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Saturday, December 30, 2017

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Part II - Arjuna Vishada Yoga

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Q: What does this mean to say, 'How to think is more important than 'what to think'?
Ans: Our mind is nothing but constant flow of thoughts, all day and the entire lifetime. It is vital to manage the thoughts and direct the mind. Negative thinking encourages negative relationships, words and actions, discourages objectivity leading to nervousness and paralysis.
Arjuna's thoughts that he would kill his loved ones and gurus led him to feel sad, anxious, confused and question his own decision to fight leading to not able to act.as a warrior. Imagine if a surgeon panics before the surgery on a patient. Emotional thinking raised by anger, guilt, fear and sorrow lead to crippling effect in ones life. That's why it is important to learn 'how to think' than 'what to think'.
In any situation, ask, 'Here I am in this situation, what's the best I can do to get out of this and move forward?' and take appropriate action, to avoid self pity, blaming others and losing the inner strength.
Q: Compare Arjunas 'misunderstanding' in today's life.
Ans: We often see this 'misplaced thoughts' in practical life. This is everywhere, though common in healthcare.and financial sectors. We all know prevention is better than cure.. Health is not after the fact. In today's society it is very common to go to bed late, wake up late, go out empty stomach and have late lunch causing a havoc in the system. When a particular disease is identified, then we try to follow the schedule, sleep on time and exercise but can we not do it earlier? This an example of misplaced thought or misunderstanding. Same with the finance, When we are young, we spend all our health, energy & resources to accumulate stuff and money, later when we are old, we spend all our money to save our health or have the fear of losing them or worry about the ways to preserve them. This is another 'misplaced thought'.
To think before we act and to do the right thing at the right time is critical in any situation.
Arjuna had this misplaced thoughts when he looked his enemies as his family instead of enemies and was confused.
Q: If the 'presence', or 'atma' is same in all what's the difference between humans and animals?
Ans: Humans are bestowed with the sixth sense, the ability to choose. Animals follow instinctive behavior. Viktor Frankl, a holocaust survivor in Auschwitz, in his book, 'The man's search for Meaning', says while he was in the concentration camp, he saw a few walking around and sharing their last piece of bread with others. He says "this confirms that, everything can be taken from a man but the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way".
"It is not what happens to us that affects us but how we respond to what happens to us that affects us" says Norman Vincent Peale. How true!!.
How we perceive, how we respond to any situation is our choice. To do the right thing, not do the wrong thing, or not do anything at all, is our choice.
Surrendering that 'ability to choose' to Lord is the highest of all surrender, completely dissolving ego. Arjuna finally surrendered to Lord Krishna, seeking guidance.
Q: What are the consequences of the Fear of Failure that Arjuna experienced and is it still true today?
Ans: Fear of failure cripples a person.There is no failure. When we don't get the desired outcome, we think it is a failure but we need to learn to detour as needed to reach the destination. It is wise to think through the situation, decide and take action to the best of our ability.
Fear of failure is a self doubt, emotional upheaval on the consequence of the action, at the time of action, causing numbness.
The consequences of our actions is not our choice. Just like an aimed arrow or spoken words cannot be taken back, when we allow our emotions to take over we get stressed, we are unable think clearly leading to fear, grief and panic.
This was the situation Arjuna was, when he saw all relatives on the other side of the aisle, even though he decided to fight, he was taken over by the affection, attachment he had for them causing a total break down.
Q: What's the cause of one's suffering?
Ans: Heat and cold, pain and pleasure will come in life.. These are known through the senses. Only humans have these five senses, ears, eyes, taste, touch, smell (shabda, sparsha, roopa, rasa, ghanda). Thru the eyes we measure the size and form, through ears we understand the sound, and as a human we can hear only a certain wavelength,.
We experience this world through the senses. When in deep sleep state the senses are withdrawn and there is no experience through those senses.
In the state of wakefulness, if any one sense not functioning properly that part of the world is completely blacked out.
When our senses, each one touches the objects we have an experience. Our eyes can see far away objects like stars in the sky physically millions of light years away, is a marvelous equipment. But our ears cannot hear that far. Thunder is closer than stars. To smell it has to be further closer than the sound. Touch is possible only with the physical contact, not otherwise. Taste has to be inside of us. By touching the cake, you cannot experience it.
The world is the same but the mind interprets differently.
Senses gives perception but the mind gives comments on the perception. A dog sees the book, if it is edible he eats or moves away, there is no disturbance in it's mind..
The senses helps us to perceive objects and situations. The mind interprets by judging, comparing, evaluating good or bad, through the lens of likes & dislikes. Based on our understanding of our life and wisdom, our interpretation differs.
Heat and cold at the physical body level and pleasure and pain at the mind level. This is natural whether we like it or not..Saints also experience but how they interprets makes the difference.
Suffering is because of our interpretation. For ex... I'm hurt because you did this or that.
The senses perceive as long as there is connection with the object. When I close my eyes I don't see but my mind creates an image from memory and I see it.
When in meditation and while living in the present, the object goes and the images also go away. One need not carry the past.
Q: How do pleasure and pain occur?
Ans: Two monks were walking. The river was strong. They needed to cross when there was a young woman also wondering how she would cross. The young energetic monk lifted her and carried her to the opposite bank and she went away.
Then after ten min the older monk said "you didn't do the right thing. You touched a woman and carried her".
The young monk responsed, "yes, I lifted her and carried her but I left her after crossing but you're still carrying her in your mind".
That's exactly what happens in our life. All our experiences have a beginning and an end but we keep doing an action replay, thus enabling repeated suffering.
If we do action replay of pleasurable situations it creates attachment if we do action replay of sad situations it creates deep sorrow. Either way it is a chain, binding you.
Just experience them as they come and, let go of them, very much like viewing scenarios as you move in a train, don't hold on to any particular one. You don't turn your neck and keep on looking back. Let it go!! Similarly with every situation in life, don't look back, learn to live in the present.
Q: What is death?
Ans: When a child goes from elementary to higher studies and far away. the parents may be sad but not grieve. Because they know s/he is evolving. Similarly each body undergoes changes and eventually falls down.
Death is not painful, but a smooth transition. When a person dies he is in the path of evolution like a child to teenager, adolescent to adult, to a senior. The body keeps changing. The cells in the body keeps dying every minute. The entire body changes once in every seven years. So there is no pain in the birth of the body or the death of the body. But while living within the body and identifying with the body, we experience pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow as long as the senses come in contact with the world.
Q: Isn't the world real? I interact, see, smell and experience it..
Ans: The world is neither real nor unreal but it is an appearance. Real has no non-existence. Unreal has no existence at all like horn of a rabbit or a unicorn.
Just like the mirage.appears to be water. It exists and therefore is not unreal. Pain & pleasure, success & failure, name & fame, world, wealth & position all these are appearances. Our experiences in the waking state are appearances called mithya.
The popular example is when you see a rope on the path at dusk, you think it to be a snake, which causes anxiety and fear in you, but the moment you realize it is a rope, the snake in your mind vanishes. But it still existed, created an emotion in you, so you cannot call it unreal. That was an appearance, mithya.

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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 - Part 1 Arjuna Vishada Yoga

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Q: What does Arjuna-vishada yoga mean?
Ans: "Yoga" has different meaning in different context. Here it means 'title'. All 18 chapters are named as yoga. Vishada means grief. The attachment to any object causes fear, anger and/or sorrow. Arjuna was full of sorrow as he saw his loved ones against whom he had to fight. Sorrow is different than pain, sorrow is mental and pain is physical. Sorrow often immobilize the person.
Arjuna-vishada yoga is the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna saw his family members and teachers in Duryodhana's army, but not as the enemy to wage a war against. Due to that vision, he hesitates and decides not to fight. He is taken over by his emotion, sorrow. Due to his nervousness and anxiety at that moment of action, he was completely deluded, confused and justifies his behavior and surrenders to Lord.
Q: How did Arjuna respond when he saw the army with which he was going to fight?
Ans: Ch.1 verse 28-29, reflects Arjuna's breakdown in the battlefield. As he sees teachers and families on the side of Duryodhana, he was emotionally down and expresses verbally, ' I am completely exhausted. My limbs have lost their strength, my mouth is dry, my whole body is shaking, I have goosebumps and I can't hold my bow & arrow'. In such a situation anything that he sees appears as failure and loss.
In his state of anxiety and low confidence, with negative thoughts in mind due to sorrow, his intellect was deluded, he finds himself unable to act. At his point, he seeks Sri krishna's guidance, without fully surrendering.
This happens to people all across the world whether taking an exam, attending an interview, having a date, meeting a doctor, buying a car, people often feel stuck. They wonder if the decision is right, whether to continue with their plan of action, often get tensed and sweat. Gita helps to get out of such situations in life.
Q: What arguments did Arjuna present to justify his un-willingness to fight?
Ans: Arjuna, on seeing his teachers and family members on the enemy's side, against him in the war front, became emotional. He was nervous, anxious, completely confused and decides not to fight the war.
He was trying to justify his decision as an experienced jnani with several points to support his decision.
At first he emphasizes that his disinterest in fame, glory or kingdom, by killing his family members. Secondly he points the war would cause destruction in all families, which would lead to destruction of traditions, cultures, discipline and values. Thirdly, he argues "Is it wise to fight against my teachers and elders of the family?".
Earlier he had decided to fight against Duryodhana for all the atrocities he had committed but because of his affection and reverence to his teachers and grandfather, was confused and wanted Krishna to call off the war.
Why am I tempted to agree with Arjuna and justify his response?
Ans: Many people feel empathy towards Arjuna for they have experienced similar situations. They have taken tests, or have waited for the doctor's response when their loved one is sick. Often times, when we face difficult situations, the thought of the negative consequences hits us hard. At that time, we don't want to take the test, feel shaky and sweaty, we drop out of the test or decide to take the patient to a swamiji to know the future than a professional doctor or vice versa. That's a clear state of confusion, not able to decide what to do and how to handle the situation. Listening to Sri Krishna helped Arjuna to be objective, which is for all who experience the inner conflict between the good and evil.
Q: Some people think Gita as an originator of war. Is it true?
Ans: There are some people who think so. This is because of non understanding of Gita in a deeper sense. When Krishna says fight, he did not mean literal fight. It means 'do your duty'. That's exactly what he told Arjuna, because Arjuna was in the battlefield at that time.
Gita is applicable to anyone and everyone who are in an internal conflict whether to do this or that. It is not about doing good or bad, but doing a right thing. Doing the right thing at all times is more important than doing good things.
Sri Krishna helped Arjuna understand the difference between good and right action. The Kurukshetra was in fact called Dharma kshetra, because the emphasis was on what was right at that time, with the given situation.
Q: What is the role of a citizen in a society?
Ans: Whenever you see anything inappropriate being done, adharmic actions, it is vital that wise people step up and stop it. We see the need for this in every generation. Gita's message is active resistance to all evil in the world.
Q: What is atma?
Ans: Sri Krishna explain atma in chapter 2, verses 11-30 The limited presence is called jivatma. Brahman when acts in collaboration with the body and mind is jivatma, like the space in the pot whereas Brahman is unlimited space in the universe.
The 'aham', "I", pervades all "Idham"' "this". You cannot experience the world without experiencing the Self!! There cannot be an experience without the subject, the experiencer. Nothing can be known without the "I". I hear, I see, I taste, I smell I touch, none of these are possible without the "I". Every experience of this world is due to the presence of "I" in all. I pervade this entire world.
Because you associate with this body, you might find it difficult to comprehend that you pervade this entire universe, just like the space inside a pot which is confined within the walls of the pot is not aware that it is universal. That space inside the pot is the same as the space outside, in the world, in the entire galaxy!!
Q: How do I know atma exists?
Ans: When you look in a mirror, you know you're different from the reflection in the mirror. A dog when it sees his image in the river, barks at it, thinking it is an another dog. A bird when sees its reflection in a mirror will keep on poking at it, thinking it is a different bird.
You and I know we exist but we don't know 'who am I?'
Human go through three states of existence. In Sanskrit, they're called Jagrat, Swapna, Sushupti, Waking, Dream and Deep sleep states.
During the waking state the physical body and the mind are active. During the dream state, the body is at rest but the mind is working, in the deep sleep state both body and mind are at rest. When we wake up, we say, ' I had a good sleep!' When you're in deep sleep state you don't even who is sleeping next to you or where you're sleeping. Who slept and who knows you were asleep?
Atma is that which is present in all three states. That atma is the witness of everything both in an individual and universally. Nothing happens without IT's knowledge. It is that One which in present in every being and in every thing. It is also called sat-chit-ananda. Sat is the existence itself, a rock. Anything that exists is IT.
Everything that we say, 'this', exists and whenever we say 'this', obviously it is not you because you're able know it through your senses.
The scripture defines it as 'Idham' and 'Aham'. "this" and "That". "this" is all experiences, "That" is the experiencer, the "I".
We often say, 'my body hurts, 'I can see the stars, I can smell the flower or I taste the sweetness'. Who is that "I"? Those sensory organs are the instruments that interacts with the world outside.
You observe your flow of thoughts. That means you're not the mind. Therefore you're neither the body nor the mind. Then who are you? You're not what you think you are, the name, form, qualification, relationship, body, mind and anything that you claim to be.
Such a knowledge is the misunderstanding of who you are. Non understanding is better than misunderstanding. Misunderstood information when passed on would create a total chaos like a blind leading another blind. That's why it is very important to study these scriptures by listening to a well educated teacher, who had a guru so that they're are not the opinion of a single individual that is subject to change but transferred from a teacher.
You're the witness of everything that's happening in the body, with the body, in the mind and everything outside the body.
Q: Are there two presence in the body then?
Ans: No. They're not two separate entities. Firstly, the presence is not in the body. The body is in the presence, like the pot is in the space. Atma and Brahman are one and the same. Atma is limited like the space in a room while Brahman is like the space in the universe. The real witness, let us call it Self, with a capital "S". The thought "I", the identification we have with this body and mind is the ego. This ego always likes to be always challenged, feels proud, subject to all actions, changes, emotions and thoughts. We call this ego, as self, with the small "s". Self is the witness, which is the same in all beings.
Q: How are scriptures of Sanatana Dharma helpful? How can we know atma?
Ans: Everything around you is known by the tools you have, the senses also called 'praman'. Eyes see the colors, ears recognize the different sounds, tongue the variety of taste, the skin the texture, the nose the smell. All these senses are programmed to project outside. They care programmed to identify the differences. If they don't do it, then they're not functional.
I'm the knower, pramata. The instrument is pramana, that which is known is prameya.
If there is ice cream on the table, you're the pramata, your eyes are the pramana and the ice cream is the prameya. Atma is also called 'aprameya', cannot be known by any means.
Scriptures are tools that help you recognize atma as pointers. There are six modes of gaining knowledge even in the world.
Prathyaksha pramana, direct experience (through the senses)
Anumana pramana (through inference, fire is inferred by smoke)
Upamana pramana (by comparison like the minerals in Mars to minerals on earth)
Shabdha pramana (through the words of a realized master like learning music from an artist)
Arthaa patthi (effects reflect the cause, heavy floods means possible downpour, very common in healthcare)
Upalapthi, By negation ( by knowing nothing is there you confirm nothing is there. Negation of certain blood test reveals absence of certain conditions)
All the scriptures are sabhdha praman, through the words of a realized teacher. We cannot see it, we cannot infer it, we cannot compare it. Those words if the teacher are not to gain the knowledge of the Self but to remove the misunderstanding of the Self. By reading, listening, reflecting, intellectually understanding, being firm in the knowledge, one can realize Self. It can take years and even many births.
Q: What happens when a person dies?
Ans: Atma, (consciousness) that is together with sariram is called sariri, meaning that which is identified with the body. Body is also called dheham, meaning one that undergoes dhahanam, capable of being burnt.
All beings go through six stages ~ Birth, growth, modification, disease, decay and death. These are only for the body but atma is beyond these.
When one dies, the inert body which is a combination of five elements space, air, fire, water and earth, merges with the cosmic elements. The thoughts, goals and ambitions are gathered together. These are called vasanas or impressions. These create a body and an environment to purge those impressions. This explains the child prodigy. Without schooling or training we hear children playing musical instruments, doing college math, drawing or many other things as early as five years. The impressions from the previous births take effect to shine forth in the next birth. All our actions create our parents, environment in the next life. We create the blue print for the next birth.
No one can destroy the atma. It is imperishable. Atma is anadhi-no beginning, an-antham-no end, avyayam-not depriciable, imperishable.
Q: What is surrender?
Ans: Surrender is not an action but an attitude. There are four critical steps to surrender. This is applicable even in worldly knowledge. First, you identify that you don't know something. If you think you know and you don't know then the attitude to learn is different, if you think you don't know and you don't care to know that's different. All our attitudes are different. Why? The answers come in future chapters called gunas.
Secondly, if you acknowledge that you don't know then you need to have an internal motivation to learn. Thirdly, you should also recognize that the present knowledge, and resources that you have, are not enough to learn the new thing. Lastly, you choose to approach someone who is knowledgeable to impart that knowledge to you.
For ex: If you have a health condition, first you should know you have it. You then want to get better by doing something. You may try all home remedies but if they didn't make you better, you recognize it and proceed to a medical professional. That person should be qualified enough to be able to treat your condition. Now you trust that doctor unconditionally and follow the direction.
Such an unconditional faith in scriptures and Lord is surrender. This is surrendering your ego and believing that you're not the doer.
Q: What is a 'conditional surrender' and 'complete surrender'.
Ans: We often see 'conditional surrender' in all temples from all types of people. People pray to Lord,' If you do this for me, I will contribute 'X' amount, or I will do this or that', or I will donate or volunteer. These are all conditional surrender, practically a deal.
On the contrary, if one says, 'I am doing this to the best of my ability. whatever maybe the result, I accept it and take it as a gift from you. That is a 'total, complete surrender'. A little child surrenders to a parent unconditionally. When the parent says, 'go and play, or go to school', the child simply knows that s/he will be taken care of without any doubt!!
Q: What is "Sreyas or Absolute Good" that Sri Krishna talks about to Arjuna?
Ans: There are good and not good things/situations. When something is good for one, the same could be bad for another. 'One man's trash is another man's treasure' they say. This is natural balance. But there something beyond these two called 'Sreyas' meaning 'absolute good'. With this everyone gains and everyone has a treasure. Absolute good is dharma or dharmic thoughts, decisions and actions. This is applicable to everyone at all times like 'do not steal other's property' or 'do not hurt others in any way', 'always speak the truth', called as Samanya dharma in Sanskrit.
Absolute good should synchronize with one's physical, emotional, intellectual and the common good.
Relationships are important, but are not permanent. Only the relationship with Lord is permanent and 'absolute', all others are 'relatives'. It is important to learn to discriminate between what is permanent and what is passing. We have the freedom to choose every day to do things that improve our health, promote lasting security and deepen relationships-things that in the long run contribute to the well being of our society and the world.
Q: What is the purpose of life?
Ans: Good question. If you look around, there are births, growth, children go to school, get old, get a job, get married, buy homes, cars, all needs and wants, have children, get old and die. During this event called life we experience lots of emotional roller coasters, happiness, excitements, sadness, sorrow, pain and pleasure. We call all these in one packet as 'samsara'. This is big giant wheel and we keep coming back again and again due to the attraction and attachment to the worldly objects which are all temporary in existence. We aspire to get more and more and then worry about not losing what we got when we know nothing is permanent, including you. We have the choice to be in cycle or get off. Getting off from this cycle of samsara is the purpose of life attained by knowing your true Self


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The Beatitudes - Knowing Natural Happiness and Divine Peace Within

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Contrary to formal religion perception, the Beatitudes are not about a man teaching spiritual truths to a gathered audience on a hilltop. When esoterically understood, the Beatitudes are about realization of our Higher Self, the attainment of lasting peace and true happiness by means of real connection with God-nature. Composed through this God-nature or Higher consciousness, the Beatitudes are beyond religious dogma, beyond shallow interpretation and literal-based understanding. Through the process of silence meditation, thus is Higher Self consciousness made reality in our daily life. When lower carnal self undergoes integration of devitalized generational conditioning, thereby has the process of realization of this already pure higher Self commenced.
In this context, The Beatitudes are referring to a particular orientation / attitude of consciousness, which orientation is generally referred to as Higher Self, Christ consciousness, Cosmic consciousness, Liberated soul consciousness, Unconditional love consciousness or Be-ing consciousness. To experience Beatifically, as a conscious everyday awareness, natural purification of the entire nervous system, by way of meditation, is required, as we shall see in the translations below.
The Beatitudes 3-9 read like referring to different levels of future spiritual expectations, which they are not. For, while listed in the plural, the Beatitudes present the single experiential level of Higher consciousness as a now-happening state and not a collection of future reward-promises for adherence to man-made interpretations. A single experiential state within, they are referring to the state of Unity-consciousness while in the state of transcendence during actual meditation -- God working through us, not to us.
Beatitude translates: making blessed, becoming blissful or make supremely happy - blessed, blissful and happy - three aspects of One divine nature.
In this context, here is an esoteric synopsis of the Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12
1 Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down
In biblical language crowd symbolizes our dominant repetitive thoughts, and hill our highest point of consciousness. Where he sat down meaning the practice of meditation -- becoming mentally still, when intellect retires into silence. Jesus saw the crowds means when we enter into meditation our mental / physical processes become naturally calmed, spiritually aligned, re-energized -- transforming to know divinely. This catharsis or integration process through mental stillness is vital for knowing Beatifically, it brings about expansion of mind.
2 His disciples gathered round him and he began to teach them
His disciples symbolize the 12 aspects of human nature which undergo spiritual transition. In practical terms, the 12 apostles are the 12 cranial nerves situated in and around the brain, which, in conjunction with the seven energy centers known as Chakras along the spine, are our means of spiritual evolution. Without these faculties functioning optimally, we remain "stuck" in the time / space dynamic and are functioning through spiritual ignorance -- on battery power rather than Mains. These channels, when meditationally awakened -- he began to teach them -- function in their cosmically intended purpose, that of being instruments of the Divine. Regular stilling of the conscious mind -- leading to transcendence of intellect -- is how these vital energy channels become activated, spiritually-serving leading eventually to our highest potential, God-consciousness.
3 Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
When the mind becomes truly settled, realization dawns that there is another level of existence beyond ordinary human awareness, a realm beyond human suffering. It's deemed suffering when our consciousness remains at this ordinary human level, remains in ignorance of our spiritual nature and the potential for Higher Self experiencing. When one's life -- through wrong living, wrong choices, wrong mind-sets -- becomes unbearable, as in 'enough is enough', the natural tendency is seeking a spiritual solution. Intuitively we sense there is a Nobler existence other than simply existing through lower ego and its related suffering. During meditation we come to know this Nobler existence and its harmonious nature -- happy are those. By coming upon unbounded awareness, it becomes abundantly clear that we cannot know divinely, Beatifically without surrendering the lower self and its individuality status. Know they are spiritually poor is: inner knowing without worldly attachments, possessions - being ego-less -- thereby know the Kingdom of heaven.
4 Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them
Those who mourn are the remorseful, the repentant for their unnatural lifestyle consequent of attachment to the lower ego-created persona. The ego is a psychological illusion invented for blocking out the higher Self, our Spiritual domain, resulting in patterning the mind negatively; a pattern in need of divine alchemy to higher status. But lower ego initially is a necessary means or dynamic of overcoming the illusory nature of the physical world. But, now that we're faced with a divinely-sourced pattern - consequent of becoming repentant, remorseful and for which purity of inner faculties is required -- letting go of lower ego can be traumatic or mournful. But this is how lower-ego becomes integrated, thereby does spiritual ego or divine nature come into focus. Now we're progressing spiritually - happy are those -- comforted without the baggage-influence of the false prophet, lower ego. This is why Jesus rebuked Peter -- symbolizing ego: Get behind me, Satan - Matthew 16:23 -- become integrated into higher awareness. Lower ego of itself is not evil, its simply a dynamic we must each grow through thereby come into spiritual awareness -- evil, meaning living life backward rather than forward; live / evil.The message is in its reverse spelling.
5 Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised
There is nothing more humiliating for lower ego than to be faced with utter silence. Therefore, humility, meekness comes with arrival of calm-full silence. Repeated humblings by way of transcendence is how the heart / mind get to know what God has promised - eternal life, bliss-consciousness. In the state of transcendental silence, there is no medium for the existence of opinionated lower ego: individual mind ceases to be, it becomes transcendental consciousness - raindrop merging with pure Ocean. With this retiring of the conscious mind / intellect into the Ocean of pure silence, humility becomes means of directly knowing pure existence -- eternal transcendental bliss-consciousness -- Happy are those.
6 Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;
God will satisfy them fully!
As spiritual beings inhabiting a physical body, we're each required to come upon our higher Self, the already existing pure consciousness. Because we cannot know pure consciousness through impure means, purification of our inner mechanisms -- which are presently under the influence of lower self -- is what God requires. In taking steps of becoming mentally still in meditation, we fulfill God's requirement -- happy are those. This is how human consciousness transforms to cognize cosmically, universally -- know unbounded nature. When such becomes permanently established in consciousness, thus are we spiritually and eternally fulfilled -- God will satisfy them fully!
7 Happy are those who are merciful to others;
God will be merciful to them
Being judgmental, unforgiving, continually expressing negativity through the nervous system, will ensure similar life experiences in return: there is no escaping the law of cause and effect: as we sow (in consciousness) so shall we reap (experiential). During transcendence in meditation there is no possibility of duality, of negative emotions such as anger, hatred or ill-will, rather the contrary, for Unity has no opposite. Thus, meditation transmutes, integrates subconscious reactive thought patterns thereby is our consciousness made merciful, compassionate in every expression. Thus, before entering into meditation, be sure not to hold negative mind-sets -- happy are those who are merciful.
8 Happy are the pure in heart;
they will see God
To be Pure in heart is consequent of self-purification -- purification of our spiritual faculties the nervous system / 12 cranial nerves, lower ego, intellect, thus we see, perceive through Pure Consciousness - they will see God. Absorption of our entire inner being into soul silence is key, thereby is consciousness made free of automatically recurring spiritual ignorance, causal of rooted impurity and suffering. With repeated infusion of bliss into the nature of the mind, then is the soul seeing / perceiving divinely: He - higher Self -- healed the spiritually deaf and spiritually blind.
9 Happy are those who work for peace;
God will call them his children!
Becoming a peace-worker (within) is working at becoming spiritually Aware: aware of the defects, limitations and temptations of own human character. Setting about a program of conscious mind expansion -- present moment awareness -- is how Peace-nature becomes established in the mind and transmitted into the extended world. In knowing personal peace, our spiritual vibration emanates outwards thereby contributes to attainment of the critical mass needed for the whole planet becoming spiritualized. In meditation we become as "children" -- light-heart, innocent, ego-less! happy are those.
10 Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them
In becoming spiritually awakened to our divine inner nature -- coming upon pure consciousness -- subconscious addictive patterns begin surfacing into mind for conscious integration -- what God requires. During this often unpleasant process, withdrawal symptoms can leave us persecuted on all emotional fronts. But, as the moto goes, this too shall pass -- this too becomes integrated, purified, healed -- the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Overcoming personal addiction can be extremely challenging. In spiritual terms, this temporary discomfiture is something to be happy about, not resisted, for, through a daily meditation program and the help of a detoxification clinic, if necessary, truly are we victorious in this personal persecution - happy are those.
11 Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.
This is slightly different to 10 where persecution is for what God requires - gain purification -- and here persecution is because we have commenced, progressed and are now followers (of divine nature). Recognizing this progress, People, lower ego's fear agendas, begin surfacing into conscious mind in an effort to dissuade us, throw us off track. Now because we're a committed follower of Truth, our spiritual resolve to wholeness becomes further challenged by ego. Surfacing subconscious content therefore is to be welcomed for it leads to expansionary awareness which, over time, transmutes as purity of heart. Without conscious awareness -- by way of mind expansion in meditation -- we automatically suppress unpleasantness thus giving further sustenance to lower ego. Soul awakening awareness is the process of overcoming -- the world, ego -- happy are you. This deep catharsis commences destruction of the temple (left-side brain / ego dominance) which Christ said He would rebuild -- renew spiritually by opening right-side brain-thereby is the persecution dynamic healed. This marks the beginning of becoming whole, happy, blissful - experience Beatifically!
12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.
Evolution is the unending progression of activity: the evolutionary process which always was and will be the same for all beings: This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted. In other words, the wheel of evolution is eternally working out the evolution of all beings, that of bringing each to their highest possible potential - God-consciousness. Because we are each born into ignorance of Higher cosmic nature -- causal of all suffering globally and personally -- attuning cosmically with the laws of nature becomes the spiritual imperative, thereby gaining freedom from lower self domination - be happy and glad. Evolution -- through lower self -- is the maturing process we must each undergo in becoming transcendentally aligned with the higher Self's Heaven state; a process which involves many sessions of transcendence in meditation. In the words of the immortal 5000 years old Bhagavad-Gita: ch2--v45 --"be without the three gunas, O Arjuna, freed from duality..". The three gunas represent the three evolutionary laws of nature: Creation, Maintenance, Dissolution. Everything under the influence of these three Laws are perishable, whereas, beyond them, transcendentally, lies the imperishable - higher Self domain -- here, evolution does not exist as we know it now. Freed from duality means free from the law of opposites (good/bad, love/hate) of the relative world -- in Unity consciousness there are no opposites. Therefore, when transcendental consciousness becomes permanently established thus are we free of the gunas, the wheel of evolution / persecution of lower self -- the unending cycle of birth / death and rebirth. The goal of life on Earth is reached, eternal consciousness attained, the Great Reward realized -- Alleluia!
Be Blessed, Happy and Blissful.


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Saturday, September 9, 2017

The Secret of Karma Yoga

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A very interesting event in the life of Ramana maharishi, the Sage of Thiruvannamalai has explained about the nishkama karma or the action without expecting the fruit there of.
The event was recorded by S Venkataramaiah on a Christmas day, 25th December, 1935.
Mr Rangachari, a Telugu Pundit in Voorhee's College at Vellore, India, asked about nishkama karma or unselfish action. There was no reply from the sage. After a time Ramana maharishi (Sage Ramana) went up the hill and a few followed him, including the pundit. There was a thorny stick lying on the way which Ramana picked up; he sat down and began leisurely to work at it. The thorns were cut off, the knots were made smooth, and the whole stick was polished with a rough leaf. The whole operation took about six hours. Everyone was wondering at the fine appearance of the stick made of a spiky material. A shepherd boy put in his appearance on the way as the group moved off. He had lost his stick and was at a loss. Ramana maharishi immediately gave the new one in his hand to the boy and passed on.
The pundit said that this was the matter-of-fact answer to his question.
What an unselfish action! The sage handed over the polished stick to a shepherd boy. He expected nothing in return.
Ramana said: "Karma Yoga or the Yoga of action is that yoga in which the person does not arrogate to himself the function of being the actor"
According to the Karma Yoga the actions go automatically. Action without the sense of doership is Karma Yoga!
Bhagavat Gita teaches active life from beginning to end.
Skill in action lies in the practice of Karma yoga.
Lord Krishna declares:" Your right is to work only, but never to the fruit thereof. Be not instrumental in making your actions bear fruit, nor let your attachment be to inaction."
Man has a right to action alone, not to the renunciation of action. One has to work according to his will without expecting the fruits thereof.
One who learns this secret is a real karma yogi.
S Nagarajan is a vehicle body engineer by profession. He has written more than 1300 articles in 16 magazines and published 18 books. He is revealing Eastern Secret Wisdom through T.V. Programmes, magazine articles, seminars, courses. His email address is: snagarajans@gmail.com. His articles on Yoga, laughter, efficacy of mantras and sound, Hypnotism, Tele Kinesis, Power of Prayer, Auto suggestion, Success Formula etc are regularly appearing in ezinearticles.com




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Purpose of Human Existence As Explained in the Mahabharata

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Human life is a rare gift of God. By entering a human body, the soul gets a much sought after chance of becoming liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Gods never die; hence, they never get the chance of being liberated. Their souls cannot merge with the Almighty Soul. It is only Nara (Human Soul) that can merge into Narayana (Almighty Soul). Hence, Gods and all celestial beings consider a human birth as highly fortunate.
The purpose of human existence is to free the soul from the bondage of birth and rebirth, with the help of the human body, mind and the grace of God.
The human body and mind should be cultivated in such a manner that right thoughts come, right words are spoken, right actions are performed, and right results are obtained, all leading to the liberation of the soul.
Sri Krishna explains to Arjuna how a soul can be liberated. The Bhagavat Gita is a song of the Almighty Soul. Grandsire Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira at the end of the battle, how simply a bath in the holy Ganga with a pure heart can liberate the soul. Rishi Veda Vyasa also instructs Yudhishthira that a human should always follow the path of Dharma only and then the soul can be easily freed. Scriptures give numerous guidelines how to conduct one's affairs towards this aim.
A human being is born alone and dies alone. However, while he is alive then knowledge is the best companion, his virtue is the best guide, his health is the best profit, his contentment is the best happiness, his anger is the worst enemy, his covetousness is the worst disease, his charity is the best glory, his equanimity in all circumstances is the best wealth, and his strict adherence to Dharma is the best destiny.
Vidura, the youngest brother and the prime minister of King Dhritrashtra, counseled him how a ruler can obtain liberation of his soul by performing his royal duties. Vidura states that a ruler should aspire for higher ideals and he should have forbearance, exertion and steadiness in virtue. He should carry out such duties that are within his capacity. He should not disclose his plans until they fructify. He should not be affected by honours or slights. A weapon and poison can kill one man, but wicked counsel can destroy an entire empire. Thus, the ruler should steadfastly practice virtue as it brings discrimination to arrive at the right decisions. A king should never keep company with people of low character, who procrastinate, who are stupid, pompous, or deceitful. He should avoid anger, excessive sleep, excessive sexual relations, fear, arrogance, and self-pride. His countenance should be as befitting a king, yet he should practice asceticism, self-restraint, and should give gifts of food and gold. However, in spite of hearing the scriptures, a ruler does not mend his evil ways, then he is doomed and the scriptures merely remain books that are only referred for the purposes of religious ceremonies.
Vidura tried his best to explain to King Dhritrashtra, but destiny had willed otherwise and King Dhritrashtra failed to act according to the laid down rules of the scriptures. For a foolish man, a scripture remains a closed book. Dhritrashtra had the opportunity of attaining salvation by discharging his royal duties according to Dharma, yet he failed because he could not conquer his love for his son and his throne. King Dhritrashtra always remained in the side of Adharma, due to which ultimately he lost both his beloved son and his much cherished throne.
Rajen Jani is a professional freelance writer with 18+ years of experience.
http://rajenjani.wordpress.com/
http://www.rajenjani.com/

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Courage to Bear Pain and Sorrow As Shown in the Mahabharata

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The Mahabharata skillfully shows how to courageously bear pain and sorrow, in order to rise above both. As gold is made only after it has gone through intense heat, similarly human beings are perfected only after they have gone through intense pain and sorrow. However, if pain and sorrow is not borne with courage and fortitude, then it festers and rots the mind with jealousy, anger, and frustrates the senses into doing evil and wicked acts. Due to his blindness, Dhritrashtra could not become King of Hastinapura, although he was the eldest son. This pained Dhritrashtra and he was forever jealous of his younger brother Pandu, who was made the king.
Dhritrashtra could not bear this pain courageously. Thus, he was seized with anger and jealousy for the Pandavas. His pain was imbibed in Duryodhana and his other sons, who all remained enemies of the Pandavas from the very beginning. However, on the other hand, the Pandavas were also subject to numerous griefs, but they came through all the pains, because they bore them with courage and always remained on the path of Dharma. Duryodhana had them burned alive in a palace made of lac and other inflammable materials. Due to Vidura's intelligence, they escaped through a tunnel, unhurt. Thereafter, they spent many years in the forest and suffered many unsavory events. However, in the end, due to their faith in Dharma they rose above all their trials and tribulations.
At the beginning of the battle, Arjuna is overcome with grief when he sees his brothers, relatives, and teachers on both sides. In despondency, his Gandiva (bow) drops from his hand and he sits down in his chariot unable to fight. At this time, Sri Krishna delivers his heavenly discourse, the song celestial - "Bhagavat Gita", which raises Arjuna from his grief and he resolves to fight. At the end of Mahabharata, Yudhishthira is again grieved and wishes to resort to a fast unto death, as he felt that principally he was responsible for this great tragedy. Rishi Veda Vyasa consoles Yudhishthira that old age and death shadows an individual from the very moment of birth. These were the facts of life and hence there was no reason to grieve. The relatives, teachers, and friends had all taken part in a just war and their deaths came due to their own karmas (actions), and in no way can Yudhishthira be held responsible for this tragedy. Sorrow and joy are bound to alternate in life, and one should always remain on the path of Dharma under all circumstances. Rishi Veda Vyasa told Yudhishthira to let go of his grief and rule the kingdom as per the dictates of Dharma and Satya.
Rajen Jani is a professional freelance writer with 18+ years of experience.


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Lord Krishna and Bhagavat Gita

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The Kurukshetra war is supposed to the most important war in Hindu mythology. It was in this war, Lord Krishna, leaving his army to Kaurava side, became the charioteer of Prince Arjuna. He had given the option of choosing either him or his huge army, to both Pandavas and Kauravas. It was Arjuna who chose him and his army was chosen by Duryodhana. In this war Lord Krishna advises Arjuna and revealed the truths about life. These insights were collectively known as Bhagavat Gita.
Bhagavat Gita
Gita contains advises, which Krishna gives Arjuna after seeing his dilemmas and confusions on fighting the war with his cousins, teachers, elders and friends. Krishna explains to him the duties of a warrior, a prince, about his karma and dharma in life. The spiritual text contains many philosophies, analogies and examples. It is in Kurukshetra war that Lord Krishna reveals his identity as the supreme God by displaying his Vishwarupa. Krishna tells Arjuna that Kurukshetra war is a Dharma Yudha, meaning a war to let Dharma prevail.
The five main truths of live, as described in Gita, are Ishwara, Prakriti, Kaala, Dharma and Jiva. Ishwara means the supreme controller of this universe. Prakriti is the basic nature of intelligence by which the universe functions. It is the base on which the works of creation is done. Kaala is referred to time or the age. Dharma is the law of nature, which binds all the forces together.
Gita basically give emphasis on the idea that one has to grow beyond the physical limitations of self and identify oneself with the eternal soul. Bhagavat Gita is a part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and it contains a total of 700 verses.
Important Verses
One of the most important verses in Gita is 'Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya...Srijamyaham'. Through these lines Lord Krishna assures Arjuna that when the world becomes a playground of Adharma and Dharma is not at all protected, then he will take birth again and protect the world from evil forces. Another verse 'Paritranaya Sadhunam...Yuge Yuge' also holds important meaning. In order to protect the sages from evil forces, to kill evil forces and to make Dharma prevail in the world, Lord Krishna will take birth again in all the ages.
Apart from Arjuna, Gita was also heard by Sanjaya - the associate of Dhritarashtra (who is blind) - to whom Veda Vyasa had given the power of Divya Drishti, to see the war completely. Lord Hanuman and Barbarika, Ghatotkacha's son were also recipients of these insights.
Gita is also known as Gitopanishad, suggesting that this Holy Scripture is equal to an Upanishad. But as it has the summary of teachings of all the Upanishads, it is also known as Upanishad of the Upanishads.
To find out more about Hanuman chalisa text [http://www.prabhubhakti.com/wiki/hanuman-chalisa] and get more info on Hindu Gods like Krishna [http://www.prabhubhakti.com/wiki/krishna], go to Prabhubhakti.


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