Understanding the True Self: The Importance of Self-Control in Vedanta Philosophy

 Understanding the True Self: The Importance of Self-Control in Vedanta Philosophy

 In Western philosophy, there is often confusion between the mind and the real Self. The true Self is actually the Knower within, which perceives external objects through the five organs of perception. The eyes see various forms and colors, the ears hear sounds, the palate tastes, the nostrils smell, and the sense of touch feels hard or soft things. However, it is the Knower who cognizes these external objects and is the real man. Although each organ has a specific function, there is something common to all of them - the Knower, which must be distinct from all of them.

 

Self-control means having the power to distinguish the real Self from the not-self, and to differentiate the Knower from all that is known. When we identify ourselves with the sense organs, we become controlled by them, and when we identify with the mind, we become caught in the mental weaves of the mind. According to Vedanta philosophy, one must know oneself and assert oneself as one really is. By distinguishing oneself from the not-self, which refers to the psychophysical organism, one can control the body, mind, and senses. However, very few people develop the power of reasoning necessary to discriminate the real Self from the not-self.

 

To rise to this stage, there are steps that one can follow. By practicing self-inquiry and constantly asking oneself the question "Who am I?" one can begin to uncover the true Self. By analyzing the various aspects of the mind and recognizing that they are not the real Self, one can come to a better understanding of one's true nature. By distinguishing oneself from the psychophysical organism, one can gain control over the body, mind, and senses. While few people develop the power of reasoning to discriminate the real Self from the not-self, steps can be taken to reach this stage

 

In conclusion, the Western concept of the mind and the real Self can often be confused, but it is essential to understand the distinction between the two to gain self-control. By recognizing the Knower within, which perceives external objects through the sense organs, we can begin to assert ourselves as we truly are and gain control over our bodies, minds, and senses. While developing the power of reasoning to discriminate the real Self from the not-self may be challenging, it is possible by following the steps outlined in Vedanta philosophy. Ultimately, understanding the true nature of the Self and achieving self-control can lead to greater personal fulfillment and a deeper understanding of one's place in the world.

 

The Pain and Beauty of Love's Transformation

Love can be a painful experience because it involves transformation and mutation, and each transformation requires leaving behind the old and moving towards the unknown. Fear arises as the mind is only comfortable with the familiar, and leaving the old world of convenience and safety can cause pain. However, this pain is necessary for growth, and the agony of moving towards a state of no-self can lead to ecstasy.

 

Living a loveless life is futile, and without love, one remains closed off and narcissistic. Love is fundamental for self-knowledge, and the other serves as a mirror for us to see ourselves. However, to love deeply and passionately, we must be open and vulnerable, which requires dropping our armor and ego. This can be painful, but the reflection of ourselves that we find in the other is necessary for growth and self-discovery.

 

In essence, love is not just about finding bliss but also about going through pain and transformation to reach a higher level of consciousness. To avoid the pain of love is to avoid growth and self-discovery. Love is a fire that purifies and makes us whole, and without it, we remain incomplete.

 

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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Essence of Bhagavad Gita Karma

 

Quote from true charm and Power of Vedanta

 

Essence of Bhagavad Gita Karma

Should we engage in activity or not?’ The Gita discusses this question more than once and in various ways . We know that it is necessary to work; as long as we live we must do work of some kind or together. This is so obvious! We may wonder why Sri Krishna discusses this question so much. There is a reason for it. At the time the Gita was taught. Philosophical discussions had increased to an enormous degree in India. Based on various philosophical schools a great many sects had arisen. Philosophical discussions had led to a firm conclusion that the mind was finite. It could not transcend the limitations imposed by name and form, or by space, time and causation. The mind, it was believed, would never be able to transcend these limitations. All philosophers were in unanimous agreement regarding this finite nature of the mind. All their researches, therefore, had only one purpose in view namely, to find out how we could go beyond the finite mind and realize the infinite truth. It was widely accepted that the only way to attain truth was to sit with a fully quit mind, since the mind being finite, world never be able to grasp the infinite.

 

The king of thinking had attracted even ordinary people with hardly any understand of the philosophical concepts involved. Only a person with perfect self-control could really calm the mind. But ordinary worldly minded people gave up only their external activities. Some of them became monks, but it was only in name! In order to remove this kind of misunderstanding, Sri Krishna felt it was right to remain active. that is why he made such great attempts to tech us the real nature of work the right way to do it, and the true meaning of giving up work and being free from all bondage. It is for this reason that Sri Krishna elaborately explains the path of Karma Yoga in the third chapter-as also in many places of the fourth and fifth chapters-of the Gita

 

Going on a vacation with God through meditation TOI

By Sant Rajinder Singh

 

As the world enters another holiday season against the backdrop of a global pandemic, vacationing in distant lands may not be in the cards.

 

We usually seek places that are relaxing, enjoyable and beautiful. Yet going on an outer vacation is often stressful. We have to earn money for the trip; book tickets; undergo the rigours of travel, find the right accommodations and food service. Often, we return from a vacation more exhausted than we had left.

 

However, there is still hope for a different kind of vacation that will leave us refreshed, rejuvenated and happy. A vacation that will fill us with relaxation of our body, mind and spirit, and put us into a state of tremendous love, joy and bliss. What would such a vacation look like?

 What if we could experience a vacation that did not cost anything and in which we could instantly travel to and experience unimaginable vistas more beautiful than anything ever seen in this world? What if we could tap into a restful peace that washed away our troubles and stayed with us even when we returned from the journey? What if we could take this trip anytime we wanted, as many times as we wished, by just closing our eyes?

 

This journey is not imaginary. Many enlightened beings and spiritual masters have taken this inner vacation.

 

It is a vacation where we stay at home and spend our time with God. He is an ocean of joy, happiness, love and bliss. To vacation with the Divine would be to swim in this ocean of happiness. God is available to all of us. It is simply a question of where we focus our attention. If we are continually distracted by the activities of the outer world, we will remain oblivious to the everlasting love and bliss of Supreme within us. Our true self, the soul, rejoices in closeness to God, and we can experience this through meditation.

 

People have been practising meditation for centuries. Meditation has been proven to benefit both our bodies and minds.

 

During the day our mind is filled with thoughts. When we sit for meditation and focus our attention, we begin to quieten the mind. We become at peace with ourselves and are not bothered by the problems around us. By meditating regularly, we develop sustained concentration. This increase in concentration coupled with reduced stress and tension, renewed energy, and improved relationships, helps us achieve success in our worldly activities. We become more efficient and productive and are better equipped to deal with life’s challenges.

 

Meditation is the art of inverting our attention from the world outside to that within. Sightseeing in the physical world may attract our senses with interesting and beautiful sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings. Yet inner sightseeing dazzles us. The inner voyage thrills our soul with bliss, love and joy that far surpass any sensory delights experienced in this physical world. It empowers our soul and we rise into dimensions of higher consciousness. The empowered soul is a tremendous source of wisdom, love and power. This is a purely spiritual experience.

 

So, this holiday season, rather than focus on the attractions of the outer world, why not take some time to meditate and focus on the joys of the inner world?

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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Vedanta in daily life

 

Quote from the true charm and power of Vedanta

Vedanta in daily life

Ideal of Vedanta is to let us know what powers we possess already and how great and majestic the real nature of man is. Its aim is to establish true universal brotherhood. I do not mean that kind of universal brotherhood which we often hear about and which when properly examined appears to be like an outward garb under which is hidden hatred, jealousy, quarrel, ambition for petty worldly property and so forth. But I mean something more than the so-called universal brotherhood. Which is real love for all without seeking anything in return? I mean that kind of brotherly feeling which proceeds from pure and disinterested love. Love means the expressing of oneness, or we may says the feeling which proceeds from the realization of oneness of the Spirit. The mission of Vedanta is to establish that oneness and to bring harmony , peace , toleration amongst different religions, sects, creeds and denomination s that exist in the world its object is to teach us how we can recognize the rights of all men and women alike from that standpoint  of spiritual  oneness, and thus to give a strong foundation to all kinds of social political and religious movements of all countries and amongst all nations of the world. You will notice that each of these ideals of Vedanta is not confined to any particular place, time or class of people, but is universal in its aspect as wide as the heaven over our head. And such is the grand many sided and all embracing ideal of Vedanta

 

Truth is what the voice within tells you

By Satish K Kapoor

 

Religious traditions all over the globe regard truth based on revelation as absolute, imperishable and beyond definition. The truth of instinct is said to be higher than the truth of thought, of reason higher than that of sensory experiences, of discriminative mind higher than that of calculative mind, and of the soul, highest of them all. ‘Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti’ – Truth is one, but wise men speak of it differently, says the Rig Ved.

 

Truth is the law of Being. It is one of the three attributes of God, others being chit, consciousness, and ananda, bliss. Dharma, in its highest aspect, is synonymous with the truth that unfolds itself through the cosmic order. Empirical truth may change, but absolute truth equated with Brahmn, the Supreme Being, never changes.

 

Truth is self-evident. It cannot be suppressed by the state or religious authority. Mundaka Upanishad says: ‘Satyam eva jayate nanritam, satyena pantha vitato devayanah’ – Truth alone conquers, not falsehood. By truth is laid out the path of gods.

 

As a metaphysical concept, truth may appear to be nebulous. But as a social value, truth is applicable to human life. To know the truth is a basic human urge. Truthful living is an ideal for householders. Mandala Brahmana Upanishad includes satya in the category of practices for self-restraint. Narad Smriti considers the application of truth, equal to a thousand sacrifices. The Buddha spoke of Four Noble Truths as a means of attaining nirvana. Mahavir made truth an essential part of the pancha mahavrata, five great vows of monks. Guru Nanak Dev says: ‘Sachahu orai sabh ko upar sach aachar’ – All else falls short of truth. Yet higher still is truthful living.

 

Gandhiji worshipped god as truth only. He regarded his ‘experiments with truth’ as the most sublime of all pursuits. Initially, he thought, god is truth; but revised his opinion to say, truth is god. To him, truth is what the voice within tells you. He advised that if one cannot realise absolute truth, one should adhere to relative truth. Experiencing truth meant realisation of the oneness of everything.

 

Truth and non-violence formed the praxis of his concept of swaraj, self-rule. Swaraj was not to be viewed merely as a political goal to be achieved, but as ‘rule over the self’. He regarded attachment to truth as complete freedom which implied assertion of the power of conscience. His doctrine of satyagrah, call to truth, was aimed as much at changing the minds of the British as those of the Indians. A satyagrahi, votary of truth, was to kindle his soul by self-purification and self-control. He was to hate sin, not the sinner, and wish that better sense prevailed on his adversary. ‘The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust,’ he wrote.

 

Gandhi stood by truth and wanted everyone to realise truth for himself, and not depend on second-hand versions of it. He believed that the path of truth is strenuous and slippery, but it must be trodden for spiritual growth. As he wrote in his autobiography: ‘Truth is like a vast tree, which yields more and more fruit the more you nurture it.’

 

 

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 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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The Practice and use of Religion

 

Quote from the true charm and power of Vedanta

The  Practice and use of Religion           

Excepting the infinite spirit everything else is changing. There is the whirl of change. Permanence is nowhere except in yourself. There is the infinite joy, unchanging. Mediation is the gate that opens that to us. Prayers ceremonials and all the other forms of worship are simply kindergartens of mediations. You pray you offer something. A certain theory existed that everything raised ones spiritual power. The use of certain words flowers, images temples, ceremonials like the waving of lights brings the mind to that attitude, but that attitude is always in the human soul nowhere else. (People) are all doing it, but what they do without knowing it, do knowingly., that is the power of meditation. All knowledge you have –how did it come? From the power of mediation. The soul churned the knowledge out of its own depths. What knowledge was there ever outside of it? In the long run this power of mediation separates ourselves from the body and then the soul knows itself as it is –the unborn, the deathless and birthless being. No more is there any misery, no more births upon this earth, no more evolution. (The soul knows itself as having) ever been perfect and free.

 

Drop dogmas to make full use of the intellect

By Shri Shri Anandamurti

 

The internal urge to attain liberation in every sphere of life is a natural wont of every human being.

 

The essence of the human mind is known as intellect. Intuition cannot be called the essence of mind. In fact, intuition is subtler than the mind. It is a special aspect of human existence and should be called the 11th organ or the sixth sense.

 

Discrimination between holy and unholy, permanent and impermanent, pure and impure in the intellectual sphere has a certain yardstick of its own. This yardstick should remain unstained. Due to the bondage of various types of exploitation and tyranny against the intellect in the physical sphere, the human spirit writhes in suppressed agony. Likewise in the mental sphere, the human capacity to think is snatched away. And in the same way in the intellectual sphere, when human beings try to think and act for their spiritual and intellectual unfoldment, various kinds of dogmas arise and create obstacles.

 
A dogma is a preconceived idea that forbids human beings to outstep the limits of that idea or object. In this situation, the human intellect cannot freely function. Some people say, ‘All right, we may not get the maximum utilisation of our intellect, yet we can have at least 10-20% of its services.’

 

Wherever there is dogma, even 10-20% of the human intellect cannot be properly utilised; and the meagre amount of intellect used is not something worthwhile.

 

The greatest treasure of human beings is their psychic faculty, their intellect. When I cannot utilise this precious intellect to its fullest advantage, what more tragic situation could there be than this. So, we need the liberation of the human mind, and even before this, we need the liberation of the human intellect.

 

Suppose the intellect wants to follow a particular path; in the meantime, dogma comes from all sides and forbids it, ‘Oh no! Don’t take a single step further in that direction. If you do, you’ll be doomed to hell for eternity.’ When the intellect wants to make the fullest utilisation of mundane wealth, dogma comes in and says, as it were, ‘Oh no, you must not do it. It is harmful for human beings; it is sheer blasphemy. It will lead to the degradation of humanity.’

 

When the human intellect becomes ardently eager to venture into a new enterprise in the psychic sphere, dogma again comes into the picture and insists, ‘Oh, no! You must not do this. It will bring about your ruin.’ Thus, in every sphere, at every step, dogma puts a blockade on the human mind, on the human intellect. That is why until we liberate our intellect from bondages, we cannot make its fullest utilisation. For the service of humanity, the intellect must be liberated from all sorts of bondages, dogmas and unholy influences. Unless that is achieved, we cannot have a radiant future.

 

If we want to herald the advent of golden dawn, we will have to bring about all-round emancipation of the human intellect through a relentless struggle against dogmas, backed by unlimited, uninhibited courage.

 

 

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 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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Path of Devotion

 

Quote from the true charm and power of Vedanta

Path of Devotion

Purification of the heart is indeed the essence of all religion. The observance of outer cleanliness without inner cleanliness cannot ever bring a sense of purity, so do not make too much of external practices. Know that you are pure, you are clean, whether you touch water or not. Everything becomes pure and clean in His name Repeat the Holy Name of the Lord with sincere faith and earnestness and all impurities will be washed off. Keep your mind always in a pure environment , that is think holy thoughts and seek holy company, then purity will shine in your heart.

 

Above all give up all egotism. There is no impurity than this. Nothing so quickly covers the mirror of the heart with the dust of delusion and selfishness. If you wish to be a true devotee, you must resign the little “I” which always leads to darkness and bondage. When you have resigned this little “I” then the great “I” will shine for you and cover the whole universe., you  must give up the idea that you are something ., that you do or do not do, both must be given up. Give up taking the credit for anything; root out this idea, then you will become unselfish. Root out all selfish desires and you will reach the goal.

 

If you serve your Ideal without selfish desires you work freely, and that work is the only real work. Our can attain perfection though it. Such unselfish service to the Idea will remove all bondages from the heart and give purity.

 

The Bhagwad Gita’s royal path to success

 

By Jaya Row

 

The one misunderstanding about the Bhagwad Gita that has turned away many sincere seekers is that it only promises enlightenment and asks us to give up the world and its enjoyments.

 

While the Gita speaks of Self-realisation, it also enables you to enjoy life to the fullest, achieve remarkable success in the world as well as happiness. It confers mastery over yourself and the world. It enables you to live like a king, not like a beggar. Like a victor, not a victim.

 

 

Free yourself from the persecution of the world and become master of the universe. Live like a king by discovering the royal secret – knowledge of your own power. The world will then transform into your playground. You will enjoy every moment of your life and gain inner strength and growth.

 

Krishn assures the diligent aspirant of both enlightenment as well as worldly success. The Bhagwad Gita does not promise a vague, post-mortem happiness. The benefits can be reaped here and now to gain material prosperity, happiness as well as spiritual growth. The accent is on the constancy of thought and consistency of application. Whatever action you perform, whatever you perceive, offer, give, or strive for, do it as an offering to God. Then every ordinary action becomes worship. You will be freed from the bondage of actions that yield good and bad results.

 

Ignorant of their potential, the deluded ignore the Spirit and get caught up with the world and fritter away their lives in the pursuit of petty, insignificant playthings. They condemn themselves to repeated birth and death which brings in its wake misery and suffering. The mahatmas, great souls, anchored in the higher Goal, worship the Spirit single-pointedly. They dedicate all actions to a higher ideal – Karma Yog. They cultivate love for all beings – Bhakti Yog. They are determined in their pursuit till the goal is attained – Jnana Yog. They then attain total freedom from the pairs of opposites in the world. Thus, worship is a constant effort at union with Atman, not a casual, occasional prayer or ritual.

 

Spiritual evolution is not the exclusive privilege of the chosen few. Krishn accepts even the most wicked people, the rajasic, passionate, and tamasic, lethargic, ones and offers them liberation. Nobody is disqualified provided they choose the right path. Everyone has access to the supreme goal. The highly refined and spiritually evolved ones find it easier to get there. With a serene mind and sharp intellect, they understand the world as anitya, impermanent, and asukha, joyless. They know they are heir to true and abiding bliss.

 

Krishn ends by encapsulating the entire spiritual path in one verse. Fix your mind on me – Jnana Yog. The intellect fixes realisation as the goal and keeps the thoughts focussed there. Be my devotee – Bhakti Yog. Feel for the ideal, pour your heart out to God. Surrender helps calm the mind. It empowers you to go through the ordeals of the world with fortitude. Sacrifice to me – Karma Yog. Act in a spirit of sacrifice and service for the welfare of humanity. Dedicate your actions to the goal. Prostrate to me – dissolve your ego. Place your head and heart at the feet of the Lord. Thus, with me as the supreme goal you shall come to me.

 

The law is – ‘as you think so you become’. People change their lifestyles, clothing and food. They even relocate to an Ashram or the Himalayas. But pay scant regard to their thoughts which are still on the world. The only thing you need to change is your thoughts. Elevate your thoughts to the Spirit and the world will be at your feet. The fringe benefits of spiritual life are material success and happiness.

 

For weekly webinars on the Bhagwad Gita by Jaya Row, Saturdays, 6.30-7.30pm IST, register free at

 

 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 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 : 7th heaven moment of the week in epl manunited no 7 scored a goals  , Chelsea no 7 scored two goals

 

Vedanta philosophy

 

Quote from the true charm and power of Vedanta

Vedanta philosophy

 

According to our philosophers, freedom is the goal knowledge cannot be the goal because knowledge is a compound. It is compound of power and freedom and it is freedom alone that is desirable. That is what men struggle after simply the possession of power would not be knowledge. For instance a scientist can send an electric shock to a distance of some feet or meter. But nature can send it to an unlimited distance. Why do we not build statues to nature then? It is not law that we want but ability to break law. We want to be outlaws it you are bound by laws; you will be a lump of clay. Whether you are beyond law or not is not the question; but the thought that we are beyond law-upon that is based the whole history of humanity. For instance a man lives in a forest and never has had any education or knowledge. He sees a stone falling down-a natural phenomenon happening-and he thinks it is freedom. he thinks it has a soul and  the central idea in that is freedom., but as soon as he knows that it must fall, he calls it nature –dead , mechanical action . I may or may not get into the street. In that is my glory as a man. If I am sure that I must go there I give myself up and become a machine. Nature with its infinite power is only a machine, freedom alone constitute sentinel life.

 

When Ganesh and Ved Vyas became partners

 

By Aruna Narlikar

 

The Mahabharat has much to say on the philosophy and strategy of alliance-building in times of peace, war and everything in between. The occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi – the festival celebrating the birth of the god of auspicious beginnings – is a good time to return to the legendary origins of the Mahabharat, which also lay in a powerful partnership.

 

There is a story about Ved Vyas and Ganesh that continues to thrive in the popular imagination from generation to generation.

 

The wise sage, Vyas, wanted a capable scribe to pen his epic poem. Brahma, the creator, knew of the all-encompassing beauty and depth of Vyas’s composition. He advised the poet-sage to turn to Ganesh – the god of creativity, patron of the arts, the first to be worshipped, and remover of all obstacles – as being most worthy of taking on the formidable challenge.

 

 

Vyas called upon Ganesh, who appeared instantly before his devotee and granted his request on one condition: Vyas would have to recite his verses in an uninterrupted flow. Vyas realised this demand would not be so easy to fulfil, so he put in his own condition even as he accepted the offer: If Ganesh did not understand the words, he would have to pause his writing. Legend has it that Vyas introduced complexities in the text to buy time to compose further verses, while Ganesh worked through the deliberately inserted convolutions. A mighty alliance of creativity was formed, well-suited to the colossal task at hand.

 

This delightful story is often cited to show the generous boons that Ganesh grants his disciples. But it also gives us four lessons that apply to business, politics, and indeed our everyday lives.

 

First, when taking on an ambitious enterprise, it is smart to seek allies and friends. Do not try to go it alone.

 

Second, seek worthy allies: capable of tackling the task at hand, trustworthy, and committed. Indeed, so committed was Ganesh to his responsibility that he is said to have broken his tusk off and used it as the writing instrument for the great epic.

 

Third, as you try to identify who your friends are, the only caveat is one that the poet Kalidas offered in his poem, Meghdoot: “A petition made to a virtuous person, even if rejected, is superior to one that is fulfilled by a mean-minded person.” Ved Vyas took a risk by approaching the high deity, Adipoojya Ganesh; he did not fear rejection, and was duly rewarded.

 

Fourth, even with the best of friends, it is all right – even desirable – to ensure terms that both sides are comfortable with. Often in relationships with those we are close to, we assume that we should downplay our own needs. But unnecessary sacrifice is not always healthy. It can go on to produce unfair expectations, guilt and disappointment. This does not mean one should be selfish with one’s friends – not at all. But a good rule of thumb is that both allies treat each other as equals and offer mutual respect for reasonable needs.

 

As we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, amidst the necessary social distancing and masking up necessitated by the pandemic, let’s not be afraid to seek help and build friendships.

 

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 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 : 7th heaven moment of the week in epl manunited no 7 scored two goals , Chelsea no 9 scored two goals

 

Answers and selections

 

Quote from the true charm and power of Vedanta

 

Answers and selections

Personally I take as much of the Vedas as agrees with reason. Parts of the Vedas are apparently contradictory. They are not considered as inspired in the western sense of the word, but as the sum total of the knowledge of God omniscience. This knowledge comes out of the beginning of a cycle and manifestation itself and when the cycle ends, it goes down into minute form. When the cycle is projected again that knowledge is mere sophistry. manu says in one place that , that part of the Vedas which agrees wit reasons is the Vedas and nothing else. Many of our philosophers have taken this view.

All the criticism against the advanta philosophy can be summed up in this that it does not conduce to sense-enjoyment and we are glad to admit that.

The Vedanta system begins with tremendous pessimism, and ends with real optimism. We deny the sense –optimism but asserts the real optimism of the. Super sensuous. That real happiness is not in the senses but above the senses and it is in every man. The sort of optimism which we see in the world is what will lead to ruin through the senses.

Abnegation has the greatest importance in our philosophy. Negation implies affirmation of the Real Self. The Vedanta is pessimistic so far as it negatives the world of the senses, but it is optimistic in its assertion of the real world.

Of all scriptures of the world it is the Vedas alone that declare that even the study of the Vedas is secondary. The real study is that by which we realize the Unchangeable “And that is neither reading nor believing nor reasoning but super –conscious perception or Samadhi.

 

Who decides what is bad and what is good?

By Thomas Easley

 

From the arrival of our earliest memories, we’ve been schooled on what is good behaviour and what is bad behaviour. And we derive a degree of identity from our own, and the reactions others have, to how we’ve understood and interpreted what is and is not good and bad behaviour.

 

Evaluating appropriate and inappropriate behaviour is essential to our ability to better ourselves and the world in which we live. But who decides what is bad? Who decides what is good? Who decides how bad someone can be and still be good? How good can someone be and still be bad? How many bad things have to be done to make someone bad? Who decides?

As we adapt to life’s persistent reinvention, our gods change with us, and with them what is and is not culturally and morally good, or bad. Khajuraho and the Kama Sutra speak of a time when pleasure was good, a source of spiritual nourishment. Now it’s not good. Why? What has changed? And why don’t we pray to Iris, Zeus, Shango, and his big axe, sacrifice children to volcano gods, believe evil spirits cause infections and disease?

From era to era, country to country, group to group, who defines what is good and bad, and the enforcement of the same varies depending upon which group or individual is in power in any given domain.

In our time, to evaluate good and bad, many people are holding to established institutions while others are turning to modernism and social media, making their own rules, their own gods, or believing in no rules, or no God or gods at all.

Though we learn much from past experience, where we go from here and how we better ourselves today, is the question we seek to answer, and it cannot be an answer that favours one body of people over another, not if our betterment requires balance. If what was derogatory is no longer derogatory. If what was acceptable is no longer acceptable, yet we disagree on which is which, it becomes difficult to determine what is and is not good and bad behaviour. Failing these determinations, how are we to become better people?

We must learn to self-guide our moral outlook regardless of what others believe is good or bad, and for that, enlightenment is our best hope.

Enlightenment, because its nature is unattached, even indifferent, it cannot be bound to material reality, identity, or any measure of what is good or bad within material reality decided upon by any person or group. Enlightenment is in the self-awareness of, not the attachment to, that which defines good and bad.

In the end, it’s not what we believe; it’s how we behave that constitutes good or bad behaviour. The behaviour we have more control over when the needs to defend ego’s identity attachments, based on what has been defined as good or bad, have been minimised by efforts to better ourselves through being more self-aware in the present, more enlightened.

In the world of enlightenment, there is no difference between people, only a difference in levels of awareness, of non-attachment, of seeing through ourselves into a world without us in it. A world we can better ourselves unhindered by the approval or disapproval of external interpretations of good and bad.

The point, the goal of betterment, is how to live with each other, not change each other.

 

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 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 : 7th heaven moment of the week Mancities no 7 scored a goal, Chelsea no 9 scored a goal, Sunderland no 10 scored a goal

 

Mind according to Vedanta

Quote from true charm and power of Vedanta

Mind according to Vedanta 

During the dream-state, the mind becomes free from the body idea; it becomes associated with any impression that may be prevalent in the mind. When it is dominated by that impression, the mind has a particular ego idea. A dreamer can have any kind of ego. A queen may think she is a beggar-woman. Any kin d of ego can exist there because you do not know which impression will be prevalent in a person while dreaming. The will and power of judgement that are associated with the ego idea based upon the physical body, does not exist anymore. therefore, we do not have any kind of self –determination or definite will in the dream state . We do not have even any definite judgement of consistency or property in dream. In dream state a person does not have a definite ego idea, one does not have nay definite standard of judgment so nothing seems incoherent inn a dream. One also lacks in will power and one cannot resist when resistance is necessary. Any tendency, desire or idea may be prevalent of that time. We are actually at the mercy of the tendency or desire that prevails at that time. Being influenced by the desire or will, or wish, the mind creates an image or picture out of those impressions. The impressions become concretized. Just as we can see a picture painted on a canvas in al three dimensions, similarly , this mind is like a piece of canvas painted by al these imprison gathered during waking hours. 

How to fulfil your genuine desire for bliss

We all are striving hard to attain full satisfaction in a persistent manner. In the material world, nothing can give us such ecstasy. Consumption of a normal good is characterised by diminishing marginal utility; meaning that the additional consumption of the same good renders less and less satisfaction. Thus, we get fed up with it and look for another good to give us a feeling of complete satisfaction. But that also follows the same rule. There is no peace.
In the midst of this chaos, the truth is that complete bliss is possible to attain only through this life. Thus, unknowingly at the subconscious level, there is a constant struggle to seek the state of satiety, though we look for it materialistically. This happens because we get guided by our natural tendencies and the craze for an easy solution. The desire to attain bliss is genuine but the mechanisms we adopt to reach it can be faulty.

It is in this context that rationalisation and the role of conscience become important. The Buddha showed the path of withdrawal from indulgence in the material world and the perusal of the ultimate state through a disciplined life. The attainment of nirvana leaves a feeling of complete satisfaction and bliss. And interestingly, all this is possible only by accepting life. As Ramakrishna pointed out, what appears to be an illusion can actually manifest itself later as a part of truth. Thus, Ramakrishna’s Vedanta is unique and unravels a realistic approach. First attain it, spending time in silence and isolation, later look at the material world and realise the oneness. A combination of detachment and persuasion unfolds the mystic presence.

Introspection in silence establishes a unique connection between the vast and the individual. Even while one is in the midst of the duties and responsibilities in the material world, a sweeping breeze blows over to touch the mind and takes it away to an unknown state of joy. It is as if you have mingled with ecstasy itself and your every part of existence bears the ultimate happiness. Tagore tried to define it as an embodiment of an unembodied existence in your whole presence. The Vaishnavite simplify it in terms of the music flowing from the flute of Krishn, engulfing the existence of Radha and imparting ethereal joy. For, he stays nowhere but in the company of his devotees.

To an ignorant person, of course, a liberated soul may appear to be wandering aimlessly. But within that wandering, he has actually achieved what cannot be explained in words. His joy is too enormous to be defined materialistically.
The unique aspect of spiritualism is that it takes the individual to such heights that all desires get washed away with the glow of composedness that one is able to acquire. The Buddha suggested that we make repeated attempts to attain nirvana. Using an altered expression, Ramakrishna said that he would like to enjoy the enormity in different forms and in different ways. Thus, one can completely empty oneself forever. Once the lamp is lit in this world, its radiance will be evident in the path of eternity. The writer is professor of economics at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi

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 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 : 7th heaven moment of the week India won by 7 wk, and in formula one no Botas no 77 won a podium