LOVE TRANSFORMS

"Prema or LOVE is the transforming factor in Life!!Love always unites but never separates!!It is hatred and jealously that separate individuals!!Love has the character of disarming the opponent!!Love has the hallmark of supreme self sacrifice!!Even the hardest criminal is transformed by the show of Love!!When the lady showers Love on her Lover , he is transformed! He changes himself to the ideas of her!!The love of Sidney carton changed him for the better and made him sacrifice his own life for the happiness of his lady Lucy!!Love in its ideal is not possessive!!The lover wants his lady to be happy always wherever she is and with whomsoever!!When Lucy married elsewhere, Sidney carton was not jealous but wished well for her!! He went to the extent of releasing her husband in disguise and went to the guillotine for her well being!!Pure and ideal Love is called Platonic Love!! This type of Love has become a rare commodity at present!! Today it has become too selfish and extremely possessive and poses danger to the man and the lady!!Vengeance and violence are resorted to by both men and women!! spiritually speaking, Love for god makes a devotee mad after him!! The Azwars and Nayanmars and the bhakthas of Maharashtra are examples of deep devotion to god and how sudden changes occurred in their lives!!There is not a single incident where no change has taken place!! The story of the hunter kannappa who offered his own eyes to Lord Siva as blood oozed out from HIS eyes is a good example!! His love for the Lord made him forget that it was only a Linga or Stone!! many examples can be cited like this!! It is, therefore not LOVE that does not transform Man!!"

NO STAGNATION!

"Time and Tide waits for no man! Diseases can be cured, disasters can be overcome but not stagnation! Money and Blood should remain in circulation! otherwise they suffer and life is lost Money becomes a waste!A human being cannot afford to be in stagnation!Life itself is a process of growth and not stagnation! The different avasthas of man,childhood, youth old age are all signs of growth and not stagnation! What will happen if the child were to be a child always!! It will be a mockery of Life created by God!!Stagnation in any aspect of Life is a negation of Life! you have to move from one stage of life into another! Progress is the sign of Life, not stagnation! In Spiritual life of a person,stagnation will not do! He has to move on from being a mere devotee to a Sadhaka, from there to a Jnani and

a realized soul!!Otherwise the very purpose of being spiritual is defeated!! Therefore Stagnation is equal to death whereas progress is life!!"

KARMA SANYASA RENUNCIATION OF ACTION

 

 

 

 

As spiritual awakening is kindled in Arjuna, he becomes more and more inquisitive. More doubts assail his mind and he needs clarification for them. Arjuna is baffled by the conflicting statements of the Lord who recommends performance of Karma in one place and non performance at another place! Arjuna wants to know which of the two is better--Karma or renunciation of Kama otherwise called as Karma Sanyasa. Concentration on 'Jnana' can bring about ' non action' or karma sanyasa according to the Adwaita School. The Dwaita School interprets Arjuna's question as asking whether Sanyasa or family life is better. According to sri Ramakrishna renunciation is akin to fighting the enemy in the open field while family life is like fighting the enemy from the trenches! Sanyasa or asceticism is of two kinds. 1 Bahya Sanyasa or outward asceticism----- changes in mere appearance and 2  Manasika sanyasam--inner detachment from worldly things which is the best for family people.The person should be non attached  like the drop of water on the lotus leaf. The former is recommended for ascetics while the latter is for all. Bahya Sanyasa  imposes certain restrictions on the person and leads him to the real path of bhakti or devotion,
              The Lord replies, " Arjuna, both the asramas grant salvation provided you act properly. The house holder or grihastha should have an element of self denial or renunciation. He has to conquer lust and anger and surrender himself to God. Jnani should realize that God is the lord of all sensory organs and without HIs will even a blade of grass cannot move. A  Karma yogi, without expecting any reward, acts in consonance with his mind  and sensory organs and achieves purity of heart. Such people are called " Yukthas"--those with yoga. The body is like a town or city with nine gates. The individual Soul or Jiva resides there The body is only his kavacha or  protective armour. Jivatma and paramatma are different!
                Krishna continued, " Treat  joy and sorrow that result from your past karma as equal. God is an impartial judge and grants joy and sorrow according to our good and bad karma. Jnana is the ingrdient of the atma. Karma and bhakti remove the ignorance surrounding atma due to past deeds."  Arjuna is very smart. He says that he will give away his past karma to his wife and children. Krishna replies that his karma cannot be passed on to his wife or children. He has to experience the fruits of his action - good or bad.The wife shares half the fruits of his good karma while all her sins visit upon him!  He has to share the sins of his children also!
                 Krishna points out that a Jnani is one who treats all creatures equally----a vedic scholar,  the holy cow,  the elephant ((rajasa guna), the dog (thamasa guna), and the chandala of low caste. Is this practically possible? Commentators have suggested that " Bhavadwaita" is better than " Kriyadwaita" Bhaktas and Jnanis  see god in every object of creation. Sankara says that  "Bhavadwaita" is the most important necessity at present!  What the Lord says is " Sama darshana" not " Sama varthana" A man cannot treat his wife,daughter and daughter in law alike. one may do all social service consistent with his varnasrama dharma. The Lord says, " whoever looks upon all human beings as equal realizes Brahman, gets freedom from births and deaths and realizes Moksha or emancipation They are also' jivanmukthas'- liberated even in this life"
        

         Sensing that Arjuna is still dissatisfied, the Lord asserts Himself and says, " I am the director of all this Universe! All offerings to Gods--' havya and kavyas and their fruits should be offered to me. Realize I am the protector of all creatures. Be enlightened and accomplish your Dharma as a kshatriya! Be in perfect peace

OMKARA A FEW UNKNOWN FACTS

Pranava or the letter OM is the primeordial sound considered as the Supreme Reality or the Absolute Brahman.The Vedas and the Upanishads speak eloquently of its importance and the great significance of the symbol. For any mantra  OM should be pronounced first. .Narayananopanishad points out that it should occupy the first place and then only the word Namo!  The word Narayana  is placed  next in the 'Ashtakshari mantra--'Om Namo Narayanaya'.  " Omithyagre vyahareth nama iti paschath" Again the Veda says " Omityekakaksharam Brahma" The single letter ' OM ' is Brahma itself..The same Upanishad proclaims  "prathyaganandam brahmapurusham pranava swarupam" Pranava is a mantra, a combination of the three letters A U M. It is actually Prana or Life and the form of 'Brahmananda'  the Bliss of the Absolute Brahman. Sikshavalli of Taittiriya Upanishad again declares ' Omiti Brahma omitidigam sarvam.'  The sound of OM is verily Brahman. Whatever is perceptible and imaginable is filled with the sound of pranava. Om is pronounced while offering ' havis' into sacrificial fire.and singing Sama Veda and invoking the mantras for shastras or weapons.
         Pranava signifies many things of which we are not aware of. The three letters indicate three mantras as well as Nada, Bindu and Kala. It represents creation, protection and destruction. Every letter of Pranava stands for many things in existence.Letter A stands for yellow color. Among the Gunas  it is Rajo Guna. It represents the physical body, Rig Veda also. It signifies Nada or sound Brahma and the wakeful state or Jagradavasta.
         ;  Letter U represents white color. Among the Gunas it is Satwa Guna. It stands for the  subtle Body or Sukshma  Sareera.It also represents the Yajurveda.and the Bindu It stands for Lord Vishnu.
          ;  Letter M indicates Black Color. Among the Gunas it is Thamas It represents the Causal Body or Karana Sareera. It  stands for Sama veda, Kala,,Maheswara, and the state of Deep Sleep.or Sushupti also. In this state the yogi realizes the  Absolute Brahman in himself!
          Omkara as a whole represents the pure and unalloyed Satwa Guna. It represents the great Causal Body and Adharvana Veda. It acts as the witness of everything.-- ' sarva sakshi ' This is also called ' ardha matruka. ' Pranava' transcends manas,speech and the state of Thuriya.

MORAL VALUES--ITS IMPORTANCE

"Moral Values are very important for man and the society in which he lives!! without them man becomes an animal and loses direction!! The vedas have declared that people should speak the Truth and act according to Dharma! " Satyam vadha Dharmam Chara "Religion ordains that one should do certain things and refrain from others!! culture leads to the refinement of the person and the society to which he belongs!! A combination of Moral values, Religion,and culture is a very powerful combination to build an ideal Society!!Speaking the Truth, acting Righteously, living in peace, radiating pure Love for others,and leading a life of non violence shall make a man an ideal human being!!Laws and regulations cannot control the basic animal instincts in Man!!Unless there is a change in his mindset he will not be controlled!! The rapes and gang rapes that we see today and the heinous crimes being committed are examples to show that Laws and regulations cannot change the nature of man!! What about corruption and fraud and several crimes in society?? People know that they are wrong but indulge in it for greed and selfishness!! Modern society is almost devoid of Moral values!! it has become a slave of Money and material! Nothing is more important to it!! if this goes on further there is a great danger for the society!! Moral values must be inculcated to young men and children so that future society can be secure! Importance of religion and culture must be explained to them!! we should not ape foreign culture but maintain our own individuality

The Path of Jnana or Knowledge

Salvation cannot come simply because one is  born in a particular  caste or community. By sacrificing one's ego, attachment and surrendering to god one can get emancipation. The laws and practices of one community do not apply or fit into those of the other. Through ignorance we think that the atma is at work while in truth the physical and subtle bodies are at work. It is similar to aperson thinking that objects are  moving very fast on both the sides while traveling on a boat or train. This is because of loss of perspective. To recognize this is " akarma" in " karma. To think that I am not involved in " Karma"  is in itself "Karma."
        &nbs p;     Sri Ramanuja says that the Individual Soul or the Jivatma has two states- purity and impurity. Association with 'jada'  objects makes the pure atma impure. It is thus affected with responsibility for action. Karma in ' akarma'  means that there is Jnana in Nivrutti Marga. It also means that one should perform Karma though he is a Jnani or an enlightened person. According to Madhwacharya all actions are because of Lord Mahavishnu, not because of  individual's personal strength. Man is only an instrument, a toy in the hands of God. " Realize that God is working even when you are asleep  This is karma in akarma" the Lord tells and continues, " Arjuna, don't ask for any fruit or benefit. God will give it without your asking." Like the mango seed,growing into a tree gives leaves, shade,and fruits, God grants benefits according to our capacity. We should be contented with what we get. We should not covet other's property. Let all the credit be to Him- God!
         &n bsp;      "The whole world is a Yagna in itself", Krishna continued, " Realize divinity in the subject, object  and the thing offered. for liberation. Nivrutti Karmas are the following: 1 Worship of Agni or fire 2 Meditation 3 Homas done through the inner senses 4 Control of the sense organs for ascetics 5 Pranayama 6 Dravya yagna or charity 7 Tapo yagna 8 Swadhyaya-study of scriptures 9 Jnana Yagna and 10 Diet Regulation. These Nivrutti Karmas lead to jnana that annihilates all acts of Karma-good and bad.
         &n bsp;         Mortal man is bound by three types of Karma.namely Sanchit, Prarabdha,and Agami. Sanchita is of our previous births and acts in the present. Prarabdha has begun to bear its result while Agami is karma done now bearing fruit in the next birth. Jnana can destroy both Sanchita and Agami karmas. Prarabdha Karma has to be experienced whether you like it or not". Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Ramakrishna had tosuffer due to Prarabdha karma!
                       " One who has Faith or Sraddha in the words of his Guru, Scriptures,and Vedanta is eligible for Jnana"  The Lord advises Arjuna at the end and says, " Cut your doubts created by ignorance with the knife of Jnana. Performing karma  is the Knife. Arise, Dhananjaya, perform your swadharma, that is war and erase all your doubts!

 

JNANA YOGA PART1

 

             Krishna's elucidation of karma Yoga raises many more doubts in Partha and he wants clarifications for them. He questions  the Lord  whether  he had given upadesa of Karma and Jnana Yoga to any one else earlier. Krishna replies that he had instructed these two Yogas to Surya at the beginning of creation. Surya passed it on to Manu Vaivaswata and he delivered it to the great king Ikshvaku. Arjuna, strangely and ignorantly asks how that was possible as krishna was born recently while Manu and Ikshvaku belonged to the bygone ages. Krishna replies that he had taken many births earlier!

        &nbs p;     The differences between the Jivatma-individual Soul and the Paramatma- the Absolute Soul are explained clearly by the Lord. Death has no influence on the Individual Soul or Jivatma. It cannot be divided even mentally. Paramatma or the Absolute Soul is all pervading and all permeating-- the indweller of all beings in the universe.The Individual has birth and death. Paramatma has no such thing. He is called ' avyayatma'  When he enters the  physical body it is called ' avatar or incarnation. When he leaves the body it is called ' nirguna' Paramatma overrides all illusion or maya. The individual is steeped in  maya. Paramatma knows the past, present,and the future. Ordinary mortal is incapable of knowing either the past, present or the future.

          ;       If God is omnipresent where is the need for an ' avatar'? The lord explains that whenever Dharma declines and Adharma or Evil raises its ugly head he takes human form to protect  Dharma and punish the evil doers. The sufferings of the avatars are only the divine sports or leelas.exhibited for the edification of human beings! They should leave their ivory tower, mix and mingle with all and spread their message and teachings. Those who realize their birth are released from rebirth and attain emancipation The Lord tells Arjuna that those who worship Him as paramatma shall be granted whatever they desire.

          ;       Common folk crave for sons and other worldly gifts and the Gods satisfy their desires. For emancipation  one has to worship Paramatma. They have to perform their prescribed duties according to their faith. it is very difficult to understand the complex caste system in India. The Puranas and the Itihasas have glorified and worshipped many belonging to the lowest class. one cannot claim to be a brahmin simply because he is the son of  Brahmin parents. It is only his character , conduct and karma that defines him as a brahmin,or kshatriya, vaisya or sudra. It is in this JNANA YOGA that the Lord affirms how he created this system. Krishna clarifies:  " It is according to their character and action that  people are created in the four castes or Varnas. Though I create them, Iam not responsible for their creation as it is based on their past Karma.

                   The statement of the Lord requires proper explanation and understanding. When Satwa Guna predominates without Tamas, Brahmins are born. Kshatriyas are born when Rajo Guna is prominent.  In Vaisyas Tamoguna is dominant. In Sudras TamoGuna is inexcess and greater than RajoGuna  All these births depend on one's past Karma-- their good and bad deeds in their previous birth!

(Continued)

 

 

LOVE OF GOD

"Love of God is all embracing! It is called 'avyaja'-causeless like the love of parents! It is universal like sunshine that falls equally on all and wind that blows on all, Love of God does not differentiate between individuals! As all creatures are children of God exceptional affection is showered on all of us! Mortals as we are, we commit all sorts of mistakes, crimes and other evil things but God smilingly condones them and gracefully allows them! God is benevolent! His grace is showered on those who go on the right track in life! He lifts up people in dire distress! If only one prays and loves God sincerely he takes up his devotee's entire responsibility on Himself! The stories of the child Prahlada and how the Lord saved him from all his tortures is too very well known to repeat! Gajendra, Draupadi and a host of others are other examples of how God comes to the rescue of his true devotees! The Sun is the life giving power! Without the Sun the world cannot exist! so too we cannot live without God!The Moon is cool and Pleasant! So too God's looks! His words are sweeter than honey and musk! It is only the true devotee that can experience all these traits of the Divine! The Azwars, Nayanmars, and sants like Jnanadev, Namadev, Thukaram Kabir, Ramadas Sri Ramakrishna , Sri Thyagaraja and many more have tasted the bliss and nectar of divine presence and enjoyed the fragrance of his proximity! It is an indescribable experience and beatitude reserved only for a few noble souls! God's Love is always overflowing and eternal!"

SRI SATYA SAI BHUJANGA STHOTHRAM

Maha satyarupam  maha Dharma murthim Maha santha seelam maha prema punjam

Suhasam manognam subam yogi vandyam Bhaje sayi natham ajasram anantam! 

My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sainath who is the embodiment of Truth and Dharma. He is the essence of peace and Love His smile is captivating. He satisfies all hearts and is worshipped by all!

Sadananda bhasam sada chidvilasam padambhoja kanti prabhapootha Bhaktham 

Sudha sara varsham susaulabhya devam Bhaje Sai natham ajasram anantham!

He is always Blissful and exhibits his divine leelas. His devotees are purified by the very radiance of His lotus feet.He is accessible to all and rains discourses in torrents. My salutations  always to the Infinite Lord Sainath the embodiment of Truth!

Sivam Vishnu roopam Bhavambhodi potham Bhavam Nirvikalpam parabrahma tatwam

Navam Niradabham nataneka lokam Bhaje Sai natham ajasram anantam!

He is both Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu and the boat to cross the sea of samsara! He is also the creator Brahma, the steady one, the Absolute Brahman! He is of the shade of the newly formed cloud! He is revered by all. My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sainath the embodiment of Truth!

Pramodantarangam prabhodavataram amanushya seelam tamonasahetum

Ramesam girisam ameyam virinchim Bhaje Sai Natham ajasram anantam!

He is inwardly Blissful, the avatar come down to inspire all! He is of immortal nature and the destroyer of the darkness of ajnana! He is Trimurthi swarupa! My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sainath the embodiment of Truth!

Prasanthi prakasam prabhum dina natham asanthi prabhedam amogha prakirtim

Sisum Satya namam visuddham ajeyam Bhaje Sayi Natham ajasram anantam!

He radiates peace and is the protector of the dalits and the downtrodden! He is the Child named SATYA the pure and the invincible! My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sainath the embodiment of Truth!

Vibhuthi pradam sarva karthara misam Varam divya Brundavanantar viharam

Abhedam aklesamaroopam anakhyam Bhaje Sai Natham ajasran anantam!

He is the bestower of all prosperity and the real doer! He moves with pleasure in Brindavan!  He transcends all differences,sorrow, name and form! My salutations always to the Infinite Lord SaiNaththe embodiment of Truth!

Suparthi viharam sushirdi viharam viparyasa dooram swabhaktarthi nasam

Saparya pracharam japa dhyana lolam Bhaje Sayi Natham ajasram anantam!

He resides in in Parthi as well as Shirdi! He is blamelessand wards off all  the difficulties of his devotees! He is the promoter of Service to mankind. He chants and meditates always! My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sai Nath the embodiment of Truth!

Yathim pitha chelam gathim gamya sthanam Pathim punya roopam mathim manthra murthim

Ritam satya dharmam vibhum Moksha hetum Bhaje Sai Natham ajasram anantam! 

He  is the ascetic with the ochre robe! He is the destiny and the destination for all! He is holiness personified.He is the Mind and the embodiment of all mantras! He is Dharma himself and Truth as well as the cause for emancipation! My salutations  always to the Infinite Lord Sai Nath!

Gurum Prananatham Gunatheetha moorthim suraradhya padam subimbadha roshtam

Suthamboola vaktram sudha mandahasam Bhaje Sai Natham ajasram anantam!

He is my preceptorand Life that trascends all qualities! Devas worship His Lotus feet! His lips are red with the chewing of betel leaves.His smile is nectar to his devotees!  My salutations always to the Infinite Lord SaiNath

Sugita prabhodam sugamyam sulakshyam yugadhara vasthum Umasakthi roopam

Khagadhisa Vanim  manollasa Lakshmim Bhaje Sai Natham ajasram anantham!

He inspires all with His Gita discourses! He is the sacred goal and the very foundation of the yugas! He is sakthi swaroopa- the divine combination of Lakshmi, Saraswathi, and Parvathi My salutations always to the Infinite Lord Sainath the embodiment of Truth!

     COMPOSED BY PROF YKRISHNAMURTHY AND PLACED AT THE LOTUS FEET OF BHAGAWAN SRI SATYA SAI 

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WHO IS A GOOD INDIVIDUAL?

"Goodness cannot be tasted like a fruit or some edible material! If one asks how sweet the fruit is you cannot explain it in proper terms! You will ask him to eat and experience the taste!! !n the same way one has to experience goodness in many ways before he considers others as good or bad! People who are sincere, simple pious,gentle, of good habits and customs,service minded,treat others with love and respect in your opinion can be considered good!!Company of such people shall give you pleasure and satisfaction and a realization that they are genuinely good!! you should not be carried away by mere appearances for appearances are deceptive! There are bad people but outwardly looking good!! there are also villagers with rugged and rough exterior who are as good as gold and as gentle as lamb!! It is our company and movement with them that will reveal the truth about them! It is only after that experience that we can recommend them to others! Otherwise our name will be under cloud!!
 

WHAT IS " RAMA RAJYA "

"" Rama Rajya" was the state of society during the Rule of the Avatar Sri Rama! The word means a society which existed by following the rules of Dharma or righteousness! Sage Valmiki,says of Rama: ' Ramo vigrahavan Dharmaha" Rama is the embodiment of Dharma! Dharma is defined as a way of life where people scrupulously follow the rules and directions of the Vedas and other sasthras of Sanathana Dharma!!The vedas abound in mandatory directions like, 'Sathyam vada. Dharmam chara' and the like! The four Purusfarthas, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the directions towards which all human beings travel. The idea is that one should lead a dharmic life and earn Money or artha. He should satisfy his desires-kama-through money earned through Dharma' When Dharma is followed and by money earned through Dharma desires are fulfilled , man is eligible for Moksha or Emancipation! It is said that Money has FOUR Dayadis! ' chatwaro dhana dayadaha Dhrmagni nrupa taskaraha' ie Money has to be shared by Dharma, Fire, King and thief! In other words if money is not spent on Dharma it willbe consumed in fre or taken away by the king, or robbed by the thef! It is only an illusion to think of Rama Rajya in the present society! it is Kaliyuga now noted for all evils, bad and cruel acts affecting all human beings on earth! During the Krutha Yuga Dharma stood on four legs! In Thretha Yuga it came down to Three legs! In Dwapara yuga It stood on two legs. Now, in Kaliyuga Dharma is standing on one leg only according to sasthras and Bhagavatha Purana!  Lies, cheating, fraud, dishonesty, murder, rape abuse of women, eve teasing, stalking, revenge,insincerity, selfishness, ego, greed, aggrandizement, miserliness,attachment and a host of evil tendencies are plaguing the society of today all over the world! This is as it should be in Kali yuga as per the Sasthras! These qualities shall grow from bad to worse by the end of Kali Yuga when there will be the DELUGE and dissolution of the Universe! A new age or Yuga will start afresh! So,establishment of Rama Rajya is not at all a possibility at present  At best we can follow the principles of Dharma like speaking the truth and being honest  helping others in distress and following other good principles individually! However much we may try it is practically impossible to bring in Rama Rajya!!"

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVOTION

"A True devotee of God always submits himself to the will of God!! There are various types of devotion that are enunciated in our Sanathana Dharma! They are Vandanam ,Smaranam ,Archanam ,Padasevanam, Dasyam, Sakhyam, Atmanivedanam  Keerthanam and others! The master -servant feeling is called Dasyam! The devotee is the servant of the Lord carrying out the dictates of his lord!  When he considers God as his mother or father he is the child totally depending on the lord for everything! This is called 'Vatsalya Bhava!! When the devotee goes a little beyond he considers God as the whole and himself a part of the whole or a chip of the same block! He does not want to say that he is the " Brahman' because he wants to retain his identity and enjoy the Supreme Bliss or Ananda! These types of devotion and Bhavas are brilliantly experienced by the azwars and nayanmars of the south! Sri Ramakrishna too considered himself as the child of his Mother Kali whom he worshiped!! His, we can say, is vatsalya Bhava! One of the azwars considers himself as a mother and God as the child and sings a lullaby for HIM!! There is also a nayika -nayaka bhava where the devotee considers himself as a lady love waiting anxiously for the lover and suffering the pangs of " Viraha" separation from the Lover! In every thought, word and action the devotee submits himself to the divine will and chants his name constantly!! Bhakthi after all is intense and extraordinary LOVE for God with different ramifications but with God at the center! Sri Ramakrishna considered his wife Sri Sarada Devi as the personification of his mother Goddess Kali and worshiped her!! Devotional fervour in a person should make him see god in every creature and extend his pure love without any hesitation!!"

 

CAN YOU TAKE ANY THING WITH YOU FINALLY?

"Man enters the stage of Life with nothing!! He exits the stage equally with nothing! In between Life and demise he acquires various assets, qualifications,beliefs, and other things for his satisfaction! All these versatile factors in man are useful during his life time and are of no value when death overtakes him! Says Thomas Gray, the English Poet " All paths of Glory lead but to the Grave"! Existence of man on earth is uncertain! Any thing can happen at any time! Mortal man is quite unaware of his own transient stay in the world! He thinks he will live for ever with his wife and children and his assets and other property!  He becomes more and more materialistic and does not think of his spiritual self! Our sages and seers have stated very clearly that nothing follows man when he leaves this world! This body made of the Five Elements merges into those Elements and disappears! What follows the person is the good and bad he has done on the surface of earth when he lived! The greatest wonder on earth is that man, seeing every person dying, thinks that he will live on for ever This is what Dharmaraja told the yaksha when he was questioned in the Mahabharatha! Our Life is compared to the momentary flash of lightning! " Vidyth chalam Jivitam" What is the purpose of this Life? asks a devotee! Your travels,riches, prosperity,kingdom,sons, wife, friends and relatives,body and home--- all these things are of momentary existence!  So, go in for prayer and worship of Lord Siva the consort of Parvathi! The vasanas, the feelings or the tendencies to which man was attached very intimately go with him along with his papa and punya he has earned during his life time!! It is the effect of these karmas that he has to experience in his next Birth!!"

WHAT IS KARMA YOGA OR PATH OF ACTION ? ( CONTD)

Elaborating on karma yoga, Krishna declares that one who lives in the Self has no use for any Karma or duty. He is not affected by the non performance of any duty. Unless one reaches this stage he has to perform his duties. Krishna urges Arjuna to do his duty without expectation of any reward. " Jnanis are of two types", the Lord tells Arjuna ' Those who go far from the madding crowd, live in the forest and meditate on the Self. They do notaffect others either by action or non action. The second type need not do any action as they are ideals for others in performing their duties". King Janaka despite being an intellectual continued performing his duties! When sage Yajnavalkya created a fire to test his disciple Janaka, he was unperturbed and declared that he was meditating on the Self but not not bothered about the burning city Mithila!

       The Lord says that the elderly should be cautious in their actions since people follow them. " There is nothing in the three worlds that I need. But I perform my duty!" says Krishna to Arjuna. " People follow the evil in others but not the good. Both the Jnani and the ignorant require karma or action. " If karma is recommended for both, what difference is there in their methods?" questions Arjuna. Krishna replies that  Jnani need not perform karma but he should not spoil others by his non action. "He should act perfectly and set an example to others. The ignorant is under the illusion that he is intimately connected with worldly things. But the Jnani is unaffected with mundane affairs. He surrenders every thing worldly and spiritual to me without ego and attachment and not expecting any return. Such people are saved by me from all cares & anxieties"explains Krishna to Arjuna!

        Arjuna raises a relevant doubt. " If all actions are predetermined by past karma what is the use of controlling our actions?" Krishna replies that control over one self reduces the speed of action. Sensory organs lead man astray to hatrsd, anger and enjoyment.They are very strong enemies of man Arjuna wants to Know what causes man to do what he does not want and forces him to do what he desires. " Desire and anger are man's inveterate enemies. They are caused by RajoGuna. They are insatiable They force man to commit more sins", replies Krishna.

         The Lord continues, " Three types of people exist in the world. The Sathwiks are the best. The Rajasiks are moderate and the Thamasiks are the worst. All the three are subject to Anger and Desire but in varying degrees.Like smoke that is blown away by the wind Anger & Dsire are repulsed by the Sathwiks. The second type  are like a  dirty mirror with dense dust that cannot be cleansed in a single birth. In the third worst type Anger and Desire are inextricably intertwined like the layer in the womb of the mother They can never get salvation without Divine Grace" The entry points of Anger and Desire are the mind and intellect. you have to control them in the beginning itself. It is through theoretical and practical knowledge one can control them. Understand these aspects properly and fix your mind on the Absolute Self!" concluded Krishna.

 

Make Believe World

 "From time immemorial the world is considered as illusory --not Real! The great maxim " brahma Satyam, Jagan mithya" affirms this idea!  In sri Dakshina Murthy Stothra Adi Sankara says " viswam darpana drusyamana nagari thulyam!"  the entire Universe is akin to the sight of a town in the mirror! It is only the image or reflection of the real object! As we live in this illusory world we are surely in a make-believe existence!  It is MAYA or Illusion that compels us to consider the real as false and the false as real! When man emerges out of this maya he realizes his self and knows that he is the ATMA that has no death at al!! Lord krishna tells Arjuna on the battle field that he should not confuse the body with the soul or atma! All of us think that our body is the atma or soul and suffer the consequences This is just a simple example! But to realize that we are in a make believe world is extremely difficult! Our cinema experience is another example! We admire the hero,his heroics, songs, laugh at jokes, feel sad at the sufferings in the theater on the silver screen! For over a few hours in the theater we think it is all real but soon after coming out realize that it is all make-believe!! " ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE and ALL MEN and WOMEN MERELY PLAYERS" says Shakespeare!!!!"

IN SEARCH OF REAL HAPPINESS.

Every individual in the univrse wants happiness. He wants to be happy with his family and kith and kin. But happiness has eluded him from time immemorial!  There is none in the world who can say that he is perfectly happy. Life is not a bed of roses nor is it a bed of thorns. Man's existence alternates between happiness and misery, joy and sorrow, sunshine and storm, good and evil, right and wrong,light and darkness etc. It is the arrangement of the Providence. you cannot understand the significance of one without the other! Happiness cannot be enjoyed without sorrow. It is only then one can realize what happiness is! It is the same with other qualities.

       Man by nature is ' ananda swarupa' embodiment of happiness. He is expected to be happy always. when we meet a person we enquire whether he is happy. But we never ask him whether he is sad or miserable.That is because we expect every one to be happy and cheerful. What is this happiness? How can we define it? It is a state of mind when the person is totally satisfied in attaining some thing that he intensely desires.The child is happy with the doll and ball. The boy is happy with his games and studies. Man is happy with his wife and children. In later life people are happy with retirement and relaxation. According to the different stages of man the objects that give him happiness change. The ball and other objects are no more the source of happiness for ever to the changing life of man.

        Do these words, enjoyment, pleasure, gladness and a few others, express the sense of real happiness? Not at all. They are sensory perceptions felt by the sensory organs. These perceptions do not survive for long.They are transient. A cup of good coffee satisfies you. You are happy. A picture is dear to you. you enjoy. A dish is very nice and tasty. You are glad. You are pleased with some good sight and its impressions. But  these feelings and impressions do not live long and just vanish after some time. You cannot call them as real happiness. They are trivial pleasures and experiences mistaken for real happiness!

         Adi Sankara describes in one of his famous sthothras that man transcends  all the mundane experiences and sufferings in life. He defines what Man is. He calls him  "chdananda rupa sivoham sivoham" Man cannot identify himself with his body. the real "I " is not the body. It is the Atma or soul enshrined in every creature in the universe. It is in the body and not in the body. It is the silent witness to what all happens inside the body. It is unaffected by what th body suffers, enjoys, or experiences. It is Existence, Awareness, and Bliss concretised! Unfortunately man confuses the Atma with the body. He is enveloped with maya or illusion Material, transient, and changing pleasures cannot be called happiness. Real Happiness is that which exists for ever and does not change at every moment.

          Real Happiness that lifts man to regions of fulfilment is called Bliss or Ananda! It is the supreme state of ethereal happiness that man is expected to experience and enjoy! It is the ideal goal and purpose for which man is created! But most of us fritter away our time and energy in pursuit of trivial and transient pleasures. in short, man has to realize himself and feel that He is  'ananda' himself, the indestructible atma, always in Bliss!

           In Taittiriyopanishad, Bhrugu, son of Varuna is directed to research and understand what Brahman is! He performs tapas and finds out that annam (food), prana, manas, and vijnana or knowledge do not correspond to Brahman! It is Ananda or Bliss alone which can be called the Brahman. " anando brahmethi vyajanath." Dedicated and sincere effort shall lead man to realize his self and enjoy the eternal Bliss or Ananda! This Bliss is real Happiness, not others! it is this Bliss that our sages and seers realized in abundance!