From Joy to Eternal Bliss

Quote from the true Charm and Power of Vedanta

Karma yoga

But what is the causal relation between unselfishness and the realization of spiritual truths?-it may be pertinently asked. The answer is that it is selfishness that hides. Truth from us; that it is egotism that divides man from man and separates him from God. Philosophically speaking, there is only one Existence; but we, in our delusion created by egocentricity, see It as many. Water contained in separate jars may look different in each jar. But if the jars are broken, it will be found that the water is one and the same. Similarly, when a person’s egoism and selfishness are destroyed; he becomes one with the Universal Existence

From Joy to Eternal Bliss

By Ashutosh Maharaj

 

Once there was an affluent merchant. He owned many palatial houses and factories. One of his mansions suddenly caught fire. The merchant was devastated. Seeing his grief, his help consoled him, saying, ‘Why do you worry? Don’t you remember that only few days ago, your son finalised a sale deed?’

 

Now the merchant was filled with joy. He even increased the help’s salary. After a while, the merchant’s son came home, looking crestfallen. His father said, ‘It is good you sold that house; otherwise, we would have faced a great loss today.’ The son replied, ‘Father, I fixed a deal for selling that house, but the payment is yet to be received. And now the buyer is refusing to make the payment.’ As soon as the merchant heard these words, his joy disappeared. He was now sad.

 

Joy is short-lived because it relies on external circumstances. Bliss is eternal for it comes from within. Its source is God, the eternal sat-chit-ananda. When a seeker finds God within, he is able to attain the supreme state of bliss. The one who is established in soul-consciousness is always immersed in the ecstatic bliss of the Lord’s name.

However, the prerequisite for attaining such a blissful state is Brahmn jnana — the revelation and manifestation of the effulgent form of the Lord in the innermost realms of heart. When you have a glimpse of the divine, when you merge in Him, only then can you experience transcendental bliss. Strive to attain the realisation of God through a Perfect Master and elevate yourself from short-lived joy to eternal bliss

But, if He exists?

 

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

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Vedanta and Privilege

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Vedanta and Privilege

There was a certain king who had a huge number of courtiers, and each one of these courtiers declared he was ready to sacrifice his life for his master, and that he was the most sincere being ever born. In course of time, s Sannysin came to the king. The king said to him that there never was a king who had so many sincere courtiers as he had. The Sanysin smiled and said he did not believe that. The king said the Sannysin could test it if he liked. So the Sannysin smiled and said he did not believe that. The king said the Sanysin could test it if he liked . so the Sannysin declared that he would make a great sacrifice by which the king’s reign would be extended very long, with the condition that there should be made a small tank into which each one of the courtiers should pour a pitcher of milk, in the dark of night. The king smiled and said . Is this the test? And he asked his courtiers to come to him and told them what was to be done. They all expressed their joyful assent to the proposal and returned. In the dead of night, they came and emptied their pitchers into the tank. But in the morning , it was found full of water only. The courtiers were assembled and questioned about the matters. Each one of them had thought there would be so many pitchers of milk that his water would not detected. Unfortunately most of us have the same and we do our share of work as did the courtiers in the story.

 

Ability to be self-aware

According to Aristotelian theory, humans are the most evolved form of thinking and feeling beings so far. What is more, we alone have the potential to grow and evolve into the spiritual dimension. But what precisely, if anything, sets us apart from other living creatures? Is it the faculty of reasoning? But reasoning does not, and cannot, teach us anything new. Socrates was a man, a mortal being. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

 

You can see here that there is no new truth that the third and concluding statement expresses that is not clearly implied in the first two sentences.

 

The conclusion of any piece of syllogistic reasoning does not enable us to learn anything new other than what is contained in its premise. You have the same limitation with inductive logic where you arrive at general truths from particular examples.

 

The mind grasps reality by establishing relationships between entities that it perceives new and perceptions that it carries from the past. The distinguishing feature of humans lies in our capacity for self-awareness.

Other living creatures may have the ability to perform a greater variety of tasks or may have developed superior sensibilities in certain areas, but we have the capacity to look at ourselves and be aware of ourselves.

We can attain knowledge, but what is unique about us is that we can also get to know how we can attain that knowledge. A human being is like a computer that can see how it has been programmed and, thereby, transcend its programming.

 

But, if He exists?

 

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th heaven moment of the week in third test pujara made 77, panh scored 97

         

The Locus of the Soul

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

The Locus of the Soul

Man again has an infinite love for his own being; he wants ‘tobe’, or live . he never wants ‘not to be’, or die. Death is regarded by him as the greatest misery which he, therefore, wants to get rid of at any cost. That is why he wants to get  rid of lions , tigers, venomous snakes all ferocious and destructive animals, and even men, by killing them. He loves that which makes him happy and want to preserve it. Whatever has the power to make him more and more happy, he loves more and more . Hence that which is the abode of all bliss he cannot but love most and what is that thing which he loves most? Assuredly he loves himself more than all others things, and that is why Yajanvalkya instructs Maitreyi, his wife, in this way. Not for the satisfaction of the husband, but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the husband is loved; not for the satisfaction of the wife but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the wife is loved not for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the sons are loved, not for the satisfaction of one’s own self, wealth is loved; not for the satisfaction of the Brahman, but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the Brahmana is love, not for the satisfaction of the Kshatriya , but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the Kshatriya is loved; not for the satisfaction of the blissful habitations of souls, but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, the blissful habitations of souls are loved not for the satisfaction of the gods, but for the satisfaction of the gods, but for the satisfaction one’s own self the gods are loved, not for the satisfaction of all lining beings but for the satisfaction of one’s own self, all the living beings are loved , but for the satisfaction of own self, the whole universe is loved . Therefore , my beloved Maitreyi one’s own self should be rightly known after it is heard of, well understood and profoundly and repeatedly meditated upon; for by hearing about, understanding deeply meditating upon and then realizing one’s own self. all this that is non self. all this that is non self is known. Thus , since   man loves himself most of all, his self must be the abode of blissfulness of bliss itself, which in Sanskrit is called Ananda

Finding a Spot of Bliss

 

ARUNA JETHWANI

 

The Gurbani says, ‘Sahaj subah jo ho so ho — whatever happens naturally is the best.’ These words could foresee the momentum of life and the tumult of stress and ensuing frustrations. Tension often gives way to frustration, causing unhappiness.

 

Most of us find it difficult to cope with daily frustrations. Often, we pursue goals and desires that are unrealistic. We pursue them with faith and determination, hoping that persistence will yield results, which is not a bad thing. But when the goal seems distant, we should not bang our heads against the wall in frustration.

 

Osho said, ‘No matter what you do, life turns out the way it turns out. Struggling with life does not help at all.’ A miracle must happen. But when it does not, the best thing to do is to fall in line with karmic happenings. Destiny has a role and is subject to certain limitations.

 

In the pursuit of our dreams, we encounter delays, blockages and obstructions. We throw up our hands in frustration and scream, ‘Why can’t I do it?’ Don’t push yourself against an unyielding wall. Take time off. Create space.

For on this journey, there are waiting rooms, transit lounges and change of tyres on the way. Time, trust and tryst must synchronise with yield fulfilment. By that time, you may have discovered a new purpose, a new goal, or even a new obsession.

You may even find a spot of bliss. Happiness lies in the rhythm of life. Life is a flow; the rhythm of life gains grace and agility when you move on without the baggage of frustration.

 

 

But, if He exists?

 

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

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Secret of right Activity

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Secret of right Activity

Karma Yoga says that each is great in his own place. One is living the life of a householder. He need not think he is inferior to one who leads the life of renunciation . we all create we all have an equal share in this universe, so we must never have the attitude that any one place or task in life is inferior neither should we think that God cannot be attained by living in the world and doing our duties there . on the contrary true performance of duty will bring us great spiritual results.

Thus we see that the different paths which men follow, according to their conviction, all lead to the same ultimate goals of Truth. A very beautiful illustration is given in one of our Scriptures to show that no matter where a man is placed, he can become religious and get inspiration through faithfully fulfilling his duties. Thee was once a monk who lived the life of contemplation. After several years of practice he was sitting under a tree one day, when he was disturbed by the falling of some leaves on his head and he found that two brides in quarreling[1] had caused them to drop. This irritated him so much that a flash of light came from his eyes and destroyed the birds. We can always develop so called miraculous power if we live a steady life, and the monk had gained this power through his practice of austerity . Seeing what he was able to do, he grew conceited and thought he had attained the highest.   

Action and reaction

By SREERAM MANOJ KUMAR

Karma is of great importance in the Indic tradition. It has significance in many things, such as work, duty, action, obligation and fate. If we accept the law of karma, we can appreciate that most problems are results of actions done in this life and in past lives.

 

Karma literally means ‘deed’ or ‘act’, and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction that govern all life. Karma is not fate, for man acts with free will creating his own destiny. If we sow goodness, we reap goodness; if we sow evil, we reap evil. Karmarefers to the totality of our actions and their consequential reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determine our future. The challenge: intelligent action and dispassionate response.

Karma has three levels. The first, called Sanchita Karma, is the level of past actions that are waiting to produce a reaction. The second, called Prarabdha Karma, is the level of past actions whose reactions are fully manifesting, being responsible for our present life and creating its circumstances. The third level, Agami Karma, is of actions triggered in the future by our present actions. A person cannot be free from the cycle of birth and death unless the stock of Sanchita Karma is exhausted.

That does not mean, however, that to do good karma, we should have an eye on the fruits that would emerge from it. Bondage is attachment to action. This identification carries over to our performance and results preoccupy our minds and bring in their wake emotions of various kinds.

But, if He exists?

 

I drive joy There was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting ten precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting ten minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste ten minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 10 minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7^th heaven moment of the week Totenham no 7 Son scored a goal, Newcastle no 7 carrol socred a goal, Mumbai no 7 scored two goals

         

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