTAMA MAASA. (SIGNIFICANCE ? WE HAVE LOST MUCH KNOWLEDGE ! )

Our elders were far advanced in astronomy. West started with ten months a year and made it twelve only later. Both our calendars started with twelve and they sychronised periofdically. ( July and August were new months added by Romans and named after Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Months September to December suggest seveth, eighth, ninth and tenth months respectively , a Indian tilt!)

Our matthematicians were far advanced too to set calcutlations for casting calendars and horoscopes.

THIS BLOG IS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR ASCESTORS WHO HSADF KEEN OBSERVATING POWERS WITHOUT HELP OF TELESCOPES AND MODERN EQUIPMENTS. THEY HAD NO WEATCHES OR CLOCKS AS OF TODAY, BUT KEPT TIME TO HALF A SECOND OF TODSY.

SaadhanaachatuShTaya

साधनाचतुष्टय
(Four-fold saadhanaa)

Four-fold saadhana is followed on the Jnaana Maarga as indeed Ashtaangayoga is followed on the Yoga Marga (Ashtaangayoga was discussed earlier)

1. Viveka - The ability to discriminate between real and unreal.

2. Vairaagya - A spirit of detachment from enjoyment of sense objects and fruits of actions.

3. A sextet of essentials (SHADSAMPATTI ) :
(SIX TREASURES TO BE ACQUIRED )
a) Sama: peacefulness, tranquility, composure
b) Dama: Self-control.
c) Uparati: renunciation, cessation of actions, self-withdrawal
d) TitikShaa: forbearance, endurance, fortitude, getting over dwandwas (sukh-dukha, gain-loss etc) and accept either without struggle for revenge or redress, being always free from anxiety or lament over them i.e. dwandwas.
e) Shraddhaa - Clear understanding supported by discrimintion, faith, an affirmative frame of mind (humility, sincerity earnestness, unwavering and reverential pursuit of the Real at any cost).
f) Samaadhaana - Profound meditation, abstract contemplation

4. MumukShatva - A burning, surging desire for mokSha.

Shadripu

षड्रिपु
(Six enemies)

Man has six enemies within him and they have to be overcome first. Eliminate them; at least keep them under control if you want to preserve the quality of your life.

1. kaama - Lust. The tsunami #1. Lust is not harmful if you can apreciate why God has given this bonding grace for a loving family.

2. krodha - Anger. Sages have lost puNya earned over years of tapasyaa by yielding to anger and hurling curses. Our stock of punya is minimal and we have to prserve it. Discipline in life can control anger.

NOTE : The Geetaa asks us to resist steep rise of both lust and anger. Moderation in both is possible and permissible.

3.mada - Pride. Money, chamchaas and health are not lasting. Enjoy them and share with others. Pride over their possession is harmful.

4. moha - Delusion. Love of God never fails you. Love of earthly possessions leads to delusion and consequent destruction of the very fabric of life.

5. lobha - Greed. Most commonly found, a silent killer.

6. matsara : Jealousy. Happiness does not lie in possessions. Why feel jealous of others who possess more? If happiness were to come with money, the rich should be a happy lot. This is not true. Always remember the poem - Miller on tne Dee. "No lark more blithe than him."

AShtaangayoga

अष्टाङ्गयोग
(The eight-limbed Yoga)

Patanjai's Yogasootra is called Raaja Yoga. Vivekaananda has written a voluminous book/commentary on it. It is also called AShTaangaygoa - a school of philosophy postulating discipline to remove afflictions, leading to a discriminative knowledge of the Truth beyond untruth, of reality beyond unreality. The discipline has eight limbs and is thus named Ashtaangayoga.

1. Yama - abstentions, restraints on oneself (ethical).

2. Niyama - observances, regulations in actions towards others (physical)

3. Aasana -Postures for strengthening the muscles and gaining control over them.

4. PraaNaayaama - Breathing exercises.

5. Pratyaahaara - Withdrawal of senses from their respective domains.

6. DhaaraNa - Fixing one's attention. Early stages of meditation. You concentrate on limb by limb of the IShTadevataa. On the head, on the face, on the shoulders and down to feet.

7. Dhyaana - Concentration on the deity's body as a whole.

8. Samaadhi - Full absorption of the mind into the object of concentration.

This is followed in the Yoga Maarga. The Jnaana maarga has SaadhanaaachatuShtaya - a fourfold discipline. Both disciplines have common points. RamaNa says -You can pick one or other discipline or even interchange some limbs. Both help you to make the mind one-pointed. For his method of Self Inquiry, one can overlook these disciplines if the mind is amenable to concentration by itself.

Sthitaprajna

स्थितप्रज्ञ
(A man of steadfast wisdom)

9 is an auspicious number for Hindus, as indeed 7 is for Christians. Vyaasa wrote 18 (a multiple of nine) PuraaNas. The Geetha has 18 chapters. The real message of Geethaa is in the first 18 Shlokas when the LORD begins His famous discourse. (Shlokas 12 to 29 of Chapter Two ) A Sthitaprajna is descibed in full in 18 Shlokas (No. 55 to 72 ) of the same chapter.

A Sthitaprajna is a man of steadfast wisdom - the bedrock of human perfection. You feel drowned in his presence - his silence is golden.

Shloka No. 55 - When a person has given up the last vestige of desire from his mind, he becomes a Sthitaprajna. He is happy in himself, happy by himself (Just as you enjoy with the children in their make-believe games, he takes life as a game. Win or lose, it is a game to be enjoyed).

Shloka No. 56 - No calamity can shake him. No success can excite him. The master of lust, fear and anger, he is free and happy all the time.

Shloka No. 57 - Auspicious or inauspicious, he is untouched by circumstances. He does does go
out to flatter people nor can flattery ensnare him.

Shloka No.58 - Like a tortoise which withdraws its limbs inside its shell, his senses are under his control and never led astray (He knows God is not approachable by senses. He knows whatever is sensed by senses is transitory and not worth pursuing).

Shloka No.59 - Senses sense his mature sense and drop away .( SENSES here stand for five senses together. SENSE is a verb , to inderstsnd correctly. Mature SENSE is singularly plural standing for our five senses of perception. )Not the least tempted by wordly objects.

Shloka No. 60 - The senses however keep biding their time, to pounce on him at any moment of weakness. But he is ever alert and does not swerve from his chosen path.

Shloka No. 61 - Like an experienced charioteer controlling horses, he keeps his senses under control.

Shlokas No. 62 and No.63 - Do not dwell on any thought. A persisting thought on any object gives rise a desire to possess it. An unsuccessful attempt to get at it, brings in the fangs of anger. This affects the mental balance, leading to indiscrimination and, consequently, loss of peace of mind.

Shloka No. 64 - Peace of mind is possible only when you enjoy the God-given gifts with senses under your full control.

Shloka No. 65 - The mind stabilizes as desires, anger and the like disappear.

Shloka No. 66 - How can you expect yor intellect to perform right if the senses are let loose? How can the mind stabilize if tossed by senses? How can you taste bliss and lasting peace with a disturbed mind?

Shloka No. 67 - Like a boat cast adrift by the wind, the mind is cast adrift by the senses.

Shloka No. 68 - Sense objects keep tempting. But never allow the senses to follow them.

Shloka No. 69 - The wise man is always awake when the ignorant are sleeping. He is asleep to the world enjoyed by the ignorant.

Shloka No. 70 - An ocean receives water from rivers all over the world. It does not cross its boundaries. A Sthitaprajna is an ocean of peace and bliss. Happiness and unhappiness of the world are insignificant to him and do not affect him in the least. Can a cupful of milk make an ocean white? Can a cupful of drain water pollute an ocean?

Shloka No. 71 - Give up the sense of ego - renounce and rejoice!

Shloka No. 72 - Hold on to this state of Brahman until death. Death will hold no fear for you. It will honour you and escort you to God.

KarmaNyevaadhikaaraste

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते
(You only have the right to action)

You have the right for actions but do not wait on results thereof. Advice by the Lord in His discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield.

Adhikaara is right, power, authority. Adhikaari is one who has the right, the power and the authority. Adhikaari, as a goverment officer, has the power and authority delegated to him by a higher authority. Delegated power or authority is not absolute - it is limited in its scope, and can be modified by the higher authority.

Swayaatta Adhikaara is Absolute Power as wielded by the kings of old. And by God.

A right is the proper exercise of power and authority. If a judge orders every guilty person to be hanged without discrimination, it is a misuse of power. Every punishment has an alternative suggested for lesser degree. Also, power is demonstrated by your use of discretion. As a senior officer, I sanctioned leave. I asserted my power by witholding the sanction of leave where reasons are not justified, or if exigencies did not permit staff going on leave for the time being. Judicious dispensation is necessary.

Results of all actions in this life determined by destiny which again is based on your actions in past lives. It is up to you accept them gracefully whether they are to your expectation or otherwise. No joy if the results please you and no frustration if they displease you. The attitude in accepting results determine actions and results of future births.

Well, this applies to persons who are still ego-ridden and think they are master of their destiny. They do not know that they are Nimittamaatra, just acting as pulled by the strings in God's hands. Not just the three involuntary functions as stated by science, ALL actions are "involuntary" as clearly as explained by the Lord later on. Is the growing of nails and hair voluntary? Is the tongue moving dextrouly without being cut by teeth as it moves transferring food from this to that side of the mouth and its final pushing chewed food down the throat to be considered acting voluntarily?

Prakrutistvaam niyokShati, says the Lord. GuNaa guneShu vartante, He says further. You are no better than a robot. Of course, a perfect robot, having been made by God. That's all there is to it.

PuruShaartha

पुरुषार्थ

(Goals for man)

MokSha is the ultimate goald set by all religions. The Hindu scriptures also put mokSha at the top of the list of goals for man. They, however, set stages - each blending into the next for gradual and natural evolution toward mokSha.

1. Dharma - After a childhood spend at home, when childen were told of stories from RaamayaNa and Mahaabhaarata and devotion to Gods was incultated in their minds, they were sent to Gurukulas, residential hermitages, for study of the scriptures. Besides scripture, the Guru's wife trained them in filial duties and love for society, animals and the plant world. Even Raama and KRuShNa studied in the Gurukula. Life was dedicated to building up strong bodies and a disciplined way of life, besides the main object of studying scriptures.

2. Artha - Earning of money through honest work.

3. Kaama - Marry and raise families of your own but looking after elders lovingly. The cresation is for us, His children. Enjoy, but never forget God Who has granted you health to enjoy and means to enjoy.

4. MokSha - work for the ultimate goal of mokSha and fulfilment.

UpaniShadah

उपनिषद:
(Upanishads)

UpaniShads are concluding portions of Vedas and hence called Vedaanta (the end of the Vedas). The word upaniShad has been held severally to mean: sitting near, devotedly; instructions given by the guru to the disciple sitting close; secret teaching; knowledge of the Absolute.

Each Veda has several branches (shaakaas). Each shaakaa has a karmakaaNDa (which deals with actions to be performed), and mantras. JnaanakaNDa has AaraNyakas (Particularly dealing with studies for those who resort to forest hermitages for devoted and dedicated pursuit of knowledge). UpaniShads are in the AaraNyakas.

Sage Vyaasa had identified 1180 shaakas of the four Vedas. Each shaakaa ends with an upaniShad. Most of upaniShads are lost and only 108 are now available.
Ten of these are called major UpaniShads and are the subjects of commentaries written by all three great Achaaryaas. MuNDakopaniShad has only 13v shlokas but is considered the best.
A commentary (called kaarikaa) was written by GauDapaada (Guru of Shankara's Guru Govindapaada). Shankara has written a commentary on Kaarikaa! BRuhadaaraNyaka and ChaNDOgya UpaniShads are voluminous . The former contains the famous conversation between Yajnavaalkya and his wife Maitreyi. The latter contains a guru-shiShya conversation. Both are illuminating.

Other upaniShads are grouped; Saamaanya (dealing with ordinary matters ), Shaiva, Shakta, Vaishnava, Yoga and Sanyaasa.

Our scriptures comprise 14 Mahaavidyaas.
4 Vedas
6 Vedaangas (Shikshana, Vyaakarana, Chandas, Niruktas, JyotiShya, Kalpa)
4 Upaangas (Meemamsa , Nyaaya, Puraanas and Dharmashaastras)
(PuraaNas have 18 major puraaNas compiled by Vyaasa and two Itihaasas, i.e., RaaamaayaNa and Mahaabhaarata)
(Dharmashaastra includes ManusmRutis)

Upavedas are Aayurveda, Arthashaastra, Dhanurveda and Gandharvaveda (dealing with health, money matters, warfare and dance and arts).

Patanjaliyoga Siddhi

पतञ्जलियोग सिद्धि
(Achievement of Patanjaliyoga)

Patanjali is well known for his book oon Yoga. These are practices to follow to build up a healthy body to pursue with vigour the search for God. But the method leads one to acquire powers to perforn miracles. Man is likely to be content with a strong body and go out practising his powers and lose sight of moving towards God.

Here we discuss only the miracles aspect for appreciation of what yoga can enable you to do.
Power to perform miracles is called Siddhi. However, both RaamakRuShNa and RamaNa cared a hoot for siddhis. Many miracles are credited to them but they never took any credit for miracles. They just happen, RamaNa would say and pass over.

Now siddhis come after hard work in the yoga method. In case of saints and sages, God grants them siddhis forHis own Plan to proceed unhindered.

Sages lose their power by cursing out of anger. Similarly, egostic use of siddhis causes one to lose the power and the yogi is soon down the pit.

A parable by RamakRuShNa: A person returned home after 30 years of saadhanaa in the Himaalayas. He boased that he can now walk on water. An old man pointed out - Son, you have wasted 30 years. For three paisas, a boat can take you across the river.

A personal experience of RaamakRuShNa: When his nephew pestered him, he went to Mother and prayed for some siddhi. Look that side, Mother said. Ramakrushna looked; saw a man answering call of nature. Do you want that?, Mother asked. Embarrassed and angry, RamakRuShNa ran back and slapped his nephew. "I had to see a dirty scene because of you," he shouted.

There are eight siddhis, called AshTasiddhis:

1. Animaa - Reducing size of the body to that of an atom (Hanumaan adopted this method to get past a demoness on his flight to Lanka).

2. Mahimaa - Assuming gigantic size of body (Hanumaan assumed gigantic form to impress Seetaa, being held captive by RaavaNa. KRuShNa stood tall to ward off Duryodhana who threatened to arrest KRuShNa who had come on a peace mission to avoid war. Vishwaroopa on the battlefield is another great feat).

4. Praapti - Sitting at one place and hooking on to another's senses in a distant place. You can see Himaalaya sitting in Bangalore or enjoy wine in the White House.

5. Prakaasya - Live video show of events at a distant place (like what Vyaasa enabled Sanjaya to see the battle and describe details to the blind king). Vivekaananda has revealed, you can have a video view of past events and future events too. Evidentally this enabled RamaNa to judge a man by a mere look at him as if he was reading an open book.

6. Ishita - Control over Maayaa and making it follow your dictat instead of vice versa, which is the norm.

7. Vashita - Non-attachment to sensual pleasures.

8. Kaamyapraapti - Experiencing pleasures without the use of senses.

There are 15 derivative siddhis.

1. Immunity to hunger, thirst and pain ( LakShmaNa went without food during 14 years in the forest).
2. Hearing voices from anywhere in the universe.
3. Seeing sights even beyond the horizon.
4. Bodily travel at lightning speed (Evidentally, Shankara used this for his three circuits of the land).
5. Assuming the shape of man or animal at will.
6 Leaving One's body and entering another body (Shankara had done it once).
7. IchChaamaraNi - Choosing your time to leave the body. Yama has to wait for your order.(Prahlaada ascended to heaven in a divine chariot. Yama bent low and Prahlaada stepped on his back to get into the chariot!)
8. Participation in heavenly pleasures.
9. Attainment of any desired end.
10. Exercise unquestioned and unobstructed power over anybody.
11. Go invisible and appear anywhere else.
12. Capacity to withstand the world of duality i.e. heat and cold, pleasure and pain, etc.
13. Mind reading.
14. Capacity to control the power of sun, fire, water, wind and other natural forces.
15. Always a winner. Never a loser unless you choose it that way.

Siddhis are stumbling blocks on any path. It is better not to aim for them. Jnaanis use them to glorify God, i.e., to help a devotee in trouble imploring for God to intervene.

Yajna, Yaaga, Homa, Havis

यज्ञ, याग, होम, हविस्
(Yajna, Yaaga, Homa, Havis)

The four terms generally refer to a sacrificial act, often in a sacrificial offering in a fire, but have various connotations.

यज्ञ
(Yajna)
A Yajna may mean (appropriate to the context) a sacrifice, sacrificial rite, an act of worship, any pious or devotional act, or spiritual offering or endeavour.

A fivefold yajna is enjoined on householders, particularly brahmins, as:

1.Bhoota Yajna. For the welfare of all beings- human and animal.

2. PitRu Yajna. Obsequial offerings, daily libations to the departed elders.

3. Deva Yajna. Offerings to all gods.

4.ManuShya Yajna. Offerings to people,hospitality, hospitable reception of guests.

5. Brahma Yajna. Teaching and reciting Vedas.

Note : A man had many rituals to perform for the benefit of the family and go out for earning bread for the family. So the division of duty for woman was to to do household works. And, from the religious side was prescibed service of the man. i.e. husband.

The word Yajna may be used in an extended sense for other pious, devotional, spiritual endeavours and projects and observances, e.g. Japayajna, Naamayajna, Geetayajna and the like.

याग
(Yaaga)
This is a public Yajna, on a very large scale, generally arranged by kings. Specialist priests for different specific duties (Advaryu as supervising priest, Hotra for reciting Rugveda, Udgaata for chantings hymns from Saamaveda, and up to 16 priests). Kratu is a yaaga in which animal sacrifice is prescribed.

होम
(Homa)
A Homa is a Yajna on a smaller scale, domestic in nature, performed with oblations for deities. Part of Devayajna. Recitation of PuruShasookta and of the Geetaa, etc.

हविस्
(Havis)
A Havis is offering into the fire.

Navaratnamaalaa

नवरत्नमाला
(Necklace of nine gems)

This is a random selection of nine gems from the Treasure Chest of Shankaraachaarya's gift to us.

1. मनुष्वत्वं मुमुक्ष्वत्वं महापुरुषसंश्रय:
manuShyatvaM mumukShatvaM mahaapuruShasaMshrayah

The Aachaarya says these three things are difficult to be blessed with:
i. मनुष्वत्वं manuShvatvaM - birth in a human body. This world is called Karmabhoomi. Even Gods come down to atone for their sins/ommissions.
ii. मुमुक्षत्वं mumukShatvaM - desire for moksha. Born a human, one must yearn for Moksha.
iii. महापुरुषसंश्रयः mahaapuruShasaMshrayah - guidance of a Guru. For saadhanaa to move towards moksha, the guidance of a guru is essential. If one fails to encash this rare opportunity of the three blessings together, he has no destination but hell (From Shankara's VivekachoodaamaNi (approximately 500 shlokas) which is considered as the classic work on Advaita. RamaNa has written a 60 page essay on this. Aatmabodha, a shorter work, is a good companion book).


2. क्व च न समुद्रो तारङ्गः
Kva ca na samudro taarangah

In Advaita philosophy, the sea and the wave is the general relationship used to show oneness of the jeevaatmaa and paramaatma. A wave is a part of the sea and nothing but the sea itself. It rises in the sea, is sustained by the sea and finally merges into the sea. It never separates itself from the sea. The Aachaarya says - A wave is always saamudr (belonging to the sea i.e. samudra). The sea is never taaranga (belonging to the wave i.e.taranga). This is from the ViShNuShaTpadee - the six shlokas in adoration of ViShNu.. I recite this stotra at pooja time every morning. This hymn is full of alliterations.

3. भिक्षाम् देहि कृपावलंबनकरी
bhikShaam dehi kRupaavalaMbanakaree

From the hymn addressing AnnapoorNeshwaree in Kaashi. Mother holds a gold pot filled with seeds for all plants in creation. Even Shiva had once approached Her with His begging bowl seeking alms during a famine.

Every shloka ends with - Give me bhikShaa, Mother., Your Graces is support to the entire universe. In the last shloka, the Aachaarya specifies the alms he seeks - jnaana and vairaagya. Not for any material gain.

4. परब्रह्मलिङ्गं भजे पाण्डुरङ्गम्
parabrahmalingaM bhaje paaNDurangam

A majestic composition written on visiting Pandarapur. You wonder how the Aachaarya went round the country thrice in his short span of life, visiting all temples and singing in praise of the deities there. At a time, too, when most travel was by foot and occasionally by bullock carts. He was however blessed with the siddhi to disappear from one place and appear at another.
paaNDu ranga is white colour but He is no less charmimg as a black stone idol. Linga is symbolic representation. It inspires you according to your faith.

5. स्वदेशो भुवनत्रयं
swadesho bhuvanatrayaM

Universal brotherhood, conceived by the Aachaarya centuries ago. The forefathers of the forefathers of the founders of the United Nations founders were not born then. Vasudhaiva kutumbakam was talked in Vedic times.

Paarvati is my Mother. Maheshwara is my Father. They set the universe going. Being their child, I am a relative of all their children, the universe over.

6. मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं
maa kuru dhanajanayouvanagarvaM

(From Aachaarya's Bhaja GovindaM) Do not feel proud of money - LakShmee is chanchal - money is slippery. Perhaps guarding it keeps you on a hot plate always, as the fear of loss is always there. Even the son is impatient for your exit in order for him to take over the treasury.

Do not feel proud of men who surround you. Men follow money more than you and will slip away when money and power behind money leaves you.

Do not feel proud of your youth and strength. Pikkale paana paDtanaa tarne paana haastaa. One day the green leaf also will change colour and fall. All are in the same grindstone and will be crushed some day.

7. पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः
putraadapi dhanabhaajaam bheetih

(From Aachaarya's Bhaja GovindaM) Time passes at its own pace for all. It does not go faster for older people. A son would like his father to pass away early so that he inherits wealth early. Papers come with news of impatient sons who took a short cut by cutting throats of parents. So the Aachaarya warns that wealth brings in fear of loss, loss of life itself. Money may bring momentary pleasures but all pleasures do not add up to give happiness, much less towards bliss.
8. शम्भो तवाराधनं
Shambho tavaaraadhanam

In whatever I do, whenever I do, it is always in adoration of you. It truly reflects the nature of a fully dedicated man (In the Lord's words - yatkaroshi yadashnaasi yajjuhosi dadaasi yat yattpasyasi kaunteya tatkurisha madarpnam).

9. मम मतिरास्ताम् तव पदकमले
Mama matiraastaam tava padakamale

The Gangaastotra is a lilting hymn on Mother Gangaa. When you recite this, you almost hear Ganga's merry flow down the stones in the earlier course of her journey in the Himaalayas. Like sounds of ghaaggari on the ankles of a young maiden dancing.

All the shlokas in the Gangaastotra end with this line - May my mind always rest at Your lotus feet. The sacredness of the sacred river is fully described. At one place, the Aachaarya says - Better live as a crab on Your bank than in a palace.

Mahaajano Yena Gatah Sa Panthaah

महाजनो येन गत: स पन्था:
(The Way Treaded by a Great Soul is The Path)

Vedas are sacred and not to be doubted or found fault or defect with. They give the very words heard from the Divine Source. But when a Sage utters something at variance with the Vedas, his words are to be accepted as more authentic. Seers wrote down what they heard. Subsequently, they practised and found they are true and correct. But when a Sage speaks it is from personal experience and not based on book-knowledge.

The way treaded by a Sage is A Path in its own right. He lives the way He preaches. Being one with God, His Path can never be doubted or looked down upon. Buddha is called Tathaagata i.e. He trod the path He preached.

In the Geetaa, the Lord says - yadyadaacharati shreShThaha lokastadanuvartate यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठ: लोकस्तदनुवर्तते. Men follow the path shown by the great souls. It is incumbent upon leaders, especially godmen, to lead on the right path and not push followers down the hill.

Have faith in your Guru and do not doubt or experiment with his teaching.

The seemingly wrong statements or words from the greats are to be seen in proper perspective. They are termed Aarsheya (Rushi as the root).

In literature also they say - mahaakaveenam saadhu. "Mistakes" done by great poets are to be viewed in proper perspective. Kalidasa has made three "mistakes." In one case he chose to use the word -trayambaka त्रयम्बक. Gramatically wrong. त्र्यैम्बक Tryaimbaka is the correct word. It is not that there was no other word to fit in to suit the maatraa (maatraa in poetry is taala in music). Trilochana would have fitted well. Perhaps the poet opted for trayambaka as it is used in the Mrutyunjaya Mantra -an Aarsheya.

Satsanga

सत्संग
(In the company of God)

Satsanga is the meeting of a group of people to talk and hear about God and scriptures and listen to discourses. tuShyanti cha ramanti cha - as the Lord says in the Geetaa. The members of the group feel elevated and enthralled. And strengthen their faith in God.

RamaNa, however, gives a new meaning - he calls it living in the company of God, living in God!

Napoleon Hill talks of the Master Mind in his book - Acres of Diamonds. The book is better than Dale Carnegie's book - How to Win Friends and Influence People. Ford and two other businessmen/industrialists, met in a retreat once a year and spent a fortnight in isolation. They hardly met except at the dining table. And talked little. But in silence, a Master Mind evolved and their brains got new bright ideas to go for more business and enterprises.

During Satsanga, a Master Mind of the like-minded people takes over. The assembled men benefit and become more devoted to God. During visit to temples, the same benefit accrues.
But at home, too, like-minded members of a family can as well enjoy Satsanga even in midst of household responsibilities and work. A man by himself can enjoy Satsanga at work in office, in the bus during travel up and back from office. God is ever available at any place, giving you company. Always keep this in mind.

RamaNa was the most active member of the Aashrama, not relaxing on a bed all day long. He was the first to leave bed, much before sunrise. He would be in the kitchen cutting vegetables, grinding chutney and all that. He was a good cook, too. Of course, he would eat minimum. saying - one iddli is enough for a man who sits idle on the bed and gives darshan.

In Sahaja Sthiti, i.e., in the natural state of being. Perfect man in Satsanga every moment of life.

Swaami Raamdaas demonstrated Satsanga in practice. When a devotee came for initiation, he gave her no directions except asking her to report to him each evening what she did that day. By and by, her wasteful acivities ceased as she would not like to tell her guru of her idling time on useless activities. One day he told her - report all talk you had during the day. She ceased talking on unnecessary matters. Finally, her talks were restricted just to meet requirements of daily life. And the next direction - Report on whatever thoughts crossed your mind. Thoughts began to disappear, and, one evening, she went with a totally blank mind. With a smile, the Guru said, "You do not need to come to me any more. You are in Satsanga."

Markatopaakhyaana

मर्कटोपाख्यान
(Parable of the monkeys)

A group of monkeys decided to observe Ekaadashee fasting A little later, one monkey suggested that they search for food so they could start eating early the next morning without wasting any time. They moved out, and found a plantain tree with a bunch of ripe plantains.

Good, observed one monkey. Why not bring it down now itself instead of wasting time tomorrow to climb the tree? The bunch was brought down and slowly the plantains were peeled and kept ready for putting in the mouth the next day. Then put in the mouth thinking chewing could done tomorrow. Chewed and it went down. Kal kare so aaj kar!

We are tempted by stages. We hate capitalists running after crores of rupees but do not hesitate running after thousands. The poor run after hundres. Everybody is running after money, it is just that the level of temptation differs.

A contractor son told his father of a new officer - He is honest, refused a thousand rupees. The experienced old father said - Try a lakh. Resistance fails at different points.

Diodes are static switches which allow flow of current in one direction but block reverse flow. Of course if reverse voltage is increased, it breaks down and reverse current begins flowing. This reverse voltage is called PIV-Peak Inverse Voltage. It is a question of PIV, everybody will break down at some high voltage.

We have all negative points as to why not to buy a costly item when you cannot afford. As you make money, those negative points go away one by one. Everything the other man does looks wrong. When you do the same thing one day, you come up with hundred reasons why it is right.

Vidyaa Dadaati VinayaM

विद्या ददाति विनयं
(Education gives you humility)

The shloka goes - Education gives you humility. Humility enhances your worthiness. Worthiness brings in appreciation and money. With money, you lead a virtuous life, that is, a peaceful and happy life.

That is the prescription for success and happiness in life. (Sitting and eating wealth from elders is no success in life.)

A PhD is an achievement to feel happy but not proud about. It should make you realise how vast is the field of knowledge and to realise that there is a power Who guides man in his endeavours. Humility ensues with this attitude.

Humility opens the door and you are appreciated and well-employed. Work honestly and earn money. Enjoy life with family, helping neighours whenever necessary.

In the Geetaa, a shloka begins with विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने vidyaavinayasampanne - one full of humility born of learning, not necessarily from scriptures nor book-knowledge. An illiterate man can be become wise by observing wise people. A brahmin known for his virtuousness. A cow, an elephant, a dog, a dog-flesh-eating man - all are seen with equality by the Learned Man. He respects life in all and accepts all as God's children.

This does not mean the learned man is blind to the value of each, man or animal. Each is respected for their respective virtues - for their contributions to the wellbeing of others in the society.

Yajna

यज्ञ
(Offering)

Yajna means an offering to God. It is generally misunderstood as sacrificing animals in the name of God.

There are many kinds of yajnas to gain different objects in life, material or spiritual. Normally, a sacrificial fire is set up and offerings are poured into the fire to the accompaniment of mantras. But in the Geetaa, the Lord gives a wider meaning to the sacred ritual. Whatever you do and whenever you do it, do it with a pure and sincere heart, as an offering to please God and not for selfish gains. Such actions benefit others and your gain is whatever God gives you.

The Lord lists out many unconvential yajnas - like karmayajna (offering results of all your actions to God), tapoyajna (yajna through rigorous tapasyaa), jnaanayajna (learning and imparting knowledge) and all other activities in life. God is upprermost in mind all through the day, all through life.

Animal sacrifice is considered barbaric. Our elders, with their deep faith, did not view it that way. The idea that it raises the passions fo people witnessing animal sacrifices is not valid. Killing animals for flesh to eat is equally abominable.

Animal sacrifice was an accepted social practice in olden days. Ahimsa began with Buddha but the practised continued. Christianity raised bogey of bloodletting in the name of God, as if killing animals behind God is acceptable. If flesh is not good for offering to God how can man eat it?

A wicked man who sees wicked scenes gets a kick and his passions take over. But devotion gives no place for rise of passions. In the modern days, with no animal sacrifice type of Yajna, how does the passion to kill arise, with rich countries kill humans all over the world?

Note:
Like animal sacrifice, ordeal by fire was another practice of olden days. Truth prevents fire from harming tbe innocent and pure. Raama ordering Seetaa to prove Her chastity is taken as a blot against Him. But Raama Who knew of Her chastity and that fire would not be able to burn even a single hair on Her head, had no hesitation. Seetaa staked Her chastity and came out of the fire unscathed. Later, when Her sons were united with their father, She staked Her chastity again and entered the womb of Her mother - Mother Earth. In the former case, her mission on earth had not been completed, but now, Her mission was over and She chose to depart.

KShurasya Dhaaraa

क्षुरस्य धारा
(Razor's edge)

Awake, arise and seek the wise; seek enlightenment from the wise. The path is as difficult as walking on a razor's edge - KaThopaniShad.
(W. Somerset Maugham took the title for his novel 'The Razor's Edge' from this scripture. He had visited RamaNa too.)

A little boy was upset when his father offered dry old cows as daana to brahmins. To prevent harm, he repeatedly asked his father as to whom would he offer his son in daana. Irritated, the father said - to Yama. Faithfully, the boy, Nachiketa, started walking to Yama's abode.
Yama was out and the boy had to wait at Yama's door for three days. When Yama returned , he felt guilty that a brahmin waited for him without food and shelter for three days. He offered Nachiketa three boons in compensation. Nachiketa asked for pardon to his father and did not want anything for himself but Knowledge. Yama tried to tempt him with wealth, richesand all that. Like Buddha refusing tempting offers from Maara (Satan) Nachiketa stood adamant. Then the discourse begins.

We also know of Saavitri following Yama, Who was taking away the life of her husband.
Kings went regularly to the upper regions to assist gods to defeat the demons. We have lost this capability of extra-terrestrial travel, mainly because we weakened in our faith.

Be simple and tread the sharp path of the razor's edge.

ParitraaNaaya SaadhoonaaM

परित्राणाय साधूनाम्
(To protect the virtuous)

In the Geetaa, the Lord promises: "When Dharma degenerates and Adharma prevails, I descend to earth in human garb to reestablish and uphold Dharma in every Yuga." Further, He comes to protect the virtuous and vanquish the wicked.

Jesus came and returned. Muhammad came and returned. Only our Lord comes again and again because like the cycle of birth and death, the waxing-waning cycle of life in the world is inevitable. In His discourse, He says He had delivered the message to the Sun but that it is weakened over the ages. Thus, God's reappearance is necessary time and again.

Good people think, "Is the time not wicked enough with Bush and Mush around for God to descend now?" But are they so virtuous that God should descend? Judge yourself first before sitting on judgement on God's Wisdom and His actions, what He should do and when. Reform and improve yourself and God will take care of others. Otherwise when He comes He will vanquish you for your wickedness.
(I am reminded of a short speech by a passenger on the bus to Moolky. His neigbhour was so wicked, he said, that he would like an atom bomb be dropped on the neigbhour's house!)

When we see a movie, we want the villain to be punished fast. But punish the villain in yourself first.

Dehaatmabuddhi

देहात्मबुद्धि
(The idea that "I am the body," i.e, ego)

Ego ties you down to a body, limits you and deprives you of all happiness which is yours by birthright.

The mind is its own place and can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven - said the blind poet, Milton. Buddha said the same in different words.

The mind is fickle and dodges you (Of course, the mind has to be fickle and transient to see a film projected from fast moving pictures). But for other purposes, the mind has to be steady.
As soon as it wakes up, the mind looks for some support. It cannot stand by itself, unattached. It attaches itself to the body and takes on the body as itself i.e., I am this body. Then follows the idea of you and he. Relationships mushroom and the mind loses its pristine nature and gets bogged down in the mire of worldliness - sorrow sprinkled with pleasures here and there. The inherent state of peace and bliss is lost.

Arrest the mind in its natural state and let it not do harakiri when it wakes up from sleep. "I am" is your nature, your being. "I am this body, or another" is going off at a tangent and losing identity.

When asked to identify Himself, God identified Himself as Jehovah (I am!) to Moses. "I AM THAT I AM" is the only sentence in the Bible in all capital letters. Later, Jesus asserts - Before Abraham, I am!

Aham is our word for I am. It is the first Name of God, preceding and even more sacred than Om.

The world goes on at God's will and plan. Don't get ensnared and entangled in it. "Still the mind and know I am God," Jesus says. You need do nothing else. A body is not required to do nothing. You are already God. This comes as revelation.

Tat Twam Asi - That Thou Art.

AatmasamarpaNa - Aatmanivedana

आत्मसमर्पण - आत्मनिवेदन
(Self-surrender - Self-dedication)

Surrender yourself to God. In the Naarada Bhakti-sootra, Naarada Muni lists 9 ways of bhakti. The 9th way he calls Aatma Nivedana. Surrender is giving up mind, body and soul to God. Nivedana is offering them with devotion to God, as Naivedya. (Some add wealth in the list surrendered to God. When you join their mission, your share of family property has to go to the mission).

Surrender looks easy, as man thinks his responsibilities cease and God takes over all his responsibilities. Of course, God lovingly takes over, which He does even otherwise. But greater resposibility descends on your shoulders. Being God's chosen man, you have to be extra cautious in all that you think and all that you do so none can say God has betrayed your trust in Him.

RamakRuShNa used to say - If you do not look after your wife and children, will your neighbours look after them? In fact, he made provision of Rs. six a month for his wife for her life after his death. He had asked her - How many chapaatis you eat at meals? She replied - six. He said - Six! No, you eat only four, and he fixed Rs 6 as allowance.

Once you surrender, you accept whatever comes your way. Sweets or ashes, you accept as prasad with equal pleasure. Joy and sorrow you accept without difference. No complaints. When a devotee who had claimed he has surrendered to God complained of some problem and RamaNa commented - Is it the surrendered man who s complaining? In a story, Sharatchandra writes of a village lady. Her husband, given to drinks, sneaks in dressed as a policeman to steal money in his own house. The wife knew who the thief was. Still sleeping on her mat on the ground, she said - There are three rupees behind the rice pot. God gives, He takes back. No complaints!

Surrender, however, requires you cleanse your mind of desires, sense of possessions, devotion to God, all selfishness and taking all as your brethren, all children of God. Never entertain any thought that you are His only chosen child.

Satyakaama Jaabaali

सत्यकाम जाबालि
(Satyakaama Jaabaali)

Jaabaalaa was a lonely woman living with her little son, Satyakaama. At the young age of seven, he wanted to attend a gurukula for study of scriptures. His mother told him that he can call himself Satyakaama Jaabaali. He wanted to know his father's name. She explained: I am not sure. I was working as a cook in many brahmin households and you were born then. Your father was a brahmin for sure.

The Guru at the ashram asked him about his name, caste and father's name. He repeated what his mother had told him. The Guru said - Evidently you are a brahmin's son since you have the courage to utter an unpleasant truth. You may join us. Before you begin study of the scriptures, you first take these few cattle for grazing and return when their number reaches a hundred.

Satyakaama left with the cattle all by himself to the forest and hills. He studied the lives of cattle and other animals around. He obsevred the birds, plants and trees all the years. When the cattle multiplied to 100, he drove them back to the aashram. The Guru gave him a warm reception and told him - Dear Satyakaama, the glow on your face tells me you have gained knowledge of the world. Nothing more need be taught to you. God bless you.

Book knowledge has its value, but keen observation invokes better knowledge. God becomes your Guru.

KaamakrodbhavaM VegaM

कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगम्
(The rush of lust and anger)

Lust and anger are natural instincts. Safety valves. But guard against a rush and excess of these instincts.

Lust and anger are born when RajoguNa is in ascendance. Saatvic food moderates and controls both.

Food habits must be hitamitabhuk. Eat moderately and eat what is good for health. Eating the wholde day or eating for taste or greed should be avoided.

Anger generally raises its hood when lust and greed are hampered. So avoid an excess of both.

We hear of stories of sages cursing out of anger and losing all the puNya they earned over many years of tapasyaa. These days, tapasya is forgotten and we exhaust all the puNya which our elders left us as legacy and whatever we had earned in earlier births, early in present life.

It is therefore necessary that we do not get angry now and then for little or no reason *. Otherwise, when you depart, only paapa will accompany you and you will have no puNya to leave for your children.
NOTE: *Fortitude against adversity is cornerstone of peace in life. ASYMPTOTIC RISE OF ANGER IS dangerous. Even murmurring is to be avoided. Getting upset or agitated is a sign of weakness.

sarvadharmaan parityajya- Abandon all dharmas.

AT the end of Geethaa discourse ,the Lord says- Give up all dharmas and surrender unto Me. In that hoary past, there was no other known religion when GEETHAAA message was delivered.
Dharma referred to therefore does not mean religion but KARMA OR SAADHANAA . Give up all saadhanaas prescibed by different religions and take shelter under Me i.e. GOD. The Lord here is not Krushna born of DEVAKI'S WOMB but GOD Who is ONE worshipped in all religions.

Krushna has said-
- Whichever God you think of and worship , you are actually thinking of ME and worshipping ME in that form.
- Whatsoever you offer to any god comes to ME . I lovingly accept it.

Our Sanatana dharma teaches us to receive any new religion with sincerity, compare with your religion, understand, assimilate and accept. ACCEPTANCE AND NOT JUST TOLERANCE.

ekaM sadvipraa bahudhaa vadanti- God is ONE. The wise call Him differently.

Early in man's life, our Vedic SEERS foresaw theb emergence of more and more religions and calling GOD WITH DIFFERENT NAMES. But they affirmed that GOD will remain same and single.

Jesus is son of God . Mohammad is prophet of God. GOD HAS NOT CHANGED.

The Lord says in the GEETHAA- WHATEVER NAME MAN CALLS ME, I LOVINGLY RESPOND. It is to be understood Krushna was not speaking as man born of Devaki but as GOD.

Sarvadharmasamanvaya- Ramakrushna practised different religions and confirmed Seer's wisdom.

NOTE:
14th Jan,2008
1. A Hindu is no Hindu if he cannot accept gods of other religions. Not tolerance but acceptance .
Ramana said: You cannot bathe in the same river twice. Water keeps changing but GANGA is eternal and unchanging. God is eternal and unchanging. CATCH HIM BEHIND HIS NAMES.

2. GOD does not change if called by different names.

3. Mother is the sweetest gift god has given mankind.She remains sweet whether you call her mother, or amma or ammi , aayi , maa and so on.

4. A man remains man whether he is addressed as father, son, uncle , grandfather , boss and so on.

5.Tiger's tail. A piece of the tail if a slain tiger is proof of the killer of the animal. Others may cut subsequently pieces of the tail, but with both ends cut the pieces proves them false.
You can reach Mt Everest by different routes. From the summit you can take photos in all directions. Those who climb halfway cant do that.

6. Once you reach GOD by any path, by any religion. you cannot talk of my god or your god. GOD is ONE .

15th Jan, 2008
1. ACCEPTANCE OF ALL GODS AS ONE IS INTELLECTUAL. BE PRACTICAL. IN THE LAGUAGE OF HEART, ACCEPT WITH LOVE ALL AS BROTHERS , BE HE HINDU, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN OR BELOINGING TO ANY OTHER FAITH.

16th Jan, 2008
1. A Hindu entetrs with equal reverence a temple , church or mosque.

dhammapada- PRACTICAL HINTS TOWARDS RIGHTEOUS LIFE.

Dhammapada is composed by Buddha HIMSELF. The shlokas are baed on actual incidents in His life which occurred at different times. Even He was not spared a scandal. A woman falsely charged Him in fathering her illegitimate baby. He mentions this as a case wher a false charge recoils back; harms the wrong doer.
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AHIMSAA is corner stone of HIS teachings. He recommended AHIMSAA as a weapon to
overcome HIMSAA.
HE went further:
1. Overcome anger by patience. DONT ADD TO THE ANGER or beat the sngry mn.
2. Be good and ovecome the bad and persue him to mend ways.
3.Be generous and see a miser his folly.
4. With TRUTH you subdue the liar by coaxing, not pressure.

naanyaH panthnaa vidyateyanaaya -- There is no other way to Salvation.

Purushasookta give details of creation. Looking beyond the creation and seek the PURUSHA, the CREATOR. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY FOR SALVATION.

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Naraayana sookta describes in details how GOD entered HIS CREATION. In the chest, there is a heart which looks like an inverted lotus bud with a tiny hole at its tip. This is the spuiritual heart not to be confused with the blood propelling muscular heart on the left. It is on tne right. WITHIN resides GOD as small as a grain of rice but more brilliant than flash of lightning.

Both sooktas give much information not with the idea of adding to your knowledge. THE MAIN PURPOSE is to make you WONDER and make you interested in the CREATOR AND FIND YOUR WAY TO HIM.

Paths are many. Select one which comes natural to you . All take you to the doorstep. To enter the door GRACE of God is ,however, required.

asato maa sadgamaya- Lead me from Falsehood to Reality.

Lead me from falsehod to Reality. Lead me from ignorance and darkness to Light/Wisdom. Lead me from DEATH to Immortality. A prayer from Upanishads.
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Falsehod here is not a pack of lies. It is wrong understanding of values in life thinking passing things as permanent but pursuing the transient. Reality is not a stone standing in front of you. GOD IS THE ONLY REALITY. EXISTS BY HIS OWN RIGHT, NOT DEPENDANT ON OTHERS, IMMUTABLE AND IN PERFECT BLISS ALWAYS.

Ignorance is wrong knowledge , thinking passing things are permanent and Reality is a falsity. Wisdom is seeing things the proper perspective.

Death is for the physical body and not the SOUL within ,which is deathless, immortal.

Live like as in a dream which passes away. Be in it but out of it mentally.

You hae not got to abandon you family. Educate them and by and by turn them to REALITY.

maatRudevo bhava-MAY YOUR MOTHER BE GOD UNTO YOU.

May your mother be God unto you. May your father be god unto you. My your teacher be God unto you. May the guest be God unto you.

Pativrataa Dharma is on the same principle. May your husband be God unto you.___________________________________________________________________



BHAAVANA is a significant word in our scripture. BHAVA , the verb, means take on the bhaavana i.e. conviction with love . Bhaava is conviction.

GOD is in heaven, in temples , in scriptures , in puranas . Saints can call HIM down to earth . So teachers recommend representaives of GOD READILY AVAILABLE AT HOME. WHOM will you love and adore more than your parents and can easily accept as representatives of God ,if not as God Himself. As this BHAAVANA matures you will see God in outsiders too, in animals , in plant , in hills and in rivers.

A special Bhaavanaa is for women to love and adore the husband. These days women go out and earn and are economicaly independant of the husband. They feel below dignity to bow to a male, husband ( and elderly father .in.law.). They think of outward physical service which favours the male. But the inner strenght and spirituality is a definte gain for the wife and for her children and to the family.
Along with women, men also have denigrated in not showing respect to the poor purohit. Parasites living off the society, they feel. But they run to Godmen expecting some material gains.

All actions, including menial work , benefits us spiuritualy whosoever benefits physically.

Jesus's words - LOVE THY NEIGBHOUR must be ubderstood with the same bhaavanaa. It does not mean you can neglect people at homre. Selling house to help the neigbhour is foolish and pervert.