Monday, February 19, 2007
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 48
48. Don’t separate God from you
Statements such as “the Lord is not there, but He is only here”; “He is that and He is not this;” etc., are trying to separate the concept of God (Iswara) from us. Gita tells us to bring our fickle mind under control, away from the various sense objects and subjects it is presently engaged in. Then the mind should be brought to the realm of ‘self’. That means, the mind should be re-directed from the sensory world to God. When we hear the name ‘God’, our immediate thoughts are of the temples or of our prayer room. But those who have realized everything as God (Isaavaasyam idam sarvvam), wherever the thoughts take him, they will all be nothing but God. Let the mind wander anywhere, but know that they are all God. Thus we come to know the truth behind all and realize the eternalness of what we experience. Here we do not belittle or negate any experience.
Bliss is our essential nature. To say that “I am unhappy” is akin to saying that “I am not home” while sitting at our own home. A yogi cannot say that “I am not Brahman”. Mind that has attained peace, devoid of ego, enjoys the eternal bliss with the help of rajo guna. Just as a mother sees her children of widely different manners, one should be able to see the eternal truth in all and should be able to develop equanimity in our outlook. ‘See’ the ‘One’ behind all and ‘see’ ourselves in all. ‘See’ all in our own self as well. The Lord declares that those who sees himself in all and sees all in himself never perishes. If there exists God in us, it is because of this vision. Alas! Now we seem to want everything ‘from’ God, and we do not want God Himself. Actions of those who serve the Lord present in all beings with equanimity are Godly indeed and all his actions take place in God as well.
Statements such as “the Lord is not there, but He is only here”; “He is that and He is not this;” etc., are trying to separate the concept of God (Iswara) from us. Gita tells us to bring our fickle mind under control, away from the various sense objects and subjects it is presently engaged in. Then the mind should be brought to the realm of ‘self’. That means, the mind should be re-directed from the sensory world to God. When we hear the name ‘God’, our immediate thoughts are of the temples or of our prayer room. But those who have realized everything as God (Isaavaasyam idam sarvvam), wherever the thoughts take him, they will all be nothing but God. Let the mind wander anywhere, but know that they are all God. Thus we come to know the truth behind all and realize the eternalness of what we experience. Here we do not belittle or negate any experience.
Bliss is our essential nature. To say that “I am unhappy” is akin to saying that “I am not home” while sitting at our own home. A yogi cannot say that “I am not Brahman”. Mind that has attained peace, devoid of ego, enjoys the eternal bliss with the help of rajo guna. Just as a mother sees her children of widely different manners, one should be able to see the eternal truth in all and should be able to develop equanimity in our outlook. ‘See’ the ‘One’ behind all and ‘see’ ourselves in all. ‘See’ all in our own self as well. The Lord declares that those who sees himself in all and sees all in himself never perishes. If there exists God in us, it is because of this vision. Alas! Now we seem to want everything ‘from’ God, and we do not want God Himself. Actions of those who serve the Lord present in all beings with equanimity are Godly indeed and all his actions take place in God as well.
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 47
47. Repudiation is a hindrance to self-realization.
In spiritual life, repudiation is irrelevant. By negation and denial we cannot reach the goal of self-realization.
There is a natural tendency for man to pursue things that are denied to him. The decree of denial goes directly in to his ego and a natural urge will raise in him to oppose the order. It can be said that denial and negation are food for the ego.
It is better to accept and experience everything rather than negating the existence of something undesirable, such as a ‘bad’ thought. This allows one to observe ‘them’ carefully and go beyond them by knowing their futile nature. When we accept everything, our ego vanishes. This is what Lord Krishna demonstrated through his life. During a war, he would be the most fierce fighter, but when he played his ‘lila’ (divine sport), he was fully engrossed in it as well. Increase in competitions is not at all good for a spiritual life. Results of all types of competitions are terrible -whether it is Olympics or India-Pak cricket match. Ultimately their results will be awful and they create rivalry. No amount competition can bring about changes, but being able to bring about change is noble indeed.
In spiritual life, repudiation is irrelevant. By negation and denial we cannot reach the goal of self-realization.
There is a natural tendency for man to pursue things that are denied to him. The decree of denial goes directly in to his ego and a natural urge will raise in him to oppose the order. It can be said that denial and negation are food for the ego.
It is better to accept and experience everything rather than negating the existence of something undesirable, such as a ‘bad’ thought. This allows one to observe ‘them’ carefully and go beyond them by knowing their futile nature. When we accept everything, our ego vanishes. This is what Lord Krishna demonstrated through his life. During a war, he would be the most fierce fighter, but when he played his ‘lila’ (divine sport), he was fully engrossed in it as well. Increase in competitions is not at all good for a spiritual life. Results of all types of competitions are terrible -whether it is Olympics or India-Pak cricket match. Ultimately their results will be awful and they create rivalry. No amount competition can bring about changes, but being able to bring about change is noble indeed.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 46
46. Only the incomplete are affected by desires
‘I’ pervade everything and if one realizes that ‘I’ am everywhere, he will not have any more needs or desires. Basis of any desire is the notion that possessing ‘this particular thing’ is going to make me ‘complete’. But we should found our life in the clear understanding that we are giving reality and legitimacy to the universe and not the other way round. It is the ‘I’ consciousness that is enabling everything around us to exist. When we enter in to the realm of sleep, there is no time and space as they get dissolved in an unknown realm. Thus we are entering daily albeit unknowingly in to an experience of bliss. In meditation, we enter in to the state of bliss with full awareness. We should strive to be like a steady flame.
Eating, sleeping and our activities must be done in moderation. This will enable us in knowing the Truth. We don’t need to put in extra ordinary efforts to achieve this. Those who follow a proper program of moderate eating, activities for pleasure and work, sleeping and waking up will definitely benefit from the yoga and they will be sorrow less. In meditation, one is well aware and vigilant, without the preconceived notions of the past or anxieties of the future. Meditation is a withdrawal in order to recharge our energy. One progresses from meditation not on to sleep, but on to actions. It is a state of being fully engaged in the present. We will see and hear everything, not with the external senses, but from within. It is the life force (prana) that is the inner eye of the eyes; and the inner ear of the ears. Think about the eyes that see and the ears that hear in a dream. In meditation, our subtle senses will be active and we cannot determine what all thoughts will appear, when and how. They will come, but don’t go after them. A yogi sees himself through the self and he revels in himself.
When we look a tree, if we ‘see’ it with their identity (such as: a mango tree, coconut tree, etc.), we cannot realize the truth behind them. In mediation, we take the visions and sounds to a realm that is indescribable. This state is beyond thought. The whole universe is a dance and in dance, the artiste is not separate from the art. They are well integrated with each other. In that meditative state, one can enjoy the music of the earth and the moon. When we look through a window, if we don’t see anything new, we are incapable of ‘seeing’ anything at all. Nowadays everyone looks at a thing with a commercial eye and attaches a monetary value to everything. Meditation enables one to shift the paradigm amidst all the previously existing conditions. It is an ascent towards a higher state. When our mind is unaffected by distractions, uncompromising and do not depend on anything but the self, all desires will vanish. Mediation is not an external activity. Some of us always call out the Lord verbally – thereby pretending to be doing meditation outwardly, looking everywhere except inside of ourselves. The Lord is inside and finding him is the aim and the goal of meditation.
Senses have been built to face and function outwardly; but those who want immortality will seek inward to inquire about the Truth behind everything.
‘I’ pervade everything and if one realizes that ‘I’ am everywhere, he will not have any more needs or desires. Basis of any desire is the notion that possessing ‘this particular thing’ is going to make me ‘complete’. But we should found our life in the clear understanding that we are giving reality and legitimacy to the universe and not the other way round. It is the ‘I’ consciousness that is enabling everything around us to exist. When we enter in to the realm of sleep, there is no time and space as they get dissolved in an unknown realm. Thus we are entering daily albeit unknowingly in to an experience of bliss. In meditation, we enter in to the state of bliss with full awareness. We should strive to be like a steady flame.
Eating, sleeping and our activities must be done in moderation. This will enable us in knowing the Truth. We don’t need to put in extra ordinary efforts to achieve this. Those who follow a proper program of moderate eating, activities for pleasure and work, sleeping and waking up will definitely benefit from the yoga and they will be sorrow less. In meditation, one is well aware and vigilant, without the preconceived notions of the past or anxieties of the future. Meditation is a withdrawal in order to recharge our energy. One progresses from meditation not on to sleep, but on to actions. It is a state of being fully engaged in the present. We will see and hear everything, not with the external senses, but from within. It is the life force (prana) that is the inner eye of the eyes; and the inner ear of the ears. Think about the eyes that see and the ears that hear in a dream. In meditation, our subtle senses will be active and we cannot determine what all thoughts will appear, when and how. They will come, but don’t go after them. A yogi sees himself through the self and he revels in himself.
When we look a tree, if we ‘see’ it with their identity (such as: a mango tree, coconut tree, etc.), we cannot realize the truth behind them. In mediation, we take the visions and sounds to a realm that is indescribable. This state is beyond thought. The whole universe is a dance and in dance, the artiste is not separate from the art. They are well integrated with each other. In that meditative state, one can enjoy the music of the earth and the moon. When we look through a window, if we don’t see anything new, we are incapable of ‘seeing’ anything at all. Nowadays everyone looks at a thing with a commercial eye and attaches a monetary value to everything. Meditation enables one to shift the paradigm amidst all the previously existing conditions. It is an ascent towards a higher state. When our mind is unaffected by distractions, uncompromising and do not depend on anything but the self, all desires will vanish. Mediation is not an external activity. Some of us always call out the Lord verbally – thereby pretending to be doing meditation outwardly, looking everywhere except inside of ourselves. The Lord is inside and finding him is the aim and the goal of meditation.
Senses have been built to face and function outwardly; but those who want immortality will seek inward to inquire about the Truth behind everything.
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 45
45. Don’t cheat yourselves in the matter of meditation
It is not right to think that meditation is beyond reach by the ordinary folks and it is reserved for ‘great’ people only. Any one can master the art of meditation with training and regular practice, but, we must not cheat ourselves in meditation. It calls for complete sincerity and surrender, because, in contemplation, we are trying to get to know ourselves. Verses 10 to 14 in the Dhyana yoga Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita give us the guidelines to do proper meditation. By analyzing my thoughts in contemplation, ‘I’ am becoming aware of the consciousness that supports the flow of thoughts. Mind is the flow of thoughts that come one after the other. When we observe and analyze each and every thought and venture beyond it, we become aware of the consciousness. Subtle body is the consciousness that pervades our inner awareness. Meditation makes us capable of going even beyond the subtle body. We cannot attain the state of meditation by being stringent like a military exercise. Meditation should become the natural way of life. Both over eating and improper eating are against meditation, so is oversleeping and the lack of sleep. Everything must be practiced in moderation and in an orderly fashion. There should be a control in our physical as well as mental activities. One can start practicing meditation anytime, starting from the young age
It is not right to think that meditation is beyond reach by the ordinary folks and it is reserved for ‘great’ people only. Any one can master the art of meditation with training and regular practice, but, we must not cheat ourselves in meditation. It calls for complete sincerity and surrender, because, in contemplation, we are trying to get to know ourselves. Verses 10 to 14 in the Dhyana yoga Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita give us the guidelines to do proper meditation. By analyzing my thoughts in contemplation, ‘I’ am becoming aware of the consciousness that supports the flow of thoughts. Mind is the flow of thoughts that come one after the other. When we observe and analyze each and every thought and venture beyond it, we become aware of the consciousness. Subtle body is the consciousness that pervades our inner awareness. Meditation makes us capable of going even beyond the subtle body. We cannot attain the state of meditation by being stringent like a military exercise. Meditation should become the natural way of life. Both over eating and improper eating are against meditation, so is oversleeping and the lack of sleep. Everything must be practiced in moderation and in an orderly fashion. There should be a control in our physical as well as mental activities. One can start practicing meditation anytime, starting from the young age
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 44
44. Meditation
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as “Pandawa” to remind him of Pandu who went to the forest after giving up everything. Although Pandu had left the external world, his internal desires were not extinct and he was burnt to death in the fire of desires (forest fire). If he had chosen to live in the world, devoid of internal desires, he would not have had to face this fate. Just by giving up one’s actions or choosing a particular style of life externally, one will not become a sannyasi or a yogi. Sannyasa is a stage where one is able to say good bye to past actions and their results once for all. Non-attachment is the essence of sannyaasa.
After developing deeper insights in to our conscious mind, we need not depend on anyone else other than ourselves. Once we have won over ourselves, we are our best friend. For others they are their own worst enemy. All pairs of opposites have the same effect on those who are peaceful and have control over mind. For those who are steadfast in their resolve, gold and dirt are of equal value. Not that the yogi will throw away the gold that comes in his way, but he has clear awareness of the truth and cause behind everything. He is aware of their relative existence, but he is not at all concerned about gaining or losing either one of them.
It is a unique quality to have an attitude of equanimity, and behave equidistant to the pairs of opposites. Not that one should not get involved in anything; we should act, but with full awareness and perform the action without any emotional attachment to it. Don’t expect anything- even an expression of gratitude from anyone. Only when the mind is well settled and devoid of worries, one can attain the state of meditation. One cannot meditate amidst a mayhem.
One develops insight through meditation. Ideal time to meditate (brahma muhoortham) is indeed the time an individual is able to make his mind calm and serene- may be in the morning or in the evening or at noon time. Sit down at a clean place after cleaning your body and the surrounding. Don’t sit at a high elevation or at a low place. Fold up a straw mat and spread a piece of thick clean cloth over it to set up your seat. If you sit on the floor directly, your leg may go numb. Select a room in your home with good air flow, where there are no distractions. Wear loose comfortable clothes. Don’t start your meditation after eating to help us be alert. Keep your body, neck and head in one vertical line and without moving, concentrate your sight at the tip of your nose. Be fearless and direct your mind to concentrate in the consciousness.
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as “Pandawa” to remind him of Pandu who went to the forest after giving up everything. Although Pandu had left the external world, his internal desires were not extinct and he was burnt to death in the fire of desires (forest fire). If he had chosen to live in the world, devoid of internal desires, he would not have had to face this fate. Just by giving up one’s actions or choosing a particular style of life externally, one will not become a sannyasi or a yogi. Sannyasa is a stage where one is able to say good bye to past actions and their results once for all. Non-attachment is the essence of sannyaasa.
After developing deeper insights in to our conscious mind, we need not depend on anyone else other than ourselves. Once we have won over ourselves, we are our best friend. For others they are their own worst enemy. All pairs of opposites have the same effect on those who are peaceful and have control over mind. For those who are steadfast in their resolve, gold and dirt are of equal value. Not that the yogi will throw away the gold that comes in his way, but he has clear awareness of the truth and cause behind everything. He is aware of their relative existence, but he is not at all concerned about gaining or losing either one of them.
It is a unique quality to have an attitude of equanimity, and behave equidistant to the pairs of opposites. Not that one should not get involved in anything; we should act, but with full awareness and perform the action without any emotional attachment to it. Don’t expect anything- even an expression of gratitude from anyone. Only when the mind is well settled and devoid of worries, one can attain the state of meditation. One cannot meditate amidst a mayhem.
One develops insight through meditation. Ideal time to meditate (brahma muhoortham) is indeed the time an individual is able to make his mind calm and serene- may be in the morning or in the evening or at noon time. Sit down at a clean place after cleaning your body and the surrounding. Don’t sit at a high elevation or at a low place. Fold up a straw mat and spread a piece of thick clean cloth over it to set up your seat. If you sit on the floor directly, your leg may go numb. Select a room in your home with good air flow, where there are no distractions. Wear loose comfortable clothes. Don’t start your meditation after eating to help us be alert. Keep your body, neck and head in one vertical line and without moving, concentrate your sight at the tip of your nose. Be fearless and direct your mind to concentrate in the consciousness.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
GITA 108 DAYS - DAY 43
43. Youth is being ruined by politics and religion.
You should not become weapons that others can use; youth is not intended to be a force of destruction. Youth is the stage when a person is able to bring out the best in him to be useful to himself and the world. Don’t ruin your youth and waste your precious time of your life by stoning buses, setting fire to effigies and getting involved in ragging. Politics and religion are using you to get involved in destructive activities- don’t get into that rut. Youth must be like a banyan tree – it is not pliable for a carpenter for making something or even for fire wood. At the same time, a banyan tree has an individuality and existence that is a blessing to the surrounding world. Youth has a lot of energy and it must be directed for noble purposes. Youth is not ‘useless’; they are being ‘used less’. Now useless people are making use of the youth. Don’t surrender your creativity and individuality at the feet of useless people.
We are our own friend and foe. When we elevate ourselves to evolve as a better human being, we are our friend. When we succumb to lower tendencies and purse that path, we are our own enemy. We must awaken our tiresome mind by our discriminatory intellect. Do not slight yourself. The Lord warns that it is not true when some one says “I am there for you”. Because, in fact, there is only “you are there for you”. Only with your permission you can get in to trouble. You are the one responsible for your own rise and fall. Karma (action) is the cause for attaining ‘yoga’ state. It was when Laotse of China saw a ripened leaf falling from the branch of a tree that he got realization. What we need is only a swift moment of a split second to get enlightenment. Once we have this wisdom, we can control our mind and attain the yoga state.
Those who act in the world without getting attached to the results of their actions is a sannyasi. He is being reborn every second. He is aware and vigilant like a soldier who has entered the enemy camp, but he is as unattached as an empty street in a city. Those who avoid doing actions is not a yogi or a sannyasi.
We should keep the stuff ‘outside’ out- Gita advises us not to look outside, but to look inside. Now we look at others to assess their qualifications. Once you start contemplating on Sri Krishna, the mind typically takes us to ‘Krishnan Nair’ and the money he owes you. Otherwise we end up in sleep. In meditation we should keep the pace of our breath uniform and should concentrate on a single point. This is how we realize our dear Lord and be God ourselves. Don’t be afraid of God and don’t threaten others quoting God. If there is anyone that we shouldn't be scared of, it is God. He is the most dependable friend of all.
You should not become weapons that others can use; youth is not intended to be a force of destruction. Youth is the stage when a person is able to bring out the best in him to be useful to himself and the world. Don’t ruin your youth and waste your precious time of your life by stoning buses, setting fire to effigies and getting involved in ragging. Politics and religion are using you to get involved in destructive activities- don’t get into that rut. Youth must be like a banyan tree – it is not pliable for a carpenter for making something or even for fire wood. At the same time, a banyan tree has an individuality and existence that is a blessing to the surrounding world. Youth has a lot of energy and it must be directed for noble purposes. Youth is not ‘useless’; they are being ‘used less’. Now useless people are making use of the youth. Don’t surrender your creativity and individuality at the feet of useless people.
We are our own friend and foe. When we elevate ourselves to evolve as a better human being, we are our friend. When we succumb to lower tendencies and purse that path, we are our own enemy. We must awaken our tiresome mind by our discriminatory intellect. Do not slight yourself. The Lord warns that it is not true when some one says “I am there for you”. Because, in fact, there is only “you are there for you”. Only with your permission you can get in to trouble. You are the one responsible for your own rise and fall. Karma (action) is the cause for attaining ‘yoga’ state. It was when Laotse of China saw a ripened leaf falling from the branch of a tree that he got realization. What we need is only a swift moment of a split second to get enlightenment. Once we have this wisdom, we can control our mind and attain the yoga state.
Those who act in the world without getting attached to the results of their actions is a sannyasi. He is being reborn every second. He is aware and vigilant like a soldier who has entered the enemy camp, but he is as unattached as an empty street in a city. Those who avoid doing actions is not a yogi or a sannyasi.
We should keep the stuff ‘outside’ out- Gita advises us not to look outside, but to look inside. Now we look at others to assess their qualifications. Once you start contemplating on Sri Krishna, the mind typically takes us to ‘Krishnan Nair’ and the money he owes you. Otherwise we end up in sleep. In meditation we should keep the pace of our breath uniform and should concentrate on a single point. This is how we realize our dear Lord and be God ourselves. Don’t be afraid of God and don’t threaten others quoting God. If there is anyone that we shouldn't be scared of, it is God. He is the most dependable friend of all.
GITA 108 DAYS - Day 42
42. Liberation is not a Posthumous Award !
For liberation, one need not wait to die; liberation is possible here and now. Those who have no mis-conceptions and doubts; those who have self control and have conquered the anger and lust; those who are true friends to all beings and those who are capable of finding bliss in themselves know Brahman, the ultimate reality and they attain liberation, here and now.
In this life itself, before the death calls upon us, we should be able to control the mental agitation raising from anger and lust. That is all one need to know. Pleasurable experiences from senses are sources of sorrow because they have a beginning and an end. A wise man does not get reveled in it- not that he doesn’t experience it. To know something means, to have an insight in to it. While a religious scholar, proud of his prowess struggles in the waves of ignorance, the wise man who has realized the self will easily escape from the trials and tribulations of life.
Men of wisdom do not get indulged in the activities of the senses; but for them also, the senses are perfectly functional. A man of knowledge is not someone ‘out there’; but any one can be wise and knowledgeable by leading an ordinary life in the world. It will take only a split second to undo the hook of the shackle from within to open up a whole new world of freedom. A lightning in the pitch darkness shows us for a split second everything that is to be seen around. One will not forget that scene even if the journey after that vision is still through the darkness. Wisdom is such that once attained, it will not leave you. Remain where you are and recognize this state whole heartedly. You don’t need to go to Kashi or some Ashrams for that. Even if you are placed in the market place, you should be able to realize it. You can’t get that wisdom somewhere else! It is within us!
Wise man sees oneness in all; whether it is a Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog or a dog-eater. He has no sense of separateness. He doesn’t even have the desire to work or attain anything particular. He has already become that which is to be attained. He is not opposed to anything.
The Lord is not ‘taking away’ anyone’s sins as His own. He is not taking away anyone’s’ virtues either. It is our misunderstanding that “Lord gave me all these”. Bhagavan is not the ‘doer’. ‘Doership’ is only a human concept. We say “I did this” due to our ego. The Lord does not take our ‘doership’ because He wants all of us to evolve and become the Lord. Those who make their actions for exhibition purpose move away from the Lord.
For liberation, one need not wait to die; liberation is possible here and now. Those who have no mis-conceptions and doubts; those who have self control and have conquered the anger and lust; those who are true friends to all beings and those who are capable of finding bliss in themselves know Brahman, the ultimate reality and they attain liberation, here and now.
In this life itself, before the death calls upon us, we should be able to control the mental agitation raising from anger and lust. That is all one need to know. Pleasurable experiences from senses are sources of sorrow because they have a beginning and an end. A wise man does not get reveled in it- not that he doesn’t experience it. To know something means, to have an insight in to it. While a religious scholar, proud of his prowess struggles in the waves of ignorance, the wise man who has realized the self will easily escape from the trials and tribulations of life.
Men of wisdom do not get indulged in the activities of the senses; but for them also, the senses are perfectly functional. A man of knowledge is not someone ‘out there’; but any one can be wise and knowledgeable by leading an ordinary life in the world. It will take only a split second to undo the hook of the shackle from within to open up a whole new world of freedom. A lightning in the pitch darkness shows us for a split second everything that is to be seen around. One will not forget that scene even if the journey after that vision is still through the darkness. Wisdom is such that once attained, it will not leave you. Remain where you are and recognize this state whole heartedly. You don’t need to go to Kashi or some Ashrams for that. Even if you are placed in the market place, you should be able to realize it. You can’t get that wisdom somewhere else! It is within us!
Wise man sees oneness in all; whether it is a Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog or a dog-eater. He has no sense of separateness. He doesn’t even have the desire to work or attain anything particular. He has already become that which is to be attained. He is not opposed to anything.
The Lord is not ‘taking away’ anyone’s sins as His own. He is not taking away anyone’s’ virtues either. It is our misunderstanding that “Lord gave me all these”. Bhagavan is not the ‘doer’. ‘Doership’ is only a human concept. We say “I did this” due to our ego. The Lord does not take our ‘doership’ because He wants all of us to evolve and become the Lord. Those who make their actions for exhibition purpose move away from the Lord.
