God created the human being and settled him in paradise

According to religious tradition, God created the human being and settled him in paradise. But after some time, man committed a grave error and was sent down to earth.
    In the beginning, God wanted to settle the whole of the human race in paradise, but after we sinned, God changed His plan. Thereafter, only selected individuals would be allowed to enter paradise. According to this story of creation, we lost our initial advantage and since then only the second best has been available to us. This story shows us the right direction for our lives.
    The human being is an idealistic creature by birth. Everyone tries to find his ideal goal, one that is the very best for him. But it is a fact that no one succeeds in doing so. If this is the case, what should we do? The only course open for all men and women is to accept the second best as the only available choice. This is the only way to have a tension-free life in this world.
    If you are not ready to accept the second best and you would prefer to keep straining for the ideal, the result could well turn out to be disastrous. For example, a certain lady, who was working in a multinational company, failed to get promoted for some reason. She fell into a state of deep frustration and ultimately committed suicide. There are many such cases of people failing to find what they think is optimal, and then they become deeply depressed.
    This kind of depression is due perhaps to a lack of awareness of the law of nature. If the lady in question, for instance, had been aware that according to the law of nature, only the second best was attainable for her and that she (or others like her) had already achieved that, the realisation would have given her contentment and a tension-free life. This principle applies not only to individuals but also to nations.
    The best formula of life is: Try, try by all means to achieve the very best, but when you feel that you can only get the second best then accept it gracefully. Because if you remain in denial, and try to achieve the acme of perfection, that will only land you in a worse predicament.
    The same applies to nations. This is a competitive world and this could be a formidable obstacle to everyone getting the very best in life. In such a situation, the only safe option is to accept the second best. When you try to have the very best, then you are compelled to engage in continuous confrontation. The only risk-free option is to accept the second best. So be a realist. If you try to get the very best, it means your approach is unrealistic, but if you accept the second best, it means that you have opted for a realistic approach. And in this world of competition only a realistic approach can save you from disaster.
In short, the very best might be unachievable, while the second best is always within your reach. It is a fact that everyone is an idealist by birth, but you have to rein in your idealism and be content with the second best. As a matter of practicality, there is no other option for you in this world. This is the story of our lives: We tend to lose whatever is second best on account of just one reason, and that is, our futile pursuit of the very best.

whatever object or being a man thinks of at the time of his death or departure from the body, that alone does he attain

yum yum vaapi smaranbhaavam tyajatyante kalevaram

tam tamevaiti kaunteya sadaa tadbhaavbhaavitah (Gita 8/6)

O Kaunteya (Arjuna), whatever object or being a man thinks of at the time of his death or departure from the body, that alone does he attain, being ever absorbed in its thought. (in other words he takes birth in those wombs) (Gita 8/6)

A being is reborn in the body he thinks of at the time of death. As is his nature, he thinks accordingly at the time of death. As a man tending to a pet dog thinks of it at the time of death, he is born as a dog. As the programme broadcast from a particular radio station is received at a particular wave-­length and then spreads in the form of sound, the thought of a dog with which he has been connected is caught by him somehow. The soul with subtle and causal bodies enters the body of the dog via water, air (breath) or food etc. Thereafter, it enters the body of a female dog and takes birth as a puppy at the appropriate time.

This can be explained with the help of an illustration. A person goes to a photographer and requests him to take his photograph. The photographer advises him to keep a smiling face without any movement. But when the photographer asks him to be ready, a fly sits on his nose and so he moves his facial muscles to get rid of that fly. The result is that in the photograph he appears with a distorted face. In the same way, a man is reborn according to his thoughts at the time of death.

As far as the time to take a photograph is concerned, we know it before hand, but we do not know the time of death. So, by purifying our nature and thoughts, we should be ever alert and think of Him at all times (Gita 8/5, 7).

In this directive of the Lord is seen His justice, as well as mercy. Generally, justice and mercy (compassion) seem incompatible, because if there is justice, there cannot be compassion (mercy), while having mercy, justice cannot be done. The reason is that in doing proper justice there is no leeway, but in mercy, concessions are made. As such, this rule is applicable to ordinary unkind human beings, not to the Lord, as He is the most gracious One, and is a disinterested friend of all beings, (Gita 5/29). So, all His ordinances and rules are full of justice and mercy.

Whatever being a man thinks of at the time of death, he acquires the same form on rebirth. If he dies thinking of a dog, he is reborn as a dog. This is God's justice. But He has given freedom of choice to man, to think either of a dog or of a man, or of God, and this is His mercy. A man can attain God, simply by thinking of Him, as he can obtain the body of a dog, by thinking of it. If a man starts thinking of God's justice and compassion, he will be attracted towards God alone.

The only function of the living being is to render service to the Lord.

In the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā the Lord asserts that He appears in every millennium just to reestablish the way of religion. The way of religion is made by the Supreme Lord. No one can manufacture a new path of religion, as is the fashion for certain ambitious persons. The factual way of religion is to accept the Lord as the supreme authority and thus render service unto Him in spontaneous love. A living being cannot help but render service because he is constitutionally made for that purpose. The only function of the living being is to render service to the Lord. The Lord is great, and living beings are subordinate to Him. Therefore, the duty of the living being is just to serve Him only. Unfortunately the illusioned living beings, out of misunderstanding only, become servants of the senses by material desire. This desire is called avidyā, or nescience. And out of such desire the living being makes different plans for material enjoyment centered about a perverted sex life. He therefore becomes entangled in the chain of birth and death by transmigrating into different bodies on different planets under the direction of the Supreme Lord. Unless, therefore, one is beyond the boundary of this nescience, one cannot get free from the threefold miseries of material life. That is the law of nature.

The Lord, however, out of His causeless mercy, because He is more merciful to the suffering living beings than they can expect, appears before them and renovates the principles of devotional service comprised of hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, praying, cooperating and surrendering unto Him. Adoption of all the above-mentioned items, or any one of them, can help a conditioned soul get out of the tangle of nescience and thus become liberated from all material sufferings created by the living being illusioned by the external energy. This particular type of mercy is bestowed upon the living being by the Lord in the form of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Every human being is mixture of 3 goonas Sat, Rajas and Tamas

Gita 3-37

Every human being is mixture of 3 goonas Sat, Rajas and Tamas.

Threse 3 words of Sankhya Darshan need great understanding.

I send my translation of last verses of Ch 3

Karma are always preceded by some desires

Desires arising from Sat goona base are noble and must be done.

Nameste From HKG (Hiralal Gandhi)

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What is the definition of a sin?

"No body wishes to commit sins knowingly. Yet people commit many sins (make mistakes in life) as if they are dragged by an invisible force. Oh Krishna please tell me why such things happen?" (36).

All religions advise not to commit sins, or ask for forgiveness for the sins. In the ending verses (37 to 43), Lord explains the root cause of all sins. Once you know how sins occur, you will remain alert and avoid them. This is the beauty of The Gita, compared to scriptures of other religions which give doctrines, commandments and taboos.

"When desires and angers, mixed with selfish motives (Rajas) grip the mind then sins are committed. These inner tendencies (instincts, desires) are the greatest enemies of any individual. They burn you, destroy you. Recognize them and conquer them by self-discipline" . (37).

"The sex of an embryo is not visible under cover of placenta, fire is under the cover of smoke, and a clear image is not visible in a dirty mirror. In same way desires produce a veil over knowledge. Like an ever burning wild fire, all ego centric desires are the greatest enemies of all men of knowledge". (38 & 39).

“Desires reside in sense organs, mind, and intellect, and cover them like a veil. Therefore control all sense organs at first, and slain great enemy -desire, which destroys scientific talents and knowledge”. (40, & 41)

"The organs of knowledge (senses) and organs of actions are good, but mind is higher than the organs. Intellect is higher than mind. But the highest of all is 'THAT' (spirit, soul, the divine self)". (42).In many verses divine spirit or Brahaman (ATMA) is referred to as nameless ‘THAT or THIS’. (See Kathopanishad V-III-10.)

" Oh man of mighty-arms, desire (Kama) is most difficult of all the enemies to conquer. Recognize it by use of own intellect and the supreme soul within you. Conquer and slain inner enemy- DESIRES. (wants, wish, expectation, hopes, passions etc.). (43).

Refuge is Being Happy in His Will

Ram Ram

Gist: Attain God - take refuge in Him. It is the easiest - and best path. Only God is ours - no one else is ours. A true devotee has an exclusive relation with only God. Do everything for His happiness. Let everything be His Will. Relation with the world is only for service. Serve everyone. Be only God's. You are only His.

Refuge is Being Happy in His Will

Devotion (Bhakti) is the best and easiest path for the attainment of God and even in devotion 'refuge in God' (sharnagati) tops it all and is the easiest. Gita starts with refuge (Gita 2:7) and ends with refuge (Gita 18:66,73). God says take refuge in Me and I shall liberate you from all sins. Like a chaste wife - her entire life centers and depends on her husband. Even her lineage changes. Similarly, become God's. Take refuge in His Lotus feet. By doing so, our existence does not remain. Only God remains. Even the vilest of sinners are entitled to take refuge in God (Gita 9:30).

Refuge means His exclusive support, where there is no other support. (Like the chaatak bird. Like Mirabai - Only God is mine). This exclusivity is key. Serve all, but be only God's. This path is open to all and available at all times, in any situation or circumstance (whether ascetic or householder) . Only your sentiment and feeling needs to change. A true devotee has an exclusive relation with only God. Most of us accept our relation with God, but do not accept that no one else is ours. That is why we remain bound. One who has taken refuge in God has no concern with fame, praise, money, etc. No desire whatsoever. Only whatever is God's will.

Let all work be for God only (Gita 9:27). We are only concerned with His happiness. We are only His. Only acceptance is needed. I am not the world's. The world is only to serve because it is God's. I am everybody's to serve. He is the Master and I am the servant. Just say yes to His will. No desire of our own. Stay however He keeps you. Remain ever happy in His will. Refuge mean there is no want, no worry, no fear, no doubt, no sorrow. Prahlad never felt scared in the most unfavourable circumstances also. He was thrown in fire, but felt cool and unaffected in it, as He had taken refuge in God.

No effort is needed. Simply acceptance. Like a child who gets adopted by a millionaire has to make no effort to get rich, similarly become God's. No effort is needed to experience bliss - to attain God.

There is no question about being Happy or Sad - Gita 5:20

Gist: On attainment of either the desirable or undesirable, a spiritual aspirant must neither be happy, nor sad within. He is neither attached to the desirable, nor averse to the undesirable. He who realizes the true essence of the Self (Soul) and the modes of nature, knows that he is not the doer, and thus there is no question about him (the self) being happy or sad.

"Na prahrshyetpriyam paapya nodvijetpraapya chaapriyam
Sthirabuddhorasammu dho brahmavid brahmani sthitah." (Gita 5:20)

"He who neither rejoices on obtaining what is pleasant, nor grieves on receiving that which is unpleasant and who is of the firm understanding and unbewildered, such a knower of God vests in God" (Gita 5:20)

Let us focus on the first line - "Na prahrshyetpriyam paapya nodvijetpraapya chaapriyam" - To get favorable things, objects, beings, incidents, circumstances, body, senses, mind, principles, caste, creed, scriptures is called attaining that which is agreeable or desirable(priya) . To get anything contrary to that is getting what is disagreeable or undesirable (apriya).

On attainment of either the desirable or undesirable, a spiritual aspirant must neither be happy nor sad within (in the inner faculty, conscience). Having knowledge of both that which is desirable and undesirable, he is neither attached to the desirable, nor averse to the undesirable. Here the mistake is more about impressions being made on the inner faculty by being happy and sad from the desirable and undesirable. Mere knowledge of agreeable and disagreeable is not a flaw, if one remains free from joy or grief.

Knowledge of agreeable and disagreeable is in the inner faculty (antahkaran) , but the one who gets happy and sad is a doer. Though all actions are performed by the modes of nature, yet he whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks "I am the Doer," and feels happy and sad. But he who realizes the true essence of the Self (Soul) and the modes of nature, understands that it is the modes (gunas) which are acting on the modes (Gita 3:28). He knows that he is not the doer, and thus there is no question for him (the self) to be happy or sad.

Experience of Being Separate from this Body

God has endowed man with ample of ammunition for attaining his salvation. Rather He has given more than is essential. He has given a long life. Salvation is possible in minutes, but for that he has given years. With a little inquiry one can attain salvation, but he has give a lot of power of inquiry and contemplation. He has given ample of instruments by which man can attain his salvation several times over! Whereas, once salvation is attained, there is no need for attaining it a second time. God has given man, such extra-ordinary things. Just as when you inquire on this one point - you have clear knowledge that from childhood till today, the place, time, thing, individual, situation, incidents all changed, but you are the same. Leave all that changes, and that which does not change, grab hold of it then right now, at this very moment you can attain salvation. That which changes is not my true Self (swaroop) and that which does not change is my true Self. That is all the work there is.

In many circumstances, in many incidents, you remained one. After traveling in various countries, then too you remained one. After a significant passage of time, then too you remained the same. Even if everything changes, then too you remained the same. That which remains the same, that which does not change, you see it by separating it from the one that is changing, then that is it, Essential Knowledge, Truth is realized. But if you blend the two and see, then it is ignorance.

Those brothers and sisters that are engaged in spiritual disciplines, their minds have one point strongly ingrained in them, that this mind should become free of all modifications (changes), that it remain unaffected in an situations or incidents then realization of essential knowledge will take place. But if they are affected in situations, then realization has not taken place. Understand this point very well, that who is affected? The impressions are made on the mind, on the intellects, on the body on the sense organs, but the Self remains unaffected. Money came, you benefited, your mind became happy, and when you lost the money, you suffered losses, and then your mind became unhappy. In gains and losses the mind was affected in two different ways, but you remained as-is. Is it possible that you were different one when you have gains and different one when you had losses? If you weren't the same one, than who would have had the knowledge of both the gains and the losses. You remain equanimous. You remain one. There is no affect on you at all. The affect is on the mind-intellect.

A Self Realized great soul who is free from birth and death, he too becomes from a youth to an old man, and may not be able to see or hear as well, may not be able to walk and move around easily, but is there any changes in his knowledge? Body, senses, mind, intellect - these all are the kind that are changing. Among these if some changed, some had an affect of them, then what happened? You blend with these and consider yourself to have become happy and sad - this is he main mistake. You remain firm on the point that I am the very same one. The one that was present during happy times, that very same one I am during the unhappy moments and vice-versa. In this way, by not blending with that which comes and goes, to remain established in the Self is to be "swasth". "Samdukhahsukhah swastah" (Gita 14/24). Becoming happy and sad by blending with that which comes and goes, is to remain established in Prakruti (Nature). "purushah prakritishtho hi bhukte" (gita 13/21). You are not established in Nature at all, but knowingly you become established in it. You are neither in happiness, nor is unhappiness, nor in gains, nor in losses, nor in any birth, nor in any death.

You are separate from all of this. Intentionally you pull it and draw it close to you and become happy and unhappy; and then you say that I cannot seem to get enlightened! You only remain firm on this one point, that I am that very same one. If there are gains then too I am the same one, if there are losses then too I am the same one. You become established in the Self (Swa). That Self (Swa) is eternally without any modifications. There is no changes in the Self. All changes are in the inner faculties and by blending with them you too consider yourself as undergoing all these modifications and become happy and sad.

Whether some good thoughts come to mind, or some bad thoughts, whether deep regrets, or worries, whether you are elated, whether you are attracted, or whether there is aversion - in spite of all this happening, you remain established in the self. Do not mingle with it. By blending with it, is becoming established in the world (in nature). On becoming established in nature, you will incur sins, you will have to suffer, and in turn you will have to go through 8.4 million birth cycles, they may be hell, there will be birth and death - "kaaran gunasangosya sadsadyonijanmasu" (gita 13/21).

Therefore that which takes place, that which turns bad, that which comes, that which goes, seeing all of this, remain established in the Self, as you are the seer of everything (i.e. separate from the act). In happy times also you are the seer, and in unhappy times also you are the seer. You see the union also and you see the separation also. The seer is separate the object being seen - this is a rule. Therefore what difference has it made to you, the seer? You have remained As-Is, the same.