Guidance And Growth...............Only from Guruji.
When people do not have a guide, they wander around bumping into each other. They can't see the consequences of their actions. They perform good, bad and mixed actions and don't keep on the right track and therefore end up wandering around in circles. They don't listen to their mothers. They don't listen to their fathers. They don't listen to their spiritual Gurus. They don't listen to their local religious mentors. But they do listen to the hottest rock star, to their drug dealer and their gang leader.
Unfortunately, some children are raised by their parents these days to not listen to anyone. "Don't ask me. Make up your own mind," they are told, "I just want you to be happy." Children are raised to be confused. They are raised to be loners in a complicated world. They are raised to be lower-consciousness people. And in many schools they are raised to become educated criminals. Let's get back to the basics of raising children properly, giving them proper guidance. It is the duty of the parents to raise their children properly, and it is the duty of the parents to follow the guidance of the Guru, to see that they do it.
It is the duty of the disciple/devotee to be responsive to the Satguru and not resistive. I was very much impressed at Nimishananda Ashram ,I was privileged and graced by my Guruji, to visit couple of months ago with how responsive everybody was to their Guru. The Guru there merely looks, and devotees ask, "What can I do to serve?" The guru speaks, and everyone immediately responds. No resisting: "I have something else to do. You already gave me ten things to do. How can you possibly want me to stop now and do something else? Isn't there somebody else around here who can do it?" I saw none of that there. Things were being done with perfect precision with divinity and devotion mixed with love and affection.
Each and every one was just on their good behaviour and conduct because it certainly took a lot of practice. They must have been practicing to be on their good behaviour and conduct under the guidance of the Guruji and made it a habit to behave and conduct good. Wonderful responsiveness. Because of such responsiveness, the connection between the disciple/devotee and the Guruji maintains a systematic growth, and the spiritual life comes up within the individual which breaks all routine and yet works within routine, is beyond all intellectual and reasoning abilities yet works within the intellect and through reason, is unpredictable yet predictable in that it is consistently unpredictable.
However, we must remember that blind obedience is never the spiritual way. It is intelligent cooperation that is the binding force in a well-run ashram. Intelligent cooperation means obtaining an extremely clear understanding of what is requested to be done before proceeding. Often this requires asking questions, discussing the direction or project, as one would do in a modern corporation, then, once all is understood, making the Guru's direction your own direction. This is intelligent cooperation, not blind obedience. Those are the spiritual qualities that was found in all connected with the ashram and which are manifesting in disciples/devotees in the ashram.
The divine secret behind all these best qualities in devotees/disciples is..................................................................... only because of the guidance from Gurugi towards divine growth.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Love & Compassion............................................
Some thoughts on Love and compassion:-
Love and compassion are the essential pre-requisites for success in spiritual path. All sadhanas call for love and compassion as the first and most essential step. Those who fail to inculcate and exude love and Compassion can be said to have automatically excluded themselves from the process of inner Transformation, which is the true mastery of life.
Unconditional Love and compassion in man lifts him to Divinity. Love calls for enlarging the self, and compassion the abscence of self. In Love the other person becomes important and in compassion the object becomes the subject. For Love the antonym is hatred.
Compassion does not have even synonyms. In love one becomes possessive. Compassion is sustained and practical determination to do whatever is possible to alleviate the sufferings of others. It treats the other person on an equal plane. There is no distinction as to race, creed, sex etc. The easiest way to reach God is to have abundant compassion towards all beings. A compassionate person transmits divinity. Compassion is the basic human quality with which we are born.
Compassion is not mere sympathy. One who sympathises sees, and feels but does nothing. One who has compassion does something about the need. It is not adequate if one is sympathetic but one should be compassionate.......
........with "Love"
Love and compassion are the essential pre-requisites for success in spiritual path. All sadhanas call for love and compassion as the first and most essential step. Those who fail to inculcate and exude love and Compassion can be said to have automatically excluded themselves from the process of inner Transformation, which is the true mastery of life.
Unconditional Love and compassion in man lifts him to Divinity. Love calls for enlarging the self, and compassion the abscence of self. In Love the other person becomes important and in compassion the object becomes the subject. For Love the antonym is hatred.
Compassion does not have even synonyms. In love one becomes possessive. Compassion is sustained and practical determination to do whatever is possible to alleviate the sufferings of others. It treats the other person on an equal plane. There is no distinction as to race, creed, sex etc. The easiest way to reach God is to have abundant compassion towards all beings. A compassionate person transmits divinity. Compassion is the basic human quality with which we are born.
Compassion is not mere sympathy. One who sympathises sees, and feels but does nothing. One who has compassion does something about the need. It is not adequate if one is sympathetic but one should be compassionate.......
........with "Love"
Our Individual Soul's nature.......................................
Our Individual Soul's Nature.....immortal and is God's emanational creation.
Our individual soul is the immortal and spiritual body of light that animates life and reincarnates again and again until all necessary karmas are created and resolved and its essential unity with God is fully realized.
Our soul is God's emanational creation, the source of all our higher functions, including knowledge, will and love. Our soul is neither male nor female. It is that which never dies, even when its four outer sheaths-- physical, pranic, instinctive and mental-change form and perish as they naturally do.
The physical body is the annamaya kosha.
The pranic sheath of vitality is the pranamaya kosha.
The instinctive-intellectual sheath is the manomaya kosha.
The mental, or cognitive, sheath is the vijnanamaya kosha.
The inmost soul body is the blissful, ever-giving-wisdom anandamaya kosha. Parashakti is the soul's super conscious mind--God's mind. Parasiva is the soul's inmost core. We are not the physical body, mind or emotions. We are the immortal soul, atman. The sum of our true existence is anandamaya kosha and its essence, Parashakti and Parasiva.
The Vedas expostulate, "The soul is born and unfolds in a body, with dreams and desires and the food of life. And then it is reborn in new bodies, in accordance with its former works. The quality of the soul determines its future body; earthly or airy, heavy or light."
Our individual soul is the immortal and spiritual body of light that animates life and reincarnates again and again until all necessary karmas are created and resolved and its essential unity with God is fully realized.
Our soul is God's emanational creation, the source of all our higher functions, including knowledge, will and love. Our soul is neither male nor female. It is that which never dies, even when its four outer sheaths-- physical, pranic, instinctive and mental-change form and perish as they naturally do.
The physical body is the annamaya kosha.
The pranic sheath of vitality is the pranamaya kosha.
The instinctive-intellectual sheath is the manomaya kosha.
The mental, or cognitive, sheath is the vijnanamaya kosha.
The inmost soul body is the blissful, ever-giving-wisdom anandamaya kosha. Parashakti is the soul's super conscious mind--God's mind. Parasiva is the soul's inmost core. We are not the physical body, mind or emotions. We are the immortal soul, atman. The sum of our true existence is anandamaya kosha and its essence, Parashakti and Parasiva.
The Vedas expostulate, "The soul is born and unfolds in a body, with dreams and desires and the food of life. And then it is reborn in new bodies, in accordance with its former works. The quality of the soul determines its future body; earthly or airy, heavy or light."
Effec tive cold prevention strategies.........................
8 Effective Cold Prevention Strategies......Easy to follow.
1. Wash your hands - The world we live in is filled with viruses and bacteria that can make us ill. Your hands are no exceptions. Wash your hands often to keep them clean. If you cannot wash them, at least use some hand sanitizer, such as Purel.
2. Drink hot fluids, especially in the morning - The rhinovirus incubates in the back of the throat and spreads in the upper respiratory area because it's cooler than the body temperature. Rhinovirus can't survive at 98.6 (hence it doesn't travel far down into the bronchi or the lungs). By drinking hot fluid (such as hot tea and lemon) you can prevent the virus from incubating.
3. Keep your hands out of your face - We have already discussed the germs and viruses on your hands. You cannot wash them continuously, so in between washings keep your hands out of your face. Your face is an open portal to your insides. Keep the germs away from your portal.
4. Drink water - Drinking more water is my answer to everything. Water will help clean out your body and keep it clean. It will also keep your body functioning at 100%. You should drink at least (eight) 8oz glasses of water everyday. This will also help you lose weight.
5. Eat your fruits and vegetables - There are phytochemicals and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that can help strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases. You should eat at least four servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits every day.
6. Multivitamins - If you are not eating all of your fruit and vegetable servings, you should take a multivitamin to ensure you are getting all of the vitamins your body needs to function properly. Take a simple one-a-day multivitamin everyday.
7. Stay warm - Being cold weakens your immune system and makes your body more susceptible to illness. Look at the day’s temperature at weather.com before leaving your home. Wear layers in and out of your home when it is cold.
8. Relax and rest - Stress weakens your immune system. You can reduce your stress levels by relaxing and getting more sleep. Sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. Sleep will also boost your recovery time if you become ill.
Getting a cold can derail your nutrition and activity plans. However, if you follow the strategies laid out for you, you can prevent this from happening.
Wishing all my Readers a Healthy Body.
1. Wash your hands - The world we live in is filled with viruses and bacteria that can make us ill. Your hands are no exceptions. Wash your hands often to keep them clean. If you cannot wash them, at least use some hand sanitizer, such as Purel.
2. Drink hot fluids, especially in the morning - The rhinovirus incubates in the back of the throat and spreads in the upper respiratory area because it's cooler than the body temperature. Rhinovirus can't survive at 98.6 (hence it doesn't travel far down into the bronchi or the lungs). By drinking hot fluid (such as hot tea and lemon) you can prevent the virus from incubating.
3. Keep your hands out of your face - We have already discussed the germs and viruses on your hands. You cannot wash them continuously, so in between washings keep your hands out of your face. Your face is an open portal to your insides. Keep the germs away from your portal.
4. Drink water - Drinking more water is my answer to everything. Water will help clean out your body and keep it clean. It will also keep your body functioning at 100%. You should drink at least (eight) 8oz glasses of water everyday. This will also help you lose weight.
5. Eat your fruits and vegetables - There are phytochemicals and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables that can help strengthen your immune system and prevent diseases. You should eat at least four servings of vegetables and two servings of fruits every day.
6. Multivitamins - If you are not eating all of your fruit and vegetable servings, you should take a multivitamin to ensure you are getting all of the vitamins your body needs to function properly. Take a simple one-a-day multivitamin everyday.
7. Stay warm - Being cold weakens your immune system and makes your body more susceptible to illness. Look at the day’s temperature at weather.com before leaving your home. Wear layers in and out of your home when it is cold.
8. Relax and rest - Stress weakens your immune system. You can reduce your stress levels by relaxing and getting more sleep. Sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy immune system. Sleep will also boost your recovery time if you become ill.
Getting a cold can derail your nutrition and activity plans. However, if you follow the strategies laid out for you, you can prevent this from happening.
Wishing all my Readers a Healthy Body.
Importance of Chanting Mantras & prayers............
Importance of Chanting Mantras & prayers in Hinduism....
Chanting of a simple mantra or prayer is considered one of the easiest ways to worship God in Hinduism. The prayer can be "Aum" or "Aum Namah Shivaya" or "Aumm Namo Narayanaya" or any of the numerous other simple Hindu prayers. It is said in the Puranas that chanting of mantras is the best way to approach God in Kali Yuga and attain Liberation. It is believed that self realisation, tapas, Dhyanam etc., are tough to practice for human beings living in Kali Yuga (the present age).
In the Satya Yuga, Dhyanam was the easiest way to approach God. The human mind was not polluted in Satya Yuga and therefore he/she was able to climb the ladder of self realisation easily.
In the Treta Yuga, Yajna and Yagams were seen as the methods of worship.
In the Dwapara Yuga, pujas and rituals were seen as the best modes or worship.
In the Kali Yuga, chanting of mantras and prayers is considered to be the ideal method to attain self realisation. This is because the age of Kali is an age of in auspiciousness. Mind will be easily attracted to pleasures, which lasts only for few seconds. There will always be a craving for pleasures. There will be no control of desire. Non fulfilment of desire leads to anger and destruction. People will not be able to concentrate in the Kali Yuga.
Sage Narada who realised the traps and tribulations in Kali Yuga asked Brahma for a solution to escape from the problems and worries in the Kali Yuga.
Brahma advised Sage Narada that chanting of mantras and prayers is the only solution to escape from the evils in Kali Yuga.
There are no rules or time to chant the simple mantras. A person can chant it whenever he/she wants to. The chanting of a particular mantra helps a person to identify with the Supreme Truth.
Just close the eyes and chant ‘AUM’ in mind.............................
Simple Prayers and Mantras in Hinduism
Prayers or Mantras are used by spiritual aspirants to achieve god realisation, to invoke the blessing of the deity and for meditation. Mantras aid in the conceptualisation process and constant recitation of it gives rise to the actual form of the particular deity in the mind of the devotee.
All prayers and mantras in Hinduism are the many paths to realise the ONE – Brahman.
The continuous recitation of a particular mantra is Japa.
A simple prayer dedicated to Lord Ganesh
AUM Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah
Prostrations to the Great Lord Ganesha.
A Prayer to Lord Shiva
AUM Namah Shivaya
Prostrations to Lord Shiva
Prayer to Lord Vishnu
AUM Namo Narayanaya
Prostrations to Shri Vishnu
Prayer to Lord Krishna
AUM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Prayers to the Lord Krishna. ‘Vasudeva’ means he who abides in all things and in whom all things abide.
Prayer to Lord Rama
AUM Sri Ramaya Namah
Prostrations to Lord Ram
"Sri Ram Rameti Rameti,
Rame Rame Monorame;
Sahsrenama tattulyam,
Rama Nama Varnane"
Prayer to Durga – Mother Goddess
AUM Sri Durgayai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Durga
Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
AUM Sri Maha Lakshmayai Namah
Prostrations to great Mother Lakshmi
Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
AUM Aim Saraswatyai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Sarasvati
Prayer to Goddess Kali
AUM Sri Maha Kalikayai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Kali
Prayer to Lord Hanuman
AUM Sri Hanumate Namah
Prostrations to Blessed Hanuman
Prayer to Rama and Krishna
Hare Rama Hare Rama,
Rama Rama Hare Hare;
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
My Lord Rama! My Lord Krishna
Prayer to Lord Rama
AUM Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama
Victory to Rama
Prayer to Lord Shiva – Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
"AUM Trayambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanam
Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat"
We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who is full of sweet fragrance and nourishes human beings. May he liberate me from bondage.
Chanting of a simple mantra or prayer is considered one of the easiest ways to worship God in Hinduism. The prayer can be "Aum" or "Aum Namah Shivaya" or "Aumm Namo Narayanaya" or any of the numerous other simple Hindu prayers. It is said in the Puranas that chanting of mantras is the best way to approach God in Kali Yuga and attain Liberation. It is believed that self realisation, tapas, Dhyanam etc., are tough to practice for human beings living in Kali Yuga (the present age).
In the Satya Yuga, Dhyanam was the easiest way to approach God. The human mind was not polluted in Satya Yuga and therefore he/she was able to climb the ladder of self realisation easily.
In the Treta Yuga, Yajna and Yagams were seen as the methods of worship.
In the Dwapara Yuga, pujas and rituals were seen as the best modes or worship.
In the Kali Yuga, chanting of mantras and prayers is considered to be the ideal method to attain self realisation. This is because the age of Kali is an age of in auspiciousness. Mind will be easily attracted to pleasures, which lasts only for few seconds. There will always be a craving for pleasures. There will be no control of desire. Non fulfilment of desire leads to anger and destruction. People will not be able to concentrate in the Kali Yuga.
Sage Narada who realised the traps and tribulations in Kali Yuga asked Brahma for a solution to escape from the problems and worries in the Kali Yuga.
Brahma advised Sage Narada that chanting of mantras and prayers is the only solution to escape from the evils in Kali Yuga.
There are no rules or time to chant the simple mantras. A person can chant it whenever he/she wants to. The chanting of a particular mantra helps a person to identify with the Supreme Truth.
Just close the eyes and chant ‘AUM’ in mind.............................
Simple Prayers and Mantras in Hinduism
Prayers or Mantras are used by spiritual aspirants to achieve god realisation, to invoke the blessing of the deity and for meditation. Mantras aid in the conceptualisation process and constant recitation of it gives rise to the actual form of the particular deity in the mind of the devotee.
All prayers and mantras in Hinduism are the many paths to realise the ONE – Brahman.
The continuous recitation of a particular mantra is Japa.
A simple prayer dedicated to Lord Ganesh
AUM Sri Maha Ganapataye Namah
Prostrations to the Great Lord Ganesha.
A Prayer to Lord Shiva
AUM Namah Shivaya
Prostrations to Lord Shiva
Prayer to Lord Vishnu
AUM Namo Narayanaya
Prostrations to Shri Vishnu
Prayer to Lord Krishna
AUM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
Prayers to the Lord Krishna. ‘Vasudeva’ means he who abides in all things and in whom all things abide.
Prayer to Lord Rama
AUM Sri Ramaya Namah
Prostrations to Lord Ram
"Sri Ram Rameti Rameti,
Rame Rame Monorame;
Sahsrenama tattulyam,
Rama Nama Varnane"
Prayer to Durga – Mother Goddess
AUM Sri Durgayai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Durga
Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi
AUM Sri Maha Lakshmayai Namah
Prostrations to great Mother Lakshmi
Prayer to Goddess Saraswathi
AUM Aim Saraswatyai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Sarasvati
Prayer to Goddess Kali
AUM Sri Maha Kalikayai Namah
Prostrations to Mother Kali
Prayer to Lord Hanuman
AUM Sri Hanumate Namah
Prostrations to Blessed Hanuman
Prayer to Rama and Krishna
Hare Rama Hare Rama,
Rama Rama Hare Hare;
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
My Lord Rama! My Lord Krishna
Prayer to Lord Rama
AUM Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama
Victory to Rama
Prayer to Lord Shiva – Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
"AUM Trayambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva Bandhanam
Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat"
We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who is full of sweet fragrance and nourishes human beings. May he liberate me from bondage.
Teachings from Kathoupanishad....................
Teachings from Kathoupnishad......................The Greatness of the Self.
Katha Upanishad, also known as Kathakopanishad, contains the famous conversation between young Nachiketas and Yama, the god of death. Here are few teachings from the Katha Upanishad.
What is the value of wealth or life, as there are impermanent? So long as death is in power we cannot enjoy wealth or life for the fear of death destroys the zest for living. Teach me self knowledge which is beyond the power of death (I.1.27)
Both the good and the pleasant approach a man. The wise man, pondering over them, discriminates. The wise chooses the good in preference to the pleasant. (I.2.2)
He who is filled with selfish desires and attracted by worldly possessions becomes subject to the law of karma which leads him from birth to birth and so he is under the control of Yama.
One who has not desisted from bad conduct, whose senses are not under control, whose mind is not concentrated, whose mind is not free from anxiety (about the result of concentration), cannot attain this Self.
Smaller than the small, greater than the great, the self is set in the heart of every creature. The unstriving man beholds Him, freed from sorrow. Through tranquility of the mind and the senses he sees the greatness of the Self.
Katha Upanishad
Katha Upanishad, also known as Kathakopanishad, contains the famous conversation between young Nachiketas and Yama, the god of death. Here are few teachings from the Katha Upanishad.
What is the value of wealth or life, as there are impermanent? So long as death is in power we cannot enjoy wealth or life for the fear of death destroys the zest for living. Teach me self knowledge which is beyond the power of death (I.1.27)
Both the good and the pleasant approach a man. The wise man, pondering over them, discriminates. The wise chooses the good in preference to the pleasant. (I.2.2)
He who is filled with selfish desires and attracted by worldly possessions becomes subject to the law of karma which leads him from birth to birth and so he is under the control of Yama.
One who has not desisted from bad conduct, whose senses are not under control, whose mind is not concentrated, whose mind is not free from anxiety (about the result of concentration), cannot attain this Self.
Smaller than the small, greater than the great, the self is set in the heart of every creature. The unstriving man beholds Him, freed from sorrow. Through tranquility of the mind and the senses he sees the greatness of the Self.
Katha Upanishad
Sarva Mangala Gowri Puja....................................
Sarva Mangala gowri Puja..............................to be performed with pure heart and devotion.
"Sarva mangala mangalye,
Sive sarvartha sadhike,
Sharanyethryambake Gowri,
Narayani Namosthuthe!"
The various Vratas that are observed in Hinduism is based on a story.
The general idea of the story remains the same but the characters and incidents change from region to region. This Shravana Mangala Gowri Vrata Katha is from Karnataka known as Mangala Gowri Haadu or Haddu. The shloka or song (prayer) narrated during the puja is also referred as Mangala Gouri Haadu
Long long ago a boy who was studying under a guru went from house to house seeking alms. This was a tradition then and the Guru and shishya only took what was needed for the day. But strangely this boy refused alms given by the queen of the land and took alms from other women. The king and the queen of the land were staunch Shiva devotees but did not have any children.
The queen and the king discussed this strange incident and the next day, the queen again offered rice to the young boy. But the boy did not accept it. The king came and asked why he was not taking the rice from the queen.
The boy said that the king and queen did not have children and it would not be wise to take alms from a couple who is unlucky.
The king got angry and said only Lord Shiva can decide who should be lucky and unlucky. The king who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva soon realised that the boy was Shiva in disguise. He then prayed to forgive his arrogance and asked to be blessed with a child.Shiva blessed the couple but said their child will only live for sixteen years.
A boy, Chandrasekhar, was born to the couple and soon time passed by and the boy became a teenager. The king and the queen remembered the words of Shiva and decided to send young Chandrasekhar, who was fifteen, to Kashi. It is believed that those who die at Kashi will never be born again.
Young Chandrasekhar was informed about his fate and without any other option he followed his uncle to Kashi. On the way, the young boy saw several new things. In a garden, they met a lovely princess. The boy and the uncle heard the princess discussing the glory of Mangala Gowri Puja. It was the Shravan month and the girls were performing the Mangala Gowri Vratha. The princess was saying that whoever she marries will live a long life because she performs the Mangala Gowri Puja with pure heart and devotion.
The boy and the uncle moved forward and they met a prince who was sick. He explained to them that he was to marry the princess of the kingdom tomorrow but he was ashamed to go in front of people as he has fallen sick. The prince asked Chandrasekhar to help him out by appearing in the marriage function. Chandrasekhar agreed.
Young Chandrasekhar appeared as the groom and the first day of the marriage function passed away smoothly. That night Chandrasekhar was to turn sixteen. He explained about his fate and about the real prince to the princess and decided to leave next morning to Kashi.
But that night the princess saw a snake approaching Chandrasekhar; she grabbed a handful of unbroken grains used to perform Mangala Gowri Puja and threw it on the snake. The snake fell dead. She took the snake and hid it in the Kalash used to perform the Mangala Gowri Puja.
Chandrasekhar left the next morning and he left his wedding ring there. The other prince took the place for the day’s wedding ceremony but the princess was not ready to marry him. She said firmly that Chandrasekhar was her husband and she will only sit next to him.
Chandrasekhar reached Kashi and a year passed. He did not die. The strength and devotion with which the young princess performed the Mangala Gowri Puja saved him. While returning back to his kingdom, Chandrasekhar again reached the same spot. He longed to see the young princess even though he believed that she was happily married to the prince.
Chandrasekhar heard that the princess was in the habit of feeding all the people who passed by her kingdom. He went and sat among the people who was partaking the food offered by the princess. Soon the princess appeared. She was closely examining all the people who were eating. She has been doing this from the day Chandrasekhar left; she was sure that one day he will pass by her kingdom.
In no time, the young princess recognised Chandrasekhar. She showed him the wedding ring. The young Chandrasekhar could not control his tears. He said he did not die. The princess said she knew it and explained what happened on the night when he turned sixteen.
Soon they got married and lived happily there after.
Mangala Gouri Puja or Mangala Gowri Vratam is observed by married women in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and by certain communities in Maharashtra, Goa and Tamil Nadu on Tuesdays in the Shravan month or Shravana Maasa. Mangala Gowri is observed for the well being of the husband and a happy and prosperous married life. In 2009, the dates of Mangala Gowri Puja are July 28, August 4, August 11 and August 18.
Mangala Gowri Puja 2009 dates in North India are – July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4.
Another important Gowri Puja in Karnataka during the same season is the Gowri Habba or the Gowri Ganesh Puja.
Mangala Gowri Puja is dedicated to Goddess Gouri or Parvati. Since it is observed on Tuesday in the Shravana month, the Tuesdays in the month are also known as Shravana Maasa Mangalvar. Special pujas dedicated to Goddess Gowri is performed on the day and women dress up like a traditional married woman with all bangles, flowers and mangalsutra – symbolically indicating to Goddess Gowri that they want to be like this on all days.
The puja is done with the intention that Goddess Gowri will bless the house with material prosperity, health and long life. The method of puja and mantras used vary from region to region. There are no food restrictions but only vegetarian food is prepared on the day.
Married women observe Mangala Gowri Puja in the first five years of their marriage.
"Sarva mangala mangalye,
Sive sarvartha sadhike,
Sharanyethryambake Gowri,
Narayani Namosthuthe!"
The various Vratas that are observed in Hinduism is based on a story.
The general idea of the story remains the same but the characters and incidents change from region to region. This Shravana Mangala Gowri Vrata Katha is from Karnataka known as Mangala Gowri Haadu or Haddu. The shloka or song (prayer) narrated during the puja is also referred as Mangala Gouri Haadu
Long long ago a boy who was studying under a guru went from house to house seeking alms. This was a tradition then and the Guru and shishya only took what was needed for the day. But strangely this boy refused alms given by the queen of the land and took alms from other women. The king and the queen of the land were staunch Shiva devotees but did not have any children.
The queen and the king discussed this strange incident and the next day, the queen again offered rice to the young boy. But the boy did not accept it. The king came and asked why he was not taking the rice from the queen.
The boy said that the king and queen did not have children and it would not be wise to take alms from a couple who is unlucky.
The king got angry and said only Lord Shiva can decide who should be lucky and unlucky. The king who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva soon realised that the boy was Shiva in disguise. He then prayed to forgive his arrogance and asked to be blessed with a child.Shiva blessed the couple but said their child will only live for sixteen years.
A boy, Chandrasekhar, was born to the couple and soon time passed by and the boy became a teenager. The king and the queen remembered the words of Shiva and decided to send young Chandrasekhar, who was fifteen, to Kashi. It is believed that those who die at Kashi will never be born again.
Young Chandrasekhar was informed about his fate and without any other option he followed his uncle to Kashi. On the way, the young boy saw several new things. In a garden, they met a lovely princess. The boy and the uncle heard the princess discussing the glory of Mangala Gowri Puja. It was the Shravan month and the girls were performing the Mangala Gowri Vratha. The princess was saying that whoever she marries will live a long life because she performs the Mangala Gowri Puja with pure heart and devotion.
The boy and the uncle moved forward and they met a prince who was sick. He explained to them that he was to marry the princess of the kingdom tomorrow but he was ashamed to go in front of people as he has fallen sick. The prince asked Chandrasekhar to help him out by appearing in the marriage function. Chandrasekhar agreed.
Young Chandrasekhar appeared as the groom and the first day of the marriage function passed away smoothly. That night Chandrasekhar was to turn sixteen. He explained about his fate and about the real prince to the princess and decided to leave next morning to Kashi.
But that night the princess saw a snake approaching Chandrasekhar; she grabbed a handful of unbroken grains used to perform Mangala Gowri Puja and threw it on the snake. The snake fell dead. She took the snake and hid it in the Kalash used to perform the Mangala Gowri Puja.
Chandrasekhar left the next morning and he left his wedding ring there. The other prince took the place for the day’s wedding ceremony but the princess was not ready to marry him. She said firmly that Chandrasekhar was her husband and she will only sit next to him.
Chandrasekhar reached Kashi and a year passed. He did not die. The strength and devotion with which the young princess performed the Mangala Gowri Puja saved him. While returning back to his kingdom, Chandrasekhar again reached the same spot. He longed to see the young princess even though he believed that she was happily married to the prince.
Chandrasekhar heard that the princess was in the habit of feeding all the people who passed by her kingdom. He went and sat among the people who was partaking the food offered by the princess. Soon the princess appeared. She was closely examining all the people who were eating. She has been doing this from the day Chandrasekhar left; she was sure that one day he will pass by her kingdom.
In no time, the young princess recognised Chandrasekhar. She showed him the wedding ring. The young Chandrasekhar could not control his tears. He said he did not die. The princess said she knew it and explained what happened on the night when he turned sixteen.
Soon they got married and lived happily there after.
Mangala Gouri Puja or Mangala Gowri Vratam is observed by married women in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and by certain communities in Maharashtra, Goa and Tamil Nadu on Tuesdays in the Shravan month or Shravana Maasa. Mangala Gowri is observed for the well being of the husband and a happy and prosperous married life. In 2009, the dates of Mangala Gowri Puja are July 28, August 4, August 11 and August 18.
Mangala Gowri Puja 2009 dates in North India are – July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4.
Another important Gowri Puja in Karnataka during the same season is the Gowri Habba or the Gowri Ganesh Puja.
Mangala Gowri Puja is dedicated to Goddess Gouri or Parvati. Since it is observed on Tuesday in the Shravana month, the Tuesdays in the month are also known as Shravana Maasa Mangalvar. Special pujas dedicated to Goddess Gowri is performed on the day and women dress up like a traditional married woman with all bangles, flowers and mangalsutra – symbolically indicating to Goddess Gowri that they want to be like this on all days.
The puja is done with the intention that Goddess Gowri will bless the house with material prosperity, health and long life. The method of puja and mantras used vary from region to region. There are no food restrictions but only vegetarian food is prepared on the day.
Married women observe Mangala Gowri Puja in the first five years of their marriage.
Few of the teachings of Sri Sri paramahansa Yogananda....
Few of the teachings of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda................
The happiness of one’s own heart alone cannot satisfy the soul; one must include as necessary the one’s own happiness, the happiness of others. When you learn to live for others, they will live for you.
The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God.
Faithfulness in the performance of small duties gives us strength to adhere to difficult determinations that life will someday force us to make.
The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.
The happiness of one’s own heart alone cannot satisfy the soul; one must include as necessary the one’s own happiness, the happiness of others. When you learn to live for others, they will live for you.
The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God.
Faithfulness in the performance of small duties gives us strength to adhere to difficult determinations that life will someday force us to make.
The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Devotion is Eternal- Threfore it is................
Devotion is eternal...............
The 1000 Names of the Vishnu sahasranama
The legend would have it that at the end of the epic Mahabharata war, Bhishmacharya was awaiting the sacred hour to depart from his physical body unto the lotus feet of the God. Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas, was desperately looking for the answers to matters relating to Dharma and Karma. Lord Krishna, who understood Yudhistira’s uneasy mind, guided him to Bhishma to learn insight in to this precious knowledge. It is relevant to mention that Bhishma was acknowledged to be one of the twelve most knowledgeable people. The other eleven being:-
Brahma
Narada
Siva
Subramanya
Kapila
Manu
Prahlada
Janaka
Bali
Suka
&
Yama
At their meeting, Yudhistira presented Bhishma with six questions.
1. kimEkam daivatam lokE ?
Who is the greatest Lord in the world?
2. kim vaapyEkam paraayaNam?
Who is the one refuge of all?
3. stuvantam kam praapnuyuh maanavah subham?
By glorifying whom, can man attain peace and prosperity?
4. kam arcanat praapnuyuh maanavaah subham?
By worshipping whom can man reach auspiciousness?
5. kO dharmah sarva dharmaaNaam bhavatah paramO matah?
What is, in thy opinion, the greatest Dharma?
6. kim japam mucyatE jantur janma samsaara bandhanaat?
By doing Japa of what, can creature go beyond the bonds and cycle of
birth and death?
Bhishma responded by reciting the one thousand names now hailed as the Vishnu Shasranama, and reminded him that either by meditating on these names or by invoking the names through archana (Offering), our minds can be lifted to higher consciousness.
Indeed, such long recital of namaas glorifying the Lord and His splendour is rare in the world. Yet a rational person is apt to question how mere words and their repetition can create such great power.. Just imagine for a moment that you are in an assembly, and the lecturer begins his talk with the word “boat”. You can at one grasp the image of a boat, and there is calmness of mind. Suddenly then, if someone in the assembly, utters the word “snake”, will your calmness continue?
It therefore follows that vak (utterance) and artha (meaning) together infuse a subtle energy either positively or negatively. The thousand naamas are storehouses of proven spiritual content that can easily uplift our minds. Indeed the expression NaMa is made up of Na for Naramandala and Ma for manas, our Mind. NaMa, the chanting of which helps to unite our nervous system and Mind.
The main body of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama consists of 107 stanzas which contain the one thousand names of Sri Maha Vishnu. Every one of the one thousand names is full of significance and refers to one particular guna (quality, characteristic, or attribute) of Paramatma. These names invoke a sense of bonding with the God. The meanings of the names give us an understanding and depth of God as there is a deep connection between the name and the named.
Why were these 1000 names chosen?
Does the God get absolutely defined by these one thousand names? The Vedas affirm that God is neither accessible to words nor to mind. It is said that you cannot comprehend the Paramatma with the human mind alone, even if you spend all your life trying! Given this infinite nature of the Paramatma, who is not governed or constrained by any of the physical laws as we know them, the choice of a thousand names of Vishnu by Bhishma should be recognised as a representation of some of his better known qualities that are repeatedly described in our great epics.
Some might say that they do not understand the meaning of the Sanskrit words, and therefore do not feel comfortable chanting them. But learning the chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, and can be compared to finding a box of treasure without the key. As long as we have the box, we can open it whenever we get the key of knowledge later. The treasure will be there already.
Others might feel that they do not know the correct Sanskrit pronunciation, and do not want to chant incorrectly. There is an analogy of a mother to whom a child goes and asks for an orange. The child does not know how to pronounce the word “orange” and so asks for “ange”. The mother does not turn away the child and does not refuse to give the child the orange just because the child does not know how to pronounce the word. It is the bhaava (spirit) that matters, and so as long as one chants the name of God with sincerity, considerations such as not knowing the meaning, not knowing the pronunciation, etc, do not matter, and God will confer His blessings on us, there is no way a devotee of Vishnu can meet with any dishonour or disgrace of any kind.
The Benefits:
Traditionally our prayers end with a phala sruti – a section on the benefits of reciting the prayer. The Vishnu Sahasranama is no exception.
The necessity of cleansing our body regularly to maintain hygiene and good health is recognised by everyone. But with the busy nature of today’s world, we do not see our mind the same way as we see our body. As a consequence, the need for keeping our minds clean is not appreciated.
Those who do not cleanse their mind on a regular basis become mentally ill over a period of time. Prayers are a means to mental cleansing when they are chanted with sincerity and devotion. The importance of chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasranama is that the deity being worshipped is none other than Vasudeva. Sri Vedavyasa, who was responsible for stringing the naamas together in a poetic form, points out that it is by the power and command of Vasudeva that the Sun, the Moon, the stars, the world and the oceans are controlled. The whole universe of the Gods, Asuras and Gandharavas is under the sway of Lord Krishna. In Bhishma’s expert judgement, chanting Vasudevas’s name with devotion and sincerity will ensure relief from sorrows and bondage. The person who recites is not the only one who benefits, but also those who for whatever reason are unable to chant benefit by just hearing the chanting as well.
In consideration to Lord’s endearment on those who surrender to HIM.
Bhagavatha Puranam
The 1000 Names of the Vishnu sahasranama
The legend would have it that at the end of the epic Mahabharata war, Bhishmacharya was awaiting the sacred hour to depart from his physical body unto the lotus feet of the God. Yudhishtira, the eldest of the Pandavas, was desperately looking for the answers to matters relating to Dharma and Karma. Lord Krishna, who understood Yudhistira’s uneasy mind, guided him to Bhishma to learn insight in to this precious knowledge. It is relevant to mention that Bhishma was acknowledged to be one of the twelve most knowledgeable people. The other eleven being:-
Brahma
Narada
Siva
Subramanya
Kapila
Manu
Prahlada
Janaka
Bali
Suka
&
Yama
At their meeting, Yudhistira presented Bhishma with six questions.
1. kimEkam daivatam lokE ?
Who is the greatest Lord in the world?
2. kim vaapyEkam paraayaNam?
Who is the one refuge of all?
3. stuvantam kam praapnuyuh maanavah subham?
By glorifying whom, can man attain peace and prosperity?
4. kam arcanat praapnuyuh maanavaah subham?
By worshipping whom can man reach auspiciousness?
5. kO dharmah sarva dharmaaNaam bhavatah paramO matah?
What is, in thy opinion, the greatest Dharma?
6. kim japam mucyatE jantur janma samsaara bandhanaat?
By doing Japa of what, can creature go beyond the bonds and cycle of
birth and death?
Bhishma responded by reciting the one thousand names now hailed as the Vishnu Shasranama, and reminded him that either by meditating on these names or by invoking the names through archana (Offering), our minds can be lifted to higher consciousness.
Indeed, such long recital of namaas glorifying the Lord and His splendour is rare in the world. Yet a rational person is apt to question how mere words and their repetition can create such great power.. Just imagine for a moment that you are in an assembly, and the lecturer begins his talk with the word “boat”. You can at one grasp the image of a boat, and there is calmness of mind. Suddenly then, if someone in the assembly, utters the word “snake”, will your calmness continue?
It therefore follows that vak (utterance) and artha (meaning) together infuse a subtle energy either positively or negatively. The thousand naamas are storehouses of proven spiritual content that can easily uplift our minds. Indeed the expression NaMa is made up of Na for Naramandala and Ma for manas, our Mind. NaMa, the chanting of which helps to unite our nervous system and Mind.
The main body of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama consists of 107 stanzas which contain the one thousand names of Sri Maha Vishnu. Every one of the one thousand names is full of significance and refers to one particular guna (quality, characteristic, or attribute) of Paramatma. These names invoke a sense of bonding with the God. The meanings of the names give us an understanding and depth of God as there is a deep connection between the name and the named.
Why were these 1000 names chosen?
Does the God get absolutely defined by these one thousand names? The Vedas affirm that God is neither accessible to words nor to mind. It is said that you cannot comprehend the Paramatma with the human mind alone, even if you spend all your life trying! Given this infinite nature of the Paramatma, who is not governed or constrained by any of the physical laws as we know them, the choice of a thousand names of Vishnu by Bhishma should be recognised as a representation of some of his better known qualities that are repeatedly described in our great epics.
Some might say that they do not understand the meaning of the Sanskrit words, and therefore do not feel comfortable chanting them. But learning the chanting of prayers even without knowing the meaning is a worthwhile act, and can be compared to finding a box of treasure without the key. As long as we have the box, we can open it whenever we get the key of knowledge later. The treasure will be there already.
Others might feel that they do not know the correct Sanskrit pronunciation, and do not want to chant incorrectly. There is an analogy of a mother to whom a child goes and asks for an orange. The child does not know how to pronounce the word “orange” and so asks for “ange”. The mother does not turn away the child and does not refuse to give the child the orange just because the child does not know how to pronounce the word. It is the bhaava (spirit) that matters, and so as long as one chants the name of God with sincerity, considerations such as not knowing the meaning, not knowing the pronunciation, etc, do not matter, and God will confer His blessings on us, there is no way a devotee of Vishnu can meet with any dishonour or disgrace of any kind.
The Benefits:
Traditionally our prayers end with a phala sruti – a section on the benefits of reciting the prayer. The Vishnu Sahasranama is no exception.
The necessity of cleansing our body regularly to maintain hygiene and good health is recognised by everyone. But with the busy nature of today’s world, we do not see our mind the same way as we see our body. As a consequence, the need for keeping our minds clean is not appreciated.
Those who do not cleanse their mind on a regular basis become mentally ill over a period of time. Prayers are a means to mental cleansing when they are chanted with sincerity and devotion. The importance of chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasranama is that the deity being worshipped is none other than Vasudeva. Sri Vedavyasa, who was responsible for stringing the naamas together in a poetic form, points out that it is by the power and command of Vasudeva that the Sun, the Moon, the stars, the world and the oceans are controlled. The whole universe of the Gods, Asuras and Gandharavas is under the sway of Lord Krishna. In Bhishma’s expert judgement, chanting Vasudevas’s name with devotion and sincerity will ensure relief from sorrows and bondage. The person who recites is not the only one who benefits, but also those who for whatever reason are unable to chant benefit by just hearing the chanting as well.
In consideration to Lord’s endearment on those who surrender to HIM.
Bhagavatha Puranam
A Picture is worth a thousand words................
A picture is worth a thousand words
Meaning
A picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text.
Origin
This phrase emerged in the USA in the early part of the 20th century.
Its introduction is widely attributed to Frederick R. Barnard, who
published a piece commending the effectiveness of graphics in
advertising with the title "One look is worth a thousand words", in
Printer's Ink, December 1921. Barnard claimed the phrase's source to
be oriental by adding the text "so said a famous Japanese philosopher,
and he was right".
Printer's Ink printed another form of the phrase in March 1927, this
time suggesting a Chinese origin:
"Chinese proverb. One picture is worth ten thousand words."
The arbitrary escalation from 'one thousand' to 'ten thousand' and the
switching from Japan to China as the source leads us to smell a rat
with this derivation. In fact, Barnard didn't introduce the phrase -
his only contribution was the incorrect suggestion that the country of
origin was Japan or China. This has led to another popular belief
about the phrase, i.e. that it was coined by Confucius. It might fit
the Chinese-sounding 'Confucius he say' style, but the Chinese
derivation was pure invention.
Many things had been thought to be 'worth ten thousand words' well
before pictures got in on the act. For example:
"One timely deed is worth ten thousand words" - The Works of Mr. James
Thomson, 1802.
"That tear, good girl, is worth, ten thousand words" - The Trust: A
Comedy, in Five Acts, 1808.
"One fact well understood by observation, and well guided development,
is worth a thousand times more than a thousand words" - The American
Journal of Education, 1858.
The idea that a picture can convey what might take many words to
express was voiced by a character in Ivan S. Turgenev's novel Fathers
and Sons, 1862:
"The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten
pages in a book."
A similar idea was seen very widely in the USA from the early 20th
century, in adverts for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, which included a
picture of a man holding his back and the text "Every picture tells a
story".
Neither of the above led directly to 'a picture is worth a thousand
words'. Who it was that married the 'worth ten thousand words' with
'picture' isn't known, but we do know that the phrase is American in
origin. It began to be used quite frequently in the US press from
around the 1920s onward. The earliest example that I can find is from
the text of an instructional talk given by the newspaper editor Arthur
Brisbane to the Syracuse Advertising Men's Club, in March 1911:
"Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words."
The little essay clocks in at 483 words. Perhaps I should have drawn
half a picture?
Meaning
A picture tells a story just as well as a large amount of descriptive text.
Origin
This phrase emerged in the USA in the early part of the 20th century.
Its introduction is widely attributed to Frederick R. Barnard, who
published a piece commending the effectiveness of graphics in
advertising with the title "One look is worth a thousand words", in
Printer's Ink, December 1921. Barnard claimed the phrase's source to
be oriental by adding the text "so said a famous Japanese philosopher,
and he was right".
Printer's Ink printed another form of the phrase in March 1927, this
time suggesting a Chinese origin:
"Chinese proverb. One picture is worth ten thousand words."
The arbitrary escalation from 'one thousand' to 'ten thousand' and the
switching from Japan to China as the source leads us to smell a rat
with this derivation. In fact, Barnard didn't introduce the phrase -
his only contribution was the incorrect suggestion that the country of
origin was Japan or China. This has led to another popular belief
about the phrase, i.e. that it was coined by Confucius. It might fit
the Chinese-sounding 'Confucius he say' style, but the Chinese
derivation was pure invention.
Many things had been thought to be 'worth ten thousand words' well
before pictures got in on the act. For example:
"One timely deed is worth ten thousand words" - The Works of Mr. James
Thomson, 1802.
"That tear, good girl, is worth, ten thousand words" - The Trust: A
Comedy, in Five Acts, 1808.
"One fact well understood by observation, and well guided development,
is worth a thousand times more than a thousand words" - The American
Journal of Education, 1858.
The idea that a picture can convey what might take many words to
express was voiced by a character in Ivan S. Turgenev's novel Fathers
and Sons, 1862:
"The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten
pages in a book."
A similar idea was seen very widely in the USA from the early 20th
century, in adverts for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills, which included a
picture of a man holding his back and the text "Every picture tells a
story".
Neither of the above led directly to 'a picture is worth a thousand
words'. Who it was that married the 'worth ten thousand words' with
'picture' isn't known, but we do know that the phrase is American in
origin. It began to be used quite frequently in the US press from
around the 1920s onward. The earliest example that I can find is from
the text of an instructional talk given by the newspaper editor Arthur
Brisbane to the Syracuse Advertising Men's Club, in March 1911:
"Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words."
The little essay clocks in at 483 words. Perhaps I should have drawn
half a picture?
Murphy's Laws on Girls..........Absolutely true..
Murphy's Laws on girls...............................Absoulutely true.
How many guys of us can identify with this?
1. If you think a girl is beautiful, she’ll always have a boyfriend to confirm that.
2. The nicer she is…the quicker you will be dumped!!!!!
3. The more the makeup, worse the looks…
4. “99% of the girls in this world are beautiful. Remaining 1% would always be in your company.”………… …..100% true.
5. The guy standing next to a beautiful girl can never be her brother.
6. If by any chance the girl you like, likes you too, she will let you know in about 10 years from now, when you are committed..
7. The more you ignore a girl, the more she’ll want to be friends with you.
8. Theory of relativity……
The more you run towards a hot chick….the more she goes away from you…
9. Rule 1:
Even if you got her out alone… just when you are about to let her know about your feelings…she will spot a long lost friend( I guess from Kumbh ka Mela).
Corollary to ruless 1:
The more desperate you are to tell your feelings to a girl on a private chat, the more probability the long lost friend she discovered is a handsome superman, who beats you in everything 9:1
Axiom 1:
The more dedicated you are to the girl, the longer it takes before things work out, but ultimately it will (some smile for the guys).
10. The day the chick you really like comes and speaks to you will be the day when-
1. You are dressed badly.
2. You forgot to brush your teeth for the first time in your life.
3. Have a bad hair day.
11. All the good girls are either nuns or married .the rest go around with you and ruin your money, health and leave you a total wreck.
12. The more seriously you like a girl…the more seriously her dad will hate you.
13. The love you shower a girl with is directly proportional to the number of bullets her dad will be showering at you.
How many guys of us can identify with this?
1. If you think a girl is beautiful, she’ll always have a boyfriend to confirm that.
2. The nicer she is…the quicker you will be dumped!!!!!
3. The more the makeup, worse the looks…
4. “99% of the girls in this world are beautiful. Remaining 1% would always be in your company.”………… …..100% true.
5. The guy standing next to a beautiful girl can never be her brother.
6. If by any chance the girl you like, likes you too, she will let you know in about 10 years from now, when you are committed..
7. The more you ignore a girl, the more she’ll want to be friends with you.
8. Theory of relativity……
The more you run towards a hot chick….the more she goes away from you…
9. Rule 1:
Even if you got her out alone… just when you are about to let her know about your feelings…she will spot a long lost friend( I guess from Kumbh ka Mela).
Corollary to ruless 1:
The more desperate you are to tell your feelings to a girl on a private chat, the more probability the long lost friend she discovered is a handsome superman, who beats you in everything 9:1
Axiom 1:
The more dedicated you are to the girl, the longer it takes before things work out, but ultimately it will (some smile for the guys).
10. The day the chick you really like comes and speaks to you will be the day when-
1. You are dressed badly.
2. You forgot to brush your teeth for the first time in your life.
3. Have a bad hair day.
11. All the good girls are either nuns or married .the rest go around with you and ruin your money, health and leave you a total wreck.
12. The more seriously you like a girl…the more seriously her dad will hate you.
13. The love you shower a girl with is directly proportional to the number of bullets her dad will be showering at you.
Sri Adi Sankara's Vivekchudamani says.................
What Sri Adisankara's Vivekachudamani says.................................
Analyse
Action.
Achieve
Realise
Adi Sankaracharya's Vivekachudamani is an important literary work that dwelves into the Advaita philosophy. Here are few teachings from the Vivekachudamani.
Action is for the purification of the mind, not for the understanding of reality. The recognition of reality is through discrimination, and not by even tens of millions of actions.
Proper analysis leads to the realisation of the reality of the rope, and this is the end of the pain of the fear of the great snake caused by delusion.
The realisation of the truth is seen to depend on meditation on statements about what is good, not on bathing or donations or by hundreds of yogic breathing exercises.
Achievement of the goal depends primarily on a fit seeker. Things like locality and time are merely secondary in this matter.
Vivekachudamani (11 – 14)
Compiled & presented by
J.K
Analyse
Action.
Achieve
Realise
Adi Sankaracharya's Vivekachudamani is an important literary work that dwelves into the Advaita philosophy. Here are few teachings from the Vivekachudamani.
Action is for the purification of the mind, not for the understanding of reality. The recognition of reality is through discrimination, and not by even tens of millions of actions.
Proper analysis leads to the realisation of the reality of the rope, and this is the end of the pain of the fear of the great snake caused by delusion.
The realisation of the truth is seen to depend on meditation on statements about what is good, not on bathing or donations or by hundreds of yogic breathing exercises.
Achievement of the goal depends primarily on a fit seeker. Things like locality and time are merely secondary in this matter.
Vivekachudamani (11 – 14)
Compiled & presented by
J.K
Matri Upanishad Teachings..........................
Maitri Upanishad Teachings............................................
Maitri Upanishad belongs to the Krishna Yajur Veda. Here are few teachings from Maitri Upanishad.
Borne along and defiled by the stream of qualities¸ unsteady¸ wavering¸ bewildered¸ full of desire¸ distracted¸ one goes on into the state of self-conceit. In thinking¸ ‘This is I’ and ‘That is mine’ one binds himself with himself¸ as does a bird with a snare.
Mind is indeed the source of bondage and also the source of liberation. To be bound to things of this world: this is bondage. To be free from them: this is liberation.
The mind is said to be twofold: the pure and also the impure; impure from contact with desire — pure when freed from!
Even as fire without fuel becomes extinct in its own place, even so thought, by the cessation of activity becomes extinct in its own source.
What a man thinks, that he becomes, this is the eternal mystery.
These are the teachings of Maitri Upanishad
Maitri Upanishad belongs to the Krishna Yajur Veda. Here are few teachings from Maitri Upanishad.
Borne along and defiled by the stream of qualities¸ unsteady¸ wavering¸ bewildered¸ full of desire¸ distracted¸ one goes on into the state of self-conceit. In thinking¸ ‘This is I’ and ‘That is mine’ one binds himself with himself¸ as does a bird with a snare.
Mind is indeed the source of bondage and also the source of liberation. To be bound to things of this world: this is bondage. To be free from them: this is liberation.
The mind is said to be twofold: the pure and also the impure; impure from contact with desire — pure when freed from!
Even as fire without fuel becomes extinct in its own place, even so thought, by the cessation of activity becomes extinct in its own source.
What a man thinks, that he becomes, this is the eternal mystery.
These are the teachings of Maitri Upanishad
"Mantra Pushpam" A Great Mantra.............................
Mantra Pushpam.............A Great Mantra..........................
I hope that this mantra will be of great use to my friends, probably can take a print and chant daily/when time permits after your puja/prayers.
Yours in Divine Friendship
J.K
Mantra Pushpam........ A great mantra From Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda........
The flower of Vedic Chants) with meaning
This great mantra is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda. It is normally chanted in a chorus by all the priests together after performing any Pooja (worship) or Yagna and also the participants. It is in fact a chanting/recitation about origin and evolution of natural forces like water, air, fire, earth, sun and star and not restricted only in praise of God.
This is to express that Vedas are really texts of scientific knowledge and the recitation of this mantra is one way to keep it in memory to pass on to our younger generations.
Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Candramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
He who understands the flowers of water,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who understands this fact,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Fire is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Air is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Candrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Moon is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Stars are the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati
Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows that there is a raft is available,
Becomes established in that raft.
{This stanza is included in some versions of mantra Pushpam
Om thad Brahma, Om it is Brahma
Om Thad Vayu. Om it is air
Om Thad Athma Om it is the soul
Om Thad Sathyam Om it is the truth
Om That Sarvam Om it is everything
Om That puror nama Om salutations to that Purusha
Anthascharathi bhootheshu Guhyam Viswa Murthishu
That which is inside all beings secretly is that Universal God
Thvam Yajna You are the fire sacrifice,
Thwam vashatkara You are the the personification of Vedic sacrifice
Thwam Indra You are the Indra
Thvam vayu You are the air
Thvam Rudra You are the Rudra
Vishnus thvam You are the Vishnu
Brahmasthvam You are the Brahma
Thvam prajaipathi You are the Lord of all beings
Om Thadhapa apo jyothi raso amrutham brahma bhur bhuvasuvarom
Om water is light, the essence is the nectar and the concept of Brahma is in all the seven worlds.
Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine|
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.
(This last stanza is normally recited by priests while giving back prasada after performing an Archana in all temples)
King of kings, we praise thee,
Who is the giver of all victories,
Who is the fulfiller of all desires,
Please bless me with wealth,
To fulfill all our desires,
Oh, Kubhera*, we praise thee,
Salutations to the king of kings.
* Kubhera is the Lord of wealth.
"Aum Namo Nimishambaye Namaha"
"Aum Namo Nimishanandaye Namaha"
I hope that this mantra will be of great use to my friends, probably can take a print and chant daily/when time permits after your puja/prayers.
Yours in Divine Friendship
J.K
Mantra Pushpam........ A great mantra From Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda........
The flower of Vedic Chants) with meaning
This great mantra is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda. It is normally chanted in a chorus by all the priests together after performing any Pooja (worship) or Yagna and also the participants. It is in fact a chanting/recitation about origin and evolution of natural forces like water, air, fire, earth, sun and star and not restricted only in praise of God.
This is to express that Vedas are really texts of scientific knowledge and the recitation of this mantra is one way to keep it in memory to pass on to our younger generations.
Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Candramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
He who understands the flowers of water,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who understands this fact,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Fire is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Air is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Candrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Moon is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Stars are the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati
Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in himself.
He who knows that there is a raft is available,
Becomes established in that raft.
{This stanza is included in some versions of mantra Pushpam
Om thad Brahma, Om it is Brahma
Om Thad Vayu. Om it is air
Om Thad Athma Om it is the soul
Om Thad Sathyam Om it is the truth
Om That Sarvam Om it is everything
Om That puror nama Om salutations to that Purusha
Anthascharathi bhootheshu Guhyam Viswa Murthishu
That which is inside all beings secretly is that Universal God
Thvam Yajna You are the fire sacrifice,
Thwam vashatkara You are the the personification of Vedic sacrifice
Thwam Indra You are the Indra
Thvam vayu You are the air
Thvam Rudra You are the Rudra
Vishnus thvam You are the Vishnu
Brahmasthvam You are the Brahma
Thvam prajaipathi You are the Lord of all beings
Om Thadhapa apo jyothi raso amrutham brahma bhur bhuvasuvarom
Om water is light, the essence is the nectar and the concept of Brahma is in all the seven worlds.
Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine|
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.
(This last stanza is normally recited by priests while giving back prasada after performing an Archana in all temples)
King of kings, we praise thee,
Who is the giver of all victories,
Who is the fulfiller of all desires,
Please bless me with wealth,
To fulfill all our desires,
Oh, Kubhera*, we praise thee,
Salutations to the king of kings.
* Kubhera is the Lord of wealth.
"Aum Namo Nimishambaye Namaha"
"Aum Namo Nimishanandaye Namaha"
Is a Guru Essential?...........
Is a "GURU" Essential?.......read it and find out from the real life scenario of a great personality...
When Swami Vivekananda first visited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa he asked: ‘I have read the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures several times, I lecture and give discourses on the Gita and Ramayana. Do I still need the help of a saint; do I still need a guru?’
Sri Ramakrishna didn't reply to Vivekananda's question.
After a few days Ramakrishna called upon Vivekananda and handed him a parcel to be delivered at a village a few hours away by the sea route.
Early morning the boat and sailor would be ready and all he needed to do was to go to the village and deliver the parcel to the designated person.
Vivekananda agreed and decided to start early. He found the boat and the sailor ready to put out to sea. Suddenly, upon sitting in the boat, Vivekananda realized that he didn't know the road to the village. He inquired of the sailor who had no clue, either. Vivekananda decided to go back to his guru to ask him the shortest way to the village.
Upon this Ramakrishna said, ‘Narendra, this is my reply to the question you asked me when we met the first time:
Today, you have the medium (the boat), you have the resource (the sailor), you have the road (the sea), you know what to do (deliver the parcel) and you also know where to go but you don't know the way.
Likewise you have read all the scriptures, and you can conduct wonderful discourses on them. However, to realise the wisdom of scriptures one needs a guru, someone who has already traversed that path so that he can guide you through the journey and encourage you to not give up................................................................Therefore a "GURU" is indispensable for a True Seeker however and how much ever he is read and knowledgeable.
When Swami Vivekananda first visited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa he asked: ‘I have read the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures several times, I lecture and give discourses on the Gita and Ramayana. Do I still need the help of a saint; do I still need a guru?’
Sri Ramakrishna didn't reply to Vivekananda's question.
After a few days Ramakrishna called upon Vivekananda and handed him a parcel to be delivered at a village a few hours away by the sea route.
Early morning the boat and sailor would be ready and all he needed to do was to go to the village and deliver the parcel to the designated person.
Vivekananda agreed and decided to start early. He found the boat and the sailor ready to put out to sea. Suddenly, upon sitting in the boat, Vivekananda realized that he didn't know the road to the village. He inquired of the sailor who had no clue, either. Vivekananda decided to go back to his guru to ask him the shortest way to the village.
Upon this Ramakrishna said, ‘Narendra, this is my reply to the question you asked me when we met the first time:
Today, you have the medium (the boat), you have the resource (the sailor), you have the road (the sea), you know what to do (deliver the parcel) and you also know where to go but you don't know the way.
Likewise you have read all the scriptures, and you can conduct wonderful discourses on them. However, to realise the wisdom of scriptures one needs a guru, someone who has already traversed that path so that he can guide you through the journey and encourage you to not give up................................................................Therefore a "GURU" is indispensable for a True Seeker however and how much ever he is read and knowledgeable.
Gurupuja- Its significance..........................
"Gurupuja"- It's Significance.......................
Vyasa Purnima, or Vyas Puja, is observed on the full moon day in month of Ashada (June – July). Also known as Guru Poornima, the day is dedicated to Saints and Gurus, particularly to Sage Veda Vyasa. Disciples perform Guru Puja on the day and venerate their Guru – who is considered to be the manifestation of God.
The teachings of Santana Dharma were orally transmitted from Guru to Shishya for thousands of years. The oral knowledge was first compiled and written down by Sage Veda Vyasa. It is believed that Veda Vyasa completed the compilation of the four Vedas on the Ashada Purnima day and therefore the day is referred as Vyasa Poornima. Hence Guru Puja is known as Vyasa Puja
Not only the Vedas, but Sage Vyasa is believed to have compiled numerous other important scriptures and it would be apt to address Him as the great composer of Hindu scriptures. Pujas, satsangs and cultural programs are organized on the day. devotees/disciples perform Guru Puja on the day.
Guru Poornima is also popularly known as Vyas Purnima after Sage Vyasa. Most people recognize Sage Vyas as the author of epic Mahabharata. But Saint Vyas is also a compiler and author of popular Holy Scriptures associated with Hinduism including the Vedas and the Puranas.
The unparalled knowledge of Santana Dharma that were only registered in the memory of great sages and which were passed on orally from Guru to Shishya for generations was for the first compiled and written down by Sage Vyasa. It is believed that Sage Vyasa completed the compilation of the four Vedas on the Purnima day and therefore the day is referred as Vyasa Poornima.
The Vedas were written for the first time on ‘Bhoj Patra’ and to complete this job Sage Vyasa chose a secluded place and even his close disciples were not allowed to visit him. He went into deep mediation and wrote down from memory the great teachings of the Saints of yesteryear. Knowledge which was passed down orally for generations was for the first time written down for future generations. When Sage Vyasa gave darshan to his disciples after completing the Vedas, they referred to the day as Guru Purnima as Sage Vyasa was their Guru.
Vyasa Purnima, or Vyas Puja, is observed on the full moon day in month of Ashada (June – July). Also known as Guru Poornima, the day is dedicated to Saints and Gurus, particularly to Sage Veda Vyasa. Disciples perform Guru Puja on the day and venerate their Guru – who is considered to be the manifestation of God.
The teachings of Santana Dharma were orally transmitted from Guru to Shishya for thousands of years. The oral knowledge was first compiled and written down by Sage Veda Vyasa. It is believed that Veda Vyasa completed the compilation of the four Vedas on the Ashada Purnima day and therefore the day is referred as Vyasa Poornima. Hence Guru Puja is known as Vyasa Puja
Not only the Vedas, but Sage Vyasa is believed to have compiled numerous other important scriptures and it would be apt to address Him as the great composer of Hindu scriptures. Pujas, satsangs and cultural programs are organized on the day. devotees/disciples perform Guru Puja on the day.
Guru Poornima is also popularly known as Vyas Purnima after Sage Vyasa. Most people recognize Sage Vyas as the author of epic Mahabharata. But Saint Vyas is also a compiler and author of popular Holy Scriptures associated with Hinduism including the Vedas and the Puranas.
The unparalled knowledge of Santana Dharma that were only registered in the memory of great sages and which were passed on orally from Guru to Shishya for generations was for the first compiled and written down by Sage Vyasa. It is believed that Sage Vyasa completed the compilation of the four Vedas on the Purnima day and therefore the day is referred as Vyasa Poornima.
The Vedas were written for the first time on ‘Bhoj Patra’ and to complete this job Sage Vyasa chose a secluded place and even his close disciples were not allowed to visit him. He went into deep mediation and wrote down from memory the great teachings of the Saints of yesteryear. Knowledge which was passed down orally for generations was for the first time written down for future generations. When Sage Vyasa gave darshan to his disciples after completing the Vedas, they referred to the day as Guru Purnima as Sage Vyasa was their Guru.
Hymns on "Guru" with meaning
HYMNS ON "GURU" with meaning- A subtle & divine presentation on "Gurupurnima Day".......
"Aum Jai Matha"
"Aum Jai Gurudeva"
Guru Stotra
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha
Meaning:
Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru.
Akhanda Mandalaakaaram
Vyaaptam Yenam charaacharam
Tatpadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
Guru can guide us to the supreme knowledge of THAT which pervades all the living and non-living beings in the entire Universe (namely Brahman). I salute such a Guru.
Agnyaana Timiraandhasya
Gnyaana Anjana Shalaakayaa
Chakshuhu Unmeelitam Yenam
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
A Guru can save us from the pangs of ignorance (darkness) by applying to us the balm of knowledge or awareness of the Supreme, I salute such a Guru.
Sthaavaram Jangamam Vyaaptam
Yatkinchit Sacharaa Charam
TatPadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who can enlighten us about the all pervading consciousness present in all the three world or states (of Jaagrath, Swapna and Sushupti ... activity, dream and deep sleep state), I salute such a Guru.
Chinmayam Vyaapti Yatsarvam
Trailokya Sacharaa Charam
TatPadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That revered Guru who directs my attention to the ONE divinity existing in all that is inert (immobile) as well as that which is active (mobile), I salute such a Guru.
Sarva Sruti Shiroratna
Viraajita Padambujaha
Vedaantaambuja Sooryo Yah
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who is the ocean of the Srutis (Vedas), the Sun of knowledge (who can destroy our ignorance with these rays), I salute such a Guru.
Chaitanyah Shaashwatah Shaantho
Vyomaateeto Niranjanaha
Bindu Naada Kalaateetaha
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who is the representative of the unchangeable, ever present, peaceful spirit, who is one pointed and beyond the realm of space and time, whose vision is always enchanting, I salute such a Guru.
Gnyaana Shakti Samaaroodah
Tatwa Maalaa Vibhooshitaha
Bhukti Mukti Pradaaneyna
Tasmai sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who is an ocean of knowledge, who is always in Yoga (in unison With God) who is adorned by the knowledge of the God principle, the One Who can liberate us from this mundane existence, I salute such a Guru.
Aneka Janma Sampraapta
Karma Bandha Vidaahine
Atma Gnyaana Pradaaneyna
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who can help us free from the chain of karma accumulated over several lives, by teaching us the knowledge of the self (Atma Gnyaana), I salute such a Guru.
Shoshanam Bhava Sindhoscha
Gnyaapanam Saarasampadaha
Guror Padodakam Samyak
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who can help us cross this ocean of life, the one who can reveal to us the Divine, I adore his Paadukaas (hold on to his feet), I salute such a Guru.
Na Guror Adhikam Tatwam
Na Guror Adhikam Tapaha
Tatwa Gnyaanaat Param Naasti
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
There no greater principle than the Guru; there is no greater penance than the Guru; There is no greater knowledge than meditation on such a Guru. I prostrate such a Guru.
Mannaathah Sri Jaganaatho
Madguruhu Sri Jagad Guruhu
Madh Atma Sarva Bhootaatma
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The Lord of the world is my Lord and the Guru of the World is my Guru, the SELF in me is the same which is present in all (the same divinity inherent in all beings). I prostrate such a Guru (who gives me this insight).
Guroraadi Anaadischa
Guruh Parama Daivatam
Guroh Parataram Naasti
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The Guru has neither beginning nor end; the Guru is the ultimate God (in the visible form). There is nothing beyond this Guru principle, and I prostrate such a Guru.
Dhyaanamoolam Gurur Moorthihi
Poojamoolam Guroh Padam
Mantramoolam Guror Vaakyam
Moksha Moolam Guru Krupa.
Meaning: The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.
Brahmaanandham Parama Sukhadam
Kevalam Jnaana Murthim
Dhvandhvaa Theetham Gagana Sadhrisham
Tathvam Asyaadi Lakshyam
Ekam Nithyam Vimalam Achalam
Sarvadhee Saakshi Bhutham
Bhavaatheetham Thriguna Rahitham
Sadhgurum Tham Namaami.
Meaning:
This sloka tries to describe the qualities of a true Guru. A real Guru has the following qualities.
He experiences the supreme Bliss of Brahmaananda (transcedental divine bliss).
He enjoys and confers changeless supreme happiness.
He is beyond space and time (there is nothing higher than him).
He is the embodiment of wisdom which is the basis for all types of knowledge.
He transcends the pair of opposites (such as happiness and sorrow, gain and loss).
He is more Omnipresent than space itself.
He is the very embodiment of the Divine principle, which is the inner meaning of the four great pronouncements Prajnaanam Brahma, Aham Brahmasmi, Thath Thvam Asi and Ayam Aathma Brahma.
He is One without a second (ekam). He never changes under any circumstances (nithyam).
He is without any type of impurity .
He is steady and motionless(achalam) .
He is the witness of everything.
He transcends mental comprehension and verbal explanation.
He is beyond the three gunas (sathva, rajas and thamas). I offer my humble salutations to such a Guru who possesses all these qualities.
Compiled & Prsented by:-
J.K
"Aum Jai Matha"
"Aum Jai Gurudeva"
Guru Stotra
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha
Meaning:
Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru.
Akhanda Mandalaakaaram
Vyaaptam Yenam charaacharam
Tatpadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
Guru can guide us to the supreme knowledge of THAT which pervades all the living and non-living beings in the entire Universe (namely Brahman). I salute such a Guru.
Agnyaana Timiraandhasya
Gnyaana Anjana Shalaakayaa
Chakshuhu Unmeelitam Yenam
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
A Guru can save us from the pangs of ignorance (darkness) by applying to us the balm of knowledge or awareness of the Supreme, I salute such a Guru.
Sthaavaram Jangamam Vyaaptam
Yatkinchit Sacharaa Charam
TatPadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who can enlighten us about the all pervading consciousness present in all the three world or states (of Jaagrath, Swapna and Sushupti ... activity, dream and deep sleep state), I salute such a Guru.
Chinmayam Vyaapti Yatsarvam
Trailokya Sacharaa Charam
TatPadam Darshitam Yena
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That revered Guru who directs my attention to the ONE divinity existing in all that is inert (immobile) as well as that which is active (mobile), I salute such a Guru.
Sarva Sruti Shiroratna
Viraajita Padambujaha
Vedaantaambuja Sooryo Yah
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who is the ocean of the Srutis (Vedas), the Sun of knowledge (who can destroy our ignorance with these rays), I salute such a Guru.
Chaitanyah Shaashwatah Shaantho
Vyomaateeto Niranjanaha
Bindu Naada Kalaateetaha
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
That Guru who is the representative of the unchangeable, ever present, peaceful spirit, who is one pointed and beyond the realm of space and time, whose vision is always enchanting, I salute such a Guru.
Gnyaana Shakti Samaaroodah
Tatwa Maalaa Vibhooshitaha
Bhukti Mukti Pradaaneyna
Tasmai sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who is an ocean of knowledge, who is always in Yoga (in unison With God) who is adorned by the knowledge of the God principle, the One Who can liberate us from this mundane existence, I salute such a Guru.
Aneka Janma Sampraapta
Karma Bandha Vidaahine
Atma Gnyaana Pradaaneyna
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who can help us free from the chain of karma accumulated over several lives, by teaching us the knowledge of the self (Atma Gnyaana), I salute such a Guru.
Shoshanam Bhava Sindhoscha
Gnyaapanam Saarasampadaha
Guror Padodakam Samyak
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The one who can help us cross this ocean of life, the one who can reveal to us the Divine, I adore his Paadukaas (hold on to his feet), I salute such a Guru.
Na Guror Adhikam Tatwam
Na Guror Adhikam Tapaha
Tatwa Gnyaanaat Param Naasti
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
There no greater principle than the Guru; there is no greater penance than the Guru; There is no greater knowledge than meditation on such a Guru. I prostrate such a Guru.
Mannaathah Sri Jaganaatho
Madguruhu Sri Jagad Guruhu
Madh Atma Sarva Bhootaatma
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The Lord of the world is my Lord and the Guru of the World is my Guru, the SELF in me is the same which is present in all (the same divinity inherent in all beings). I prostrate such a Guru (who gives me this insight).
Guroraadi Anaadischa
Guruh Parama Daivatam
Guroh Parataram Naasti
Tasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
Meaning:
The Guru has neither beginning nor end; the Guru is the ultimate God (in the visible form). There is nothing beyond this Guru principle, and I prostrate such a Guru.
Dhyaanamoolam Gurur Moorthihi
Poojamoolam Guroh Padam
Mantramoolam Guror Vaakyam
Moksha Moolam Guru Krupa.
Meaning: The Guru's form is the best to meditate upon; the Guru's feet are the best for worship; the Guru's word is the mantra; the Guru's Grace is the root of liberation.
Brahmaanandham Parama Sukhadam
Kevalam Jnaana Murthim
Dhvandhvaa Theetham Gagana Sadhrisham
Tathvam Asyaadi Lakshyam
Ekam Nithyam Vimalam Achalam
Sarvadhee Saakshi Bhutham
Bhavaatheetham Thriguna Rahitham
Sadhgurum Tham Namaami.
Meaning:
This sloka tries to describe the qualities of a true Guru. A real Guru has the following qualities.
He experiences the supreme Bliss of Brahmaananda (transcedental divine bliss).
He enjoys and confers changeless supreme happiness.
He is beyond space and time (there is nothing higher than him).
He is the embodiment of wisdom which is the basis for all types of knowledge.
He transcends the pair of opposites (such as happiness and sorrow, gain and loss).
He is more Omnipresent than space itself.
He is the very embodiment of the Divine principle, which is the inner meaning of the four great pronouncements Prajnaanam Brahma, Aham Brahmasmi, Thath Thvam Asi and Ayam Aathma Brahma.
He is One without a second (ekam). He never changes under any circumstances (nithyam).
He is without any type of impurity .
He is steady and motionless(achalam) .
He is the witness of everything.
He transcends mental comprehension and verbal explanation.
He is beyond the three gunas (sathva, rajas and thamas). I offer my humble salutations to such a Guru who possesses all these qualities.
Compiled & Prsented by:-
J.K
Realities of worship...............................
Realities Of Worship.......Helps to preserve the Hindu Righteousness towards Universal Peace.
We approach the temple in a much different way, a humble way. We believe that the Deity lives in the temple, that He comes from the inner worlds, hovers over the stone image in His golden body of light and, as the priest invokes Him, blesses those present. Everyone is elated. Everyone feels His holy presence, and an advanced soul may even see Him there. So, we approach the Deity with a pure mind. We approach Him in trepidation. We want to look our best, for when He takes over the stone image in the sanctum and sends forth His rays and vibrations of blessing, we don't want to look disrespectful in His eyes. We therefore prepare the body and the mind before going to the temple. We get our aura looking just right. The aura is the sum of vibrations that emanate out around the body. The colors of the aura are dark or light depending on the nature of our thoughts and emotions. We prepare our aura by chanting mantras, hymns and prayers. We prepare our body by
bathing and dressing simply and properly. Then we go to the temple, and the Deity actually comes on the inner planes and blesses us, listens to our prayers, clears our minds and calms our emotions.
We take that holy vibration home, back into the community, where we respect our elders and they guide us wisely. Then culture flourishes, because culture has its source right there in the temple. When culture is flooding out of the temple, our actions are productive and our minds are creative, our speech is pure, our hearts rejoice and we become good citizens.
Religion makes us good citizens, because we are peaceful inside and want peace in our land. Peace comes first from the individual. It is unrealistic to expect peace from our neighbours unless we are peaceful first, unless we make ourselves peaceful through right living, right worship and right religious culture in the home.
How can we destroy all of this? It's simple. Stop going to the temple. Culture will begin to go. Refinement and love will begin to go. Arguments will be heard in the homes. Stress and mental illness will become the common experience-all because we stopped that one, great, mystical practice-temple worship.
The temple is the great psychiatrist of the Hindu religion. When we forget that, we suffer the consequences of our neglect, personally and as a nation. The temple has mystical powers that surpass the greatest psychiatrists on the planet. Our priesthoods have the tools to invoke and perpetuate this power. The temple can not only analyse your problem, it can give absolution. You can leave the temple wondering what it was that was bothering you on the way to seek the help of the Deity-so complete is the power of the temple.
Be proud to say that we worship God and the Gods. We object to the liberal Hindu propaganda which denies the existence of our Gods and installs its limited knowledge in their place. We object to the notion that all religions are one, and we believe that for us God(Hinduism) is the greatest religion on the Earth and has no equal. It is my earnest and humble request that Hindu Religious leaders should rise up against liberal Hinduism and remove it from the minds of the children and the general population. It is a cancer for which there is no miraculous cure, so it has to be surgically removed to preserve Hinduism. That is the only solution available.
Well, we all can observe that our religion is faced with a lot of serious problems. Yet, there are good, sensible solutions if we, the united Hindus of the world, all pitch in and work together and have a little selfless sacrifice to offer. Feel the spirit coming up among God's devotees. But it is not enough. More has to be done. We need religious people to come forward from among the grihastha community, who have something to offer, who can serve and teach the Hindu Dharma. We need Hindu schools of a fine caliber to be built and managed by devout Hindus. We need all of you to spread the religion to the next generation, many of whom are not receiving proper religious training. We need field workers and teachers and missionaries to serve God in His work. This is necessary in the technological age, necessary in order that Hinduism will be the religion of the future, not of the past.
J.K
We approach the temple in a much different way, a humble way. We believe that the Deity lives in the temple, that He comes from the inner worlds, hovers over the stone image in His golden body of light and, as the priest invokes Him, blesses those present. Everyone is elated. Everyone feels His holy presence, and an advanced soul may even see Him there. So, we approach the Deity with a pure mind. We approach Him in trepidation. We want to look our best, for when He takes over the stone image in the sanctum and sends forth His rays and vibrations of blessing, we don't want to look disrespectful in His eyes. We therefore prepare the body and the mind before going to the temple. We get our aura looking just right. The aura is the sum of vibrations that emanate out around the body. The colors of the aura are dark or light depending on the nature of our thoughts and emotions. We prepare our aura by chanting mantras, hymns and prayers. We prepare our body by
bathing and dressing simply and properly. Then we go to the temple, and the Deity actually comes on the inner planes and blesses us, listens to our prayers, clears our minds and calms our emotions.
We take that holy vibration home, back into the community, where we respect our elders and they guide us wisely. Then culture flourishes, because culture has its source right there in the temple. When culture is flooding out of the temple, our actions are productive and our minds are creative, our speech is pure, our hearts rejoice and we become good citizens.
Religion makes us good citizens, because we are peaceful inside and want peace in our land. Peace comes first from the individual. It is unrealistic to expect peace from our neighbours unless we are peaceful first, unless we make ourselves peaceful through right living, right worship and right religious culture in the home.
How can we destroy all of this? It's simple. Stop going to the temple. Culture will begin to go. Refinement and love will begin to go. Arguments will be heard in the homes. Stress and mental illness will become the common experience-all because we stopped that one, great, mystical practice-temple worship.
The temple is the great psychiatrist of the Hindu religion. When we forget that, we suffer the consequences of our neglect, personally and as a nation. The temple has mystical powers that surpass the greatest psychiatrists on the planet. Our priesthoods have the tools to invoke and perpetuate this power. The temple can not only analyse your problem, it can give absolution. You can leave the temple wondering what it was that was bothering you on the way to seek the help of the Deity-so complete is the power of the temple.
Be proud to say that we worship God and the Gods. We object to the liberal Hindu propaganda which denies the existence of our Gods and installs its limited knowledge in their place. We object to the notion that all religions are one, and we believe that for us God(Hinduism) is the greatest religion on the Earth and has no equal. It is my earnest and humble request that Hindu Religious leaders should rise up against liberal Hinduism and remove it from the minds of the children and the general population. It is a cancer for which there is no miraculous cure, so it has to be surgically removed to preserve Hinduism. That is the only solution available.
Well, we all can observe that our religion is faced with a lot of serious problems. Yet, there are good, sensible solutions if we, the united Hindus of the world, all pitch in and work together and have a little selfless sacrifice to offer. Feel the spirit coming up among God's devotees. But it is not enough. More has to be done. We need religious people to come forward from among the grihastha community, who have something to offer, who can serve and teach the Hindu Dharma. We need Hindu schools of a fine caliber to be built and managed by devout Hindus. We need all of you to spread the religion to the next generation, many of whom are not receiving proper religious training. We need field workers and teachers and missionaries to serve God in His work. This is necessary in the technological age, necessary in order that Hinduism will be the religion of the future, not of the past.
J.K
Gurupurnima-2009
“Guru Poornima” 2009 - on the 7th of July,2009.............
"Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Sakshath Parambrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha."
According to the ancient texts “Guru” is placed at a very high position as
“Dhyana Moolam Gurormurthy,
Pooja Moolam Guror Paadam,
Mantra Moolam Gurorvaakyam,
and
Moksha Moolam Guro Kripa”.
It means if one desires to concentrate the first and foremost one to be concentrated is the Guru, to worship the foremost one to be worshipped is the only Guru; to listen to the wonder voice and sounds for total enrichment is the words and voice of Guru and to reach the totality – the only way to take the blessings of Guru............................
By remaining at the Divine & Lotus Feet of "Guru"
What a great saying and what a worthy message from the ancient texts of India!
In the process of life's journey, it has to be understood that a male and female does give birth to a child in the context of their biological need. There would be no idea for the male and female (who are called father and mother later) to give birth either to a Mahatma, or to a philosopher, or to a politician, or to a social worker, or to an anti-social element and so on. An action took place and a reaction resulted into a birth of a child whether accepted or not.
This however does not degrade the saying “Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava……..”. Mother and Father means so much to a child and they do the service which cannot be ever expected from anyone else on the earth and therefore the “parents” are second to one in this context. There shall be some expectations from a child that the child would look after them at a certain age or at a later part of the life. This means, a parental life expects something from the child, now,or sometime later, in any form of its nature.
The position of a "Guru" is totally different, he is the one who expects his devotees to come up in life, learn the best, live the best, remain molded to the best, and many such. There shall be no personal expectations from the devotee to a "Guru".
In this context a story....................here it goes. Acharya Nagarjuna,the most respectable Guru in medicinal sciences, was asked by two of his disciples for Guru Dakshina( in literal words a reward in token of what has been learnt from the Guru). Acharya Nagarjuna then asked the two disciples to bring an un-useful plant or tree or such matter as Guru Dakshina and a year long time was given to the disciples.
After the set period, both the disciples returned back to the Guru and cut a sorry figure saying that they could not find one such. Acharya Nagarjuna smiled and said that he was happy to notice the knowledge of the disciples and quite comfortable with the skills of the disciples and blessed them.
This speaks that the Guru tests his students in such a manner whether he could teach the disciples in full form or not. The only Guru Dakshina to a Guru is a passing on what he knew to the student and the student’s perfection in the field. The Guru always desires that the “Education and Knowledge” should go to the next generations and to remain live forever in the interest of the Society. The Guru's interest thus covers a very large group of the society.
In short and small words, knowledge if considered as the other bank, innocence or illiteracy is one bank and student starts at this point to reach the other bank and the bridge between these two is the Guru. Therefore Guru has to be worshipped. HE is the only one person capable of showing the form of God and he is the only one who can grant us Bhukti and Mukti.
It is a practice in India to worship the Gurus commencing from Veda Vyas on the Holy day of Guru Poornima. There are two forms of Guru; one is a Deeksha Guru and the second one is Seeksha Guru. Seeksha Gurus are those who give us formal education from nursery classes to any university degrees. Deeksha Guru is one such who opens the Gnana Netra – the third eye which helps us to realize the facts of life and thus to lead to the totality.
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 34 says.................................
Achieving spiritual perfection by oneself through yoga (meditation) is impractical. One must learn spiritual practices under the guidance of a Guru. We repose our faith in a Guru whose feet are roots of worship and the roots of liberation. He opens our eyes blinded by ignorance and darkness and guides us to our goals.
From this day of Guru Purnima, make your hearts sacred. Just as you wave away the mosquitoes that bite you, brush aside any difficulties that assail you. Do not be depressed by sorrow nor be elated by happiness. Develop equanimity and strive to attain Divinity by following then divine principles and words of "Guru".
Let us affirm to upkeep the value of ancient sciences and respect of our Guru in a form which befits the divine occasion. Let the next generation too know these values and it is our duty to educate the next generation on this subject. Let us not water out the excellent traditional values with all paradoxical illusions on the modernisation.
With Pranams to My Parama Pujya guruji Sri Sri Nimishandaji on this auspicious and Divine day of "Guru Purnima"
J.K
"Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Sakshath Parambrahma Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha."
According to the ancient texts “Guru” is placed at a very high position as
“Dhyana Moolam Gurormurthy,
Pooja Moolam Guror Paadam,
Mantra Moolam Gurorvaakyam,
and
Moksha Moolam Guro Kripa”.
It means if one desires to concentrate the first and foremost one to be concentrated is the Guru, to worship the foremost one to be worshipped is the only Guru; to listen to the wonder voice and sounds for total enrichment is the words and voice of Guru and to reach the totality – the only way to take the blessings of Guru............................
By remaining at the Divine & Lotus Feet of "Guru"
What a great saying and what a worthy message from the ancient texts of India!
In the process of life's journey, it has to be understood that a male and female does give birth to a child in the context of their biological need. There would be no idea for the male and female (who are called father and mother later) to give birth either to a Mahatma, or to a philosopher, or to a politician, or to a social worker, or to an anti-social element and so on. An action took place and a reaction resulted into a birth of a child whether accepted or not.
This however does not degrade the saying “Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava……..”. Mother and Father means so much to a child and they do the service which cannot be ever expected from anyone else on the earth and therefore the “parents” are second to one in this context. There shall be some expectations from a child that the child would look after them at a certain age or at a later part of the life. This means, a parental life expects something from the child, now,or sometime later, in any form of its nature.
The position of a "Guru" is totally different, he is the one who expects his devotees to come up in life, learn the best, live the best, remain molded to the best, and many such. There shall be no personal expectations from the devotee to a "Guru".
In this context a story....................here it goes. Acharya Nagarjuna,the most respectable Guru in medicinal sciences, was asked by two of his disciples for Guru Dakshina( in literal words a reward in token of what has been learnt from the Guru). Acharya Nagarjuna then asked the two disciples to bring an un-useful plant or tree or such matter as Guru Dakshina and a year long time was given to the disciples.
After the set period, both the disciples returned back to the Guru and cut a sorry figure saying that they could not find one such. Acharya Nagarjuna smiled and said that he was happy to notice the knowledge of the disciples and quite comfortable with the skills of the disciples and blessed them.
This speaks that the Guru tests his students in such a manner whether he could teach the disciples in full form or not. The only Guru Dakshina to a Guru is a passing on what he knew to the student and the student’s perfection in the field. The Guru always desires that the “Education and Knowledge” should go to the next generations and to remain live forever in the interest of the Society. The Guru's interest thus covers a very large group of the society.
In short and small words, knowledge if considered as the other bank, innocence or illiteracy is one bank and student starts at this point to reach the other bank and the bridge between these two is the Guru. Therefore Guru has to be worshipped. HE is the only one person capable of showing the form of God and he is the only one who can grant us Bhukti and Mukti.
It is a practice in India to worship the Gurus commencing from Veda Vyas on the Holy day of Guru Poornima. There are two forms of Guru; one is a Deeksha Guru and the second one is Seeksha Guru. Seeksha Gurus are those who give us formal education from nursery classes to any university degrees. Deeksha Guru is one such who opens the Gnana Netra – the third eye which helps us to realize the facts of life and thus to lead to the totality.
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 34 says.................................
Achieving spiritual perfection by oneself through yoga (meditation) is impractical. One must learn spiritual practices under the guidance of a Guru. We repose our faith in a Guru whose feet are roots of worship and the roots of liberation. He opens our eyes blinded by ignorance and darkness and guides us to our goals.
From this day of Guru Purnima, make your hearts sacred. Just as you wave away the mosquitoes that bite you, brush aside any difficulties that assail you. Do not be depressed by sorrow nor be elated by happiness. Develop equanimity and strive to attain Divinity by following then divine principles and words of "Guru".
Let us affirm to upkeep the value of ancient sciences and respect of our Guru in a form which befits the divine occasion. Let the next generation too know these values and it is our duty to educate the next generation on this subject. Let us not water out the excellent traditional values with all paradoxical illusions on the modernisation.
With Pranams to My Parama Pujya guruji Sri Sri Nimishandaji on this auspicious and Divine day of "Guru Purnima"
J.K
Friday, July 03, 2009
The path of commitment &Strenghth of commitment......
The Path of Commitment & Strength of commitment will lead one to live with Divine.
Commitment is a big word and a very scary word to many people nowadays. The word commitment means responsibility. The word commitment brings up our willpower. Many people think the word commitment is too limiting. We can sum up commitment in one word, dharma. The path of dharma is the path of one commitment after another commitment. In between the commitments is fulfilment of the commitment, which is another word for duty. We are here to realise God within our self. We are here to resolve all the karmas we put in motion in past lives. We are here to manage our affairs so properly that eventually we do not have to come back into a physical body anymore. This takes tremendous commitment, and our great Hindu religion gives us the knowledge of how to be committed.
If your religion is not manifesting daily in your life, then basically you don't have a religion. You just have some sort of culture which will eventually go away and be replaced with another kind of a culture, because it doesn't really matter to you. A question was raised.........
"How do I know what to be committed to?"
The answer: "What do you believe in?" Belief is a magical thing.
It's like a vitamin; it permeates your whole system. A belief can be taken away and another belief can replace it, or the belief can be strengthened through commitment. Be committed to your beliefs, or find beliefs that you can be committed to, then build on them. Then you will leave your footprints on the San Marga of time. Otherwise, you are just sitting in one place, making no progress. Nothing is happening in your life. The karmas aren't working right, and you are not able to face life in the right perspective and concept.
If you feel, day after day, that you are in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, then , you are a being who is fully committed to the spiritual path. If, day after day, you feel you don't know whether you are in the right place or not, and things are always "happening to you," that you are like a little boat on the great ocean of life being tossed around, here and there, then you should look within yourself and find out where you stand on the scale of life itself. What are your basic beliefs? What are your basic commitments? Ask for yourself.
There are many things to be committed to. Youths should be committed to an education that prepares them for what they plan to do in the future. Mothers should be committed to raising their children, making them good citizens. Husbands should be committed to raising up their family, taking care of their wife and children. That is a commitment that they have to fulfil. If they don't fulfil it, they are making an unworthy karma.
Commitment and dharma are just about the same. Dharma brings law and order into life, gives us rules to follow and guides us along. Where does commitment come from? Commitment comes from the soul. The intellectual mind is going this way and that way all the time, controlled or antagonised by other people's opinions most of the time and by how society is thinking. Commitment comes from the soul. It is a quality of the soul which you can teach to the next generation. Another quality of the soul is observation. Still another intuitive quality of the soul is creativity, which should be encouraged in every child. Through commitment, the soul dominates the intellect and the intellect dominates the instinctive mind. This is religion in action. This is living with Divine.
Strength of Commitment
What is our strength? One Supreme God and many Gods. First we have to decide who is the Supreme God. Having made that decision, you will have hope and peace of mind. You will have solace when you need it, and something to pass on to your children." Knowledge is strength". "Commitment is strength". Knowing where you stand and what you are, that is strength. Worshipping many Gods is our way, but they are not all the Supreme God. They are His helpers, His creations. There is only one Supreme God, though we call Him by various names.
Hinduism is a religion of today and tomorrow. It is not just a religion of history books and yesterday. Our religion gives us strength today. It is a religion which worships one Supreme God, with vast scriptures that prescribe the worship and illumine our minds with knowledge about the one Supreme God. Never forget this. Never forsake your Vedic Hindu Dharma, but fulfil it, and you will be rewarded, generation after generation.
There is a movement from within Hinduism itself which poses yet another threat to our religion, a threat to all the sects. I call it "liberal Hinduism." Liberal Hinduism is a confused mixture of many things thrown into one bowl. This movement was started by our forefathers, and it has to be corrected by us through being good human beings in this life.
What does liberal Hinduism teach? It teaches that it is not necessary to go to the temple, that yoga is not necessary, that all religions are one, that we need not listen to the swamis, and that sectarianism is wrong. What the followers of liberal Hinduism don't seem to realise is that if they destroy the temples, the sects and the swamis, they will be destroying Hinduism itself.
Liberal Hindus hold an idea that all religions are one. They must not have studied the various religions, or they would have to conclude, after years of comparative research, that all religions are not one, not at all alike. It was told that all religions are fundamentally one and all religions are good insofar as they teach devotion and good conduct, but they are not one. Other religions are totally different from Hinduism. They live under no illusions, because they know that the very foundations of Hinduism-namely, karma, reincarnation, yoga, God's existence in all things and the soul's ultimate merger in God-these beliefs are not their beliefs. There is very little beyond a belief in a Supreme God and some good moral laws that is common to nearly all religions, but there are many, many differences.
As Hindus, we love everyone. We appreciate and encourage all religious paths. That is our way. But that does not mean that we should abandon our beliefs and practices to embrace other religions.. That does not mean that we should put Jesus on the altar in our shrine room, which is exactly what the liberal Hindus do. That complacent syncretism is the result of faulty, liberal Hindu thinking.
Commitment is a big word and a very scary word to many people nowadays. The word commitment means responsibility. The word commitment brings up our willpower. Many people think the word commitment is too limiting. We can sum up commitment in one word, dharma. The path of dharma is the path of one commitment after another commitment. In between the commitments is fulfilment of the commitment, which is another word for duty. We are here to realise God within our self. We are here to resolve all the karmas we put in motion in past lives. We are here to manage our affairs so properly that eventually we do not have to come back into a physical body anymore. This takes tremendous commitment, and our great Hindu religion gives us the knowledge of how to be committed.
If your religion is not manifesting daily in your life, then basically you don't have a religion. You just have some sort of culture which will eventually go away and be replaced with another kind of a culture, because it doesn't really matter to you. A question was raised.........
"How do I know what to be committed to?"
The answer: "What do you believe in?" Belief is a magical thing.
It's like a vitamin; it permeates your whole system. A belief can be taken away and another belief can replace it, or the belief can be strengthened through commitment. Be committed to your beliefs, or find beliefs that you can be committed to, then build on them. Then you will leave your footprints on the San Marga of time. Otherwise, you are just sitting in one place, making no progress. Nothing is happening in your life. The karmas aren't working right, and you are not able to face life in the right perspective and concept.
If you feel, day after day, that you are in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, then , you are a being who is fully committed to the spiritual path. If, day after day, you feel you don't know whether you are in the right place or not, and things are always "happening to you," that you are like a little boat on the great ocean of life being tossed around, here and there, then you should look within yourself and find out where you stand on the scale of life itself. What are your basic beliefs? What are your basic commitments? Ask for yourself.
There are many things to be committed to. Youths should be committed to an education that prepares them for what they plan to do in the future. Mothers should be committed to raising their children, making them good citizens. Husbands should be committed to raising up their family, taking care of their wife and children. That is a commitment that they have to fulfil. If they don't fulfil it, they are making an unworthy karma.
Commitment and dharma are just about the same. Dharma brings law and order into life, gives us rules to follow and guides us along. Where does commitment come from? Commitment comes from the soul. The intellectual mind is going this way and that way all the time, controlled or antagonised by other people's opinions most of the time and by how society is thinking. Commitment comes from the soul. It is a quality of the soul which you can teach to the next generation. Another quality of the soul is observation. Still another intuitive quality of the soul is creativity, which should be encouraged in every child. Through commitment, the soul dominates the intellect and the intellect dominates the instinctive mind. This is religion in action. This is living with Divine.
Strength of Commitment
What is our strength? One Supreme God and many Gods. First we have to decide who is the Supreme God. Having made that decision, you will have hope and peace of mind. You will have solace when you need it, and something to pass on to your children." Knowledge is strength". "Commitment is strength". Knowing where you stand and what you are, that is strength. Worshipping many Gods is our way, but they are not all the Supreme God. They are His helpers, His creations. There is only one Supreme God, though we call Him by various names.
Hinduism is a religion of today and tomorrow. It is not just a religion of history books and yesterday. Our religion gives us strength today. It is a religion which worships one Supreme God, with vast scriptures that prescribe the worship and illumine our minds with knowledge about the one Supreme God. Never forget this. Never forsake your Vedic Hindu Dharma, but fulfil it, and you will be rewarded, generation after generation.
There is a movement from within Hinduism itself which poses yet another threat to our religion, a threat to all the sects. I call it "liberal Hinduism." Liberal Hinduism is a confused mixture of many things thrown into one bowl. This movement was started by our forefathers, and it has to be corrected by us through being good human beings in this life.
What does liberal Hinduism teach? It teaches that it is not necessary to go to the temple, that yoga is not necessary, that all religions are one, that we need not listen to the swamis, and that sectarianism is wrong. What the followers of liberal Hinduism don't seem to realise is that if they destroy the temples, the sects and the swamis, they will be destroying Hinduism itself.
Liberal Hindus hold an idea that all religions are one. They must not have studied the various religions, or they would have to conclude, after years of comparative research, that all religions are not one, not at all alike. It was told that all religions are fundamentally one and all religions are good insofar as they teach devotion and good conduct, but they are not one. Other religions are totally different from Hinduism. They live under no illusions, because they know that the very foundations of Hinduism-namely, karma, reincarnation, yoga, God's existence in all things and the soul's ultimate merger in God-these beliefs are not their beliefs. There is very little beyond a belief in a Supreme God and some good moral laws that is common to nearly all religions, but there are many, many differences.
As Hindus, we love everyone. We appreciate and encourage all religious paths. That is our way. But that does not mean that we should abandon our beliefs and practices to embrace other religions.. That does not mean that we should put Jesus on the altar in our shrine room, which is exactly what the liberal Hindus do. That complacent syncretism is the result of faulty, liberal Hindu thinking.
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