Concentration Its spiritual uses

 Quote from the True charm and power of Vedanta

 

Concentration Its spiritual uses

Yoga is restraining the mind –stuff (chittha from taking various forms (Vrittis)

A good deal of explanation is necessary here. We have to understand what Chitta is and what the Vrittis are. I have eyes. Eyes do not see. Take away the brain centre which is in the head the eyes will still be there, the retina complete, as also the picture of objects on them and yet the eyes will not see. So the eyes are only a secondary instrument, not the organ of vision  is in a never centre of the brain. The two eyes will not be sufficient. Sometimes a man is asleep with his eyes open. The light is there and the picture is there but a third thing is necessary-the mind must be joined to the organ. The eye is the external instrument we need also the brain centre and the agency of the mind. Carriages roll down in street and you do not hear them. Why? Because your mind has not attached itself to the organ of hearing. First, there is the instrument, then there is the organ and the third mind is attached to these two. Mind takes the impression further in and presents it to the determinative faculty –Buddhi-which is acting. Along with this reaction flashes the idea of egoism. Then the mixture of action and reaction is presented to the Purusha, the real Soul who perceives an object in the mixture. The Organ (Indriyas) together with the mind (Manas) the determinate faculty. (Buddhi) and egoism (Ahankara) from the group called the Antahkarana (the internal instrument)They are but various processes in the mind-stuff , called  Chitta. The waves of thought in the Ghitta are called Verittis (literally “whirl pool”) What is thought? Thought is a force as is gravitation or repulsion from the infinite storehouse of force in nature, the instrument called Chitta, takes hold of some absorbs it and sounds it out as thought , . Force is supplied to us through food and out of that food the body obtains the power of motion, etc .Others the finer forces , it throws out in what we call thought. So, we see that the mind is not intelligent, yet it appears to be intelligent, why? Because the intelligent soul is behind it.

Lighting lamps to celebrate Bandi Chhor Diwas

By Stuti Malhotra

Deepavali is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Diwas among the Sikhs all over the world. ‘Bandi’ means ‘prisoner’, ‘chhor’ – ‘release’. On this day, the Sikh guru, Guru Hargobind, was released by Jahangir from the Gwalior Fort and he arrived in Amritsar. Son of Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Hargobind became the sixth Sikh guru at the age of 11. And when he returned to Amritsar, he was not alone. Along came 52 rajas from different states, who had been imprisoned by the Mughal ruler under different pretexts – for political reasons, or for not being able to pay hefty tributes to him. They had been languishing in the prison in deep misery for years.

 

Legend has it that when Jahangir ordered the release of Guru Hargobind, the sixth guru refused to leave unless accompanied by the 52 rajas imprisoned there. Jahangir agreed but with a condition – ‘whoever can hold on to the Guru’s cloak can be released.

Out of deep compassion for the prisoners, Guru Hargobind had a unique cloak designed. It was a garment with a hem that had 52 corners, tails. The Guru then walked out of the fort with 52 rajas in tow, each holding on to a tail of the Guru’s special cloak. Guru came out of the fort reciting the Bani of Guru Arjan Dev: “Gayee bohore bandi chhor Nirankar dukhdari” – I fall back to the favour of one and only one, thus my chains are loosened and my miseries are banished by the emancipator – the Bandi Chhor. Since then, the Guru came to be known as Bandi Chhor – the Great Deliverer.

The Sikhs light candles in their homes to celebrate this event. To them too, the light symbolises the triumphing of goodness over evil and darkness.

The way Guru Hargobind showed generosity to the imprisoned rajas, the same model of compassion needs to be followed in contemporary times. The Guru taught us that one should be open-minded and not have any bias against anybody. Though he had been imprisoned by Jahangir, they later became friends when the Guru jumped in front of a charging lion that was about to kill the Mughal king and saved him. He subsequently became Jahangir’s royal guest at the fort. They would go hunting together. This is possible only when one has compassion for all and is beyond any hatred and jealousy.

Guru Hargobind later went on to set up the Akal Takht that faces the entrance to the Golden Temple. It was here that the Guru sat as an administrator, brandishing two swords – Miri and Piri – representing temporal authority and spiritual investiture, respectively.

When Swami Ramdas first met Guru Hargobind, in Kashmir, he was astounded by the latter’s military and regal garb and inquired as to how his saintliness blended with it. The Guru replied, “Batan fakiri, zahir amiri” – saintliness within and authority outside.

We too need to follow the teachings of the Guru and balance our spiritual life,  saintliness within, with our worldly life, the authority outside, to liberate ourselves from daily challenges. And think of everyone’s wellbeing, not just your own, because in everyone’s welfare is hidden your own wellbeing too.

IF HE EXIST

 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 7 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 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

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