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.
Monday, 16 July 2007
Sunday, 15 July 2007
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."
(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."
Saturday, 14 July 2007
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.
(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.
(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.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
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.
(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.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
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.
Monday, 9 July 2007
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).
(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).
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