Bhagwad Gita’s advice on building better ties

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

 

Divine Love

 

Knowledge or Janna requires the idea of a distinction between the knower (mediator), the object of knowledge (Brhaman), and the process of knowledge. However, to have the knowledge of God does not mean that God is the object and the knower is the subject. Immanuel Kant pointed out that as long as there is the least demarcation between the knower and the object of knowledge, the thing –in-itself remains unknown. Sankara many centuries earlier, had also pointed out that as long as there is the least separation between the subject and the object of knowledge and the process of knowledge, God remains unknown. But he stated that ultimately the spiritual aspirant transcends this dilemma; he called it tripti-bhede, the untying of the three knots of knowledge and reaching unified consciousness.

Brhaman or God is Sat-chit-ananda-Existence or eternal reality, pure consciousness and pure Love and Bless. These, however are not attributes of Brahman. That which is Sat is the same as Chit, and the same Ananda. Sat is identical with Brahman. Chit is identical with Brahman Ananda is identical with Brahman. In the path of knowledge emphasis is laid upon Chit, pure Consciousness; and in the path of devotion emphasis is laid upon Ananada –Love or Bliss. When the aspirant reaches the end, there is no longer any distinction between the Chit and Ananda . Then supreme love and unitive knowledge of Godhead become one and the same. Courtesy Divine love

 

Bhagwad Gita’s advice on building better ties

 

By Jaya Row

 

The relationships we form are vital to our mental and emotional wellbeing. We have an inborn desire to connect with people. But as our lifestyles become more reliant on digital tools, these simple interactions are under threat.

 

We have relationships at various levels – professional, social and family. Work isn’t just about the paycheque. It’s about meeting like-minded people, sharing ideas and working towards common goals. A happy family life is the foundation on which our personality develops. Sharing and forming ties at family get-togethers create bonds that give us a sense of belonging. Communities’ help individuals cope with the stress, struggle and chaos of modern life.

 

However, in modern times relationships are breaking at an alarming rate. The joint family system is vanishing. Today, the nuclear family is the norm. Single parenthood is increasing. Organisations are experiencing high-attrition rates and people do not even know their neighbours.

 

 

This is because of increasing selfishness and lack of self-sufficiency. As a result you become dependent. There are expectations from the other person, you make demands, and when these are not met with, there is conflict and bitterness. This is called attachment. When the person is around, you argue and fight. When the person is absent you miss him. Attachment breeds suffering and eventually the relationship breaks down.

 

Once you develop inner strength and grow spiritually, you no longer need to lean on people. You establish wonderful relationships with them. You love them for what they are with no strings attached. And they, in turn, adore you. This is pure love or detachment.

 

How do you get detached? Get attached to something higher and the lower attachment wanes away. Feel for the larger community, nation, all beings, and finally God. Devotion to God has no meaning unless you love all beings. In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishn gives 35 qualities of a devotee. The very first trait is ‘one who hates no being’. Devotion is not about professing love to God, it is the ability to love one’s fellow beings.

 

The Gita says there are no adversaries out there. Your worst foes are within. Question your beliefs and prejudices. Revisit your convictions. And you will realise the enemies you saw everywhere are your friends. You will view even wrongdoers with compassion. And embrace the whole world with a feeling of oneness.

 

Enlarge your circle of love. When you identify with the body you see maximum differences. Align with the mind and you feel one with the family. Stretch to the intellect and your circle of oneness includes the entire nation. In the end, understand the Spirit as the common chord that holds the whole universe. You feel one with all beings. And cease to feel hatred or revulsion towards anybody. This is devotion. Then Krishn loves you whether you love him or not. He declares that such a person is exceedingly dear to him.

 

Where do you begin? With the people you dislike most. Change your attitude towards them. Look at things from their perspective. There is instant relief! You feel happy. And grow spiritually. This helps more than any prayers, visits to temples, or pilgrimages.

 

For the Bhagwad Gita live webinars with Jaya Row, Saturdays 6.30-7.30pm IST on Zoom, register free: vedantavision.org/gita

 

 

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.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in EPL Chelsea scored 7 goals

 

The Secret of Happiness

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Thoughts on Vedanta

 

The Secret of Happiness

 

We are often tempted to change our external circumstances; to seek what we think could be a better material or psychological situation. But, there is no such thing as an ideal environment. Besides wealth name and fame, social status etc. can never satisfy a man. There is no limit to our desiring. it is, therefore, essential to put a brake on our desires and attempts at seeking a better job, a better house, a better environment or a better salary if one really wants to become introspective.

A formula ne might use to weaken the extrovert tendency and prompting of the mind is to ask oneself during such promptings; can I do without it? Can I do without it? Can I do without the object, activity or pleasure for which my mind is aspiring? Let us take a concrete example suppose; I get a desire for a new fountain pen or a pair of new shoes. Let me ask before going for it; can I do without it? Do I already have a pen or pair of shoes? Do I really need a new one? Or spare one? Is it not a fact that many spare items go on accumulating and demand time and energy for their maintenance? The same question can be posed when there is an urge to embark upon some activity; can I do without it? Can it be postponed? Let us thus try to reduce our requirements and extrovert activities and simplify our lives. To remain contended with our present social economic status thus is the first step towards nivrititi .

 

Vaak Shakti, the power of creative speech

By Shardha Batra

 

Shabda Brahmn is the parent and essence of all that exists – living and non-living. The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.” Brahmn is the Eternal Spirit, the transcendental, non-dual awareness. Slumbering within the silence of Brahmn is a pulsating energy, shabda or sound, which follows a rhythm of potential and kinetic expressions.

 

When the kinetic quality of Brahmn emerges, it becomes Brahma the creator. Brahma’s breath emanates as the Shakti of Aum. Mythology recognises Aum as Devi Saraswati.

 

 

The ‘Vaak Suktam’ of the Rig Ved calls Saraswati – Vaak Shakti, the empress who rules the universe. Her spectrum of presence ranges from inspiration and revelation, to thoughts and articulate speech.

 

Vaak Shakti as language is a bridge for communication. Most words used in internal, or external dialogue are an unconscious purging of our   subconscious. However, when an individual silences the useless chatter of his mind, Vaak Devi reveals her beauty and secrets to him.

 

A mantra is a divine archetype, devta, conscious, alive and brimming with creative potency. Repeating a mantra invokes the qualities of the devta and opens different paths of fulfilment.

 

Patanjali summarises the attainment of the power to materialise one’s words into reality: “When one is established in truthfulness, one ensures the fruition of actions.” Even the profane words of a truthful person become a mantra and invariably bear fruit. This is Vaak siddhi or attainment of the power of Creative speech. Both the curses and blessings uttered by such a person come to pass.

 

The story of Trishanku, a king of Ikshvaku dynasty, has been narrated in the Valmiki Ramayan. Trishanku approached Rishi Vishwamitra with his desire to ascend to heaven in his bodily form. It is the sheer power of Vishwamitra’s words ‘Go to heaven’ through which Trishanku ascended to occupy a heaven created just for him.

 

However, the words ‘being established in truthfulness’ defy being put into a box and labelled. Sage Patanjali uses the Sanskrit word ‘Prajna’ for such truth-bearing wisdom. Prajna is the faculty of highest wisdom that dawns when one has realised one’s true Self. It is a holistic amalgam of the objective reality of a situation/person and the subjective inner stirrings associated with it.

 

Such Prajna, insightful wisdom, gives the individual an ability to hold even diametrically contrary aspects of a situation/person, with gentleness and respect. When the knower’s consciousness encompasses, penetrates and fuses with the consciousness of the known, reaching across lifetimes, appearances and distance, the truth of an entity is realised by becoming one with it. This is the only True perception. All other perceptions are delusional and fallacious.

 

Prajna is like a multifaceted, beautiful diamond that reflects all aspects of the truth. An individual who develops prajna transcends the fixed framework of opinions created by the self-serving and manipulative ego. Such a person gets exalted to the position of Vachaspati, the lord of creative speech. Saraswati has her abode on his tongue. Every word he utters is a mantra that connects his intent to the Cosmic energy, bringing it to miraculous fruition.

 

 

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.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in Tottenham no 7 Son scored a goal and Csk captain 7 won ipl

 

Thoughts on Vedanta

 

Quote from the True Charm and Power of Vedanta

Thoughts on Vedanta

 

There of your who have studied the Gita will remember the memorable passengers. He who looks upon the learned Brahman, upon the cow, the elephant the dog or the outcast with the same eye, he indeed is the sage, and the wise man. Even in this life he has conquered relative existence whose mind is firmly fixed on this sameness for the Lord  is one and the same to all, and the Lord is pure therefore those who have this sameness for all, and  said to be living in God. This is the gist of Vedantic morality –this sameness for all we have seen that it is the subjective world that rules the objective  change the subject and the object is bound to change, purify yourself and the world is bound to be purified,. This one thing requires to be taught now more than ever before. We are becoming more and more busy about our neighbors and less and less about ourselves ., the world will change if we change; if we are pure the world will become pure. The question is why I should see evil in others. I cannot see evil unless I be evil. I cannot be miserable unless I am weak. Things that used to make me miserable when I was a child do not do so now. The subject  changed so the object was bound to change so says the Vedanta  . All these things which we call causes of misery and evil we shall laugh at where we arrive at what wonderful state of equality that sameness. this is what is called in Vedanta attaining to freedom,. The sign of approaching that freedom is more and more of this sameness and equality in misery and happiness the same, in success and defeat the same –such a mind is nearing that state of freedom.

 

Simple truth: Selfishness repels, love attracts

By MPK Kutty

 

The other day I happened to read about a teacher couple who had been going on a tour every year for over more than two decades. It might seem that there is nothing extraordinary about it. But this couple used to take along with them 100 others, including children from orphanages and old people. They would meet all the expenses besides providing good gifts to those accompanying them.

 

Naturally, such a couple will be widely known. They had some strange experiences. Their old students started inviting them to see places. Thus they began travelling to foreign lands as well free of charge.

 Not that the teachers were intentionally kind, expecting some rewards. But that is the way our society is. Like those imitating the evil ways of the criminals, there are also in society those who follow a good example. Every society needs good examples.

  Scriptures have many verses commending generosity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38.

 

Horace Mann, known for reforms in the US public education system, had this to say: “Doing nothing for others is the undoing of one’s self. He must be purposely generous and kind or we miss the best part of existence. The heart that goes out of itself gets large and full of joy. This is the great secret of the inner life. We do ourselves the most good, doing something for others.”

 

As mankind becomes more and more individualistic and as competition increases, everyone becomes too preoccupied with the question: ‘What is in it for me?’ Some people even call the modern generation as ‘Me First’ generation. This is the secret of its unhappiness, because selfishness is the great enemy of all happiness.

 

It may be because of insecurity or lack of confidence about the future. Or the unwillingness to think of the needs of ‘the other’. All human relationships, all efforts to promote the common good, flounder on this one aspect of human nature.

 

Take any conflict in families or societies. The selfishness of some may be found to stand in the way of a solution. Let someone take the initiative to ‘consider the other’ and the way will be opened for a breakthrough.

 

The simple truth is selfishness repels; love attracts. Every heart responds to love. Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross states, “I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness towards someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fibre of life, the flame that heats our soul, energises our spirit and supplies passion to our lives.” It is our connection to God and each other.

 

Most religions lay emphasis on loving God. Unless this is accompanied by the love of fellow beings, loving God will remain a fruitless ritual.

 

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 f1 Bottas no 77 won podium, in ipl Rcb won by 7 wk

 

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.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in Ipl Rajasthan royals won by 7 in epl Chelsea no 9 scored a goal

 

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.-

 

ILLUSTRATED REVIEW : 7th heaven moment of the week in Ipl kkr won by 7 wk,  epl Arsenal no 7 scored a goals  , totenham no 7 scored a goal

 

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.-

 

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