It is said in the Ramacharitramanas - "There is no duty like the welfare of others and there is no evilness like giving trouble to others."
"Par hit saris dharma nahi bhaayi. Par peeda sam nahi adhamaayi." (VII.40.1)
How pitiable it is to give trouble to others and to disturb their freedom by devoting your time to such useless activity as smoking and drinking alcohol! Is this precious time to be wasted in useless pursuits such as playing cards etc.?
No, if one had spent the time in studies, service and doing good to others, that would have been the right use of their time. But instead precious time is wasted for no reason.
By devoting time properly, one can attain God. To a devotee of God, God declares - "I am a servant of my devotees and they are the jewels on my crown."
"Mein hu bhagatan ko daas, bhagata nere mukutamani."
Thus people who devote their time to devotion become the jewels of His crown.
This human birth has been given to us for God Realization. There is a way to successfully live this life. If we adopt the techniques for living in this world God realization will come very quickly and easily. For doing any work, there is a certain know how. If we work according to that know how, the work will be successfully completed. Similarly to live in this world, also there is certain know how. So we must understand that know how. If we put to use that knowledge than very easily we will be able to live in this world and get beyond this worldly existence.
From book "Art of Living" by Swami Ramsukhdasji
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How to start living in Satyug from today
The last part of Verse 6th of 8th Chpater is "sada tad bhaw Bhawitah"
One of the interpretation of the above is that man will think only about what he has done or thought throughout his life.It is not possible to alter thought to God/surrender etc if he is away from such thoughts through out his life.
Thoughts move through association and attracts similar thoughts.If one is in Bhog and Yog both ,chances are thoughts about bhog will become stronger and overpower thoughts about Yog,Mind is strong,stubborn and is very difficult to control but is controlled by practice and detachment(verse 34 of 6th chapter).
But we have a choice.We have to make that choice now about our end time and whatever choice we make we have to pay attention to that with strong commitment.Dristdyu mna (Dridh Man) or strong mind is the leader of all good traits of man.So,ultimately it is our decision to have strong mind or weak mind.
Kaliyug or Satyug is the state of mind (Chitta) of a person and not the classification of period or ages.Persons aspiring for Sat(permanent, indestructible) are living today in Satyug and People aspiring for Kali(Dark/Black/ Tamas) are living today in Kaliyug.We have a choice to live today or tomorrow of this lifetime in kaliyug or satyug.
How to start living in Satyug from today:-
1)Start reading Gita from today.Three readings in quick succession is required in shortest possible time.If can be done in 3 months ,well and good.This will provide grounding or anchoring of your soul.
2)Mental Jap of OM all the time.
3)Change company of people from Bhog interested to yog interested.
Lastly,God says 'Tathatsu' (So Be It) to our every thought.
Behavior of children usually follows our own relationship
Behavior of children usually follows our own relationship with them from their childhood.
Sometimes, it stems from their immaturity, their "understanding" of their independence, or it stems from their friends or from the attitude of their spouses. Many times, it changes back to normal.
In India, we do not treat children as friends, and many times we do not even have a proper normal rapport with them. Be that as it may, you are facing this dire situation, and I empathize with you. But If you follow Vedanta, this is exactly where you should be, to fulfill the fruits of your own karmas. So, take heart. Also with no worries about the children, you can follow what your heart desires, in terms of Vedantic study, etc....
Yes, you will miss them and rapport with your grand children, if any. Whether your wife will live with your children, or follow you in your next quest, is upto you and her. I wish you both well.
You will ultimately make new friends, and reach your own life's decisions. But that which was never yours, will not be yours and that which is, will not part from you.
Do not dwell in the past. Wish them well. Bless them.
All this is easy to say, but I do feel your pain,
Sometimes, it stems from their immaturity, their "understanding" of their independence, or it stems from their friends or from the attitude of their spouses. Many times, it changes back to normal.
In India, we do not treat children as friends, and many times we do not even have a proper normal rapport with them. Be that as it may, you are facing this dire situation, and I empathize with you. But If you follow Vedanta, this is exactly where you should be, to fulfill the fruits of your own karmas. So, take heart. Also with no worries about the children, you can follow what your heart desires, in terms of Vedantic study, etc....
Yes, you will miss them and rapport with your grand children, if any. Whether your wife will live with your children, or follow you in your next quest, is upto you and her. I wish you both well.
You will ultimately make new friends, and reach your own life's decisions. But that which was never yours, will not be yours and that which is, will not part from you.
Do not dwell in the past. Wish them well. Bless them.
All this is easy to say, but I do feel your pain,
An action, in itself, cannot be good or bad because action is never an isolated from its circumstancesAn action, in itself, cannot be good or bad because action is never an isolated from its circumstances
An action, in itself, cannot be good or bad because action is never an isolated from its circumstances.
We know many cases where an action is "good" under a given situation whereas, the same action in a different context is "bad". Telling truth is good in a court of law but telling truth where an innocent person can be harmed by someone's evil action is bad! For example, Krishna advising Yudhisthira not to give straightforward answer to Dronacharya when the elephant named Ashwasthama got killed, giving him the impression that it was his son by the same name may have been killed, just to render him ineffective in the war to save Pandavas, where righteousness belonged! Another example, if killing, Per Se, is "bad", why its alright to kill in a war?
The reason for such a complexity is our solid interdependency on each other and nature that no thing in itself can be considered as "always good" or "always bad". Circumstances surrounding events determine relative goodness or evilness! Again "good" and "bad" are only in minds of people, and hence they are relatively good or bad, not in absolute sense!
Having said this, we must be aware of its practical implications:
Engage in those actions without being a doer, and with the best of intentions and skills that will result in greater good even at relative level. And above all, Trust God, HE/SHE/IT knows better!
Understanding comes from the Absolute while living happens in relative world!
Last point: Only as an individual, we don't have freedom or have some freedom limited by our conditioning! However, what we really are is Freedom itself, not that we have freedom, Just as God IS all freedom!
That which IS without limit, how can it not have Freedom to go on existing in infinite ever-changing forms including the freedom to be limited?
We know many cases where an action is "good" under a given situation whereas, the same action in a different context is "bad". Telling truth is good in a court of law but telling truth where an innocent person can be harmed by someone's evil action is bad! For example, Krishna advising Yudhisthira not to give straightforward answer to Dronacharya when the elephant named Ashwasthama got killed, giving him the impression that it was his son by the same name may have been killed, just to render him ineffective in the war to save Pandavas, where righteousness belonged! Another example, if killing, Per Se, is "bad", why its alright to kill in a war?
The reason for such a complexity is our solid interdependency on each other and nature that no thing in itself can be considered as "always good" or "always bad". Circumstances surrounding events determine relative goodness or evilness! Again "good" and "bad" are only in minds of people, and hence they are relatively good or bad, not in absolute sense!
Having said this, we must be aware of its practical implications:
Engage in those actions without being a doer, and with the best of intentions and skills that will result in greater good even at relative level. And above all, Trust God, HE/SHE/IT knows better!
Understanding comes from the Absolute while living happens in relative world!
Last point: Only as an individual, we don't have freedom or have some freedom limited by our conditioning! However, what we really are is Freedom itself, not that we have freedom, Just as God IS all freedom!
That which IS without limit, how can it not have Freedom to go on existing in infinite ever-changing forms including the freedom to be limited?
Story from the Purana...
Once the great sage Narada was intrigued by a doubt. He was sure that Lord Vishnu would clear it for him. He proceeded to the Ocean of Milk and found his Lord reclining on the giant hooded serpent-bed Shankarshana, His beautiful consort, Lakshmi devi beside Him.
Sage Narada made his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him.
"Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?"
Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, "I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?"
With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.
"Go over there and ask your question of that worm. I'm sure you'll get your answer."
Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.
Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had happened.
Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, "Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question of that calf."
Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier.
"Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of `go-hatya'!"
Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died!
Sage Narada was horrified. Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.
"Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!"
Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him.
"And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven't even got the answer to my question?!" sage Narada complained.
Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for him.
"You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer."
"No, my Lord! Please don't ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance."
But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do? Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth.
Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.
Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, "What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?'
The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak.
"O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.
You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.
Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!"
And this is the value of Vaishnava Association. We develop in all ways; spiritual as well as material.
Sage Narada made his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him.
"Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?"
Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, "I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?"
With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.
"Go over there and ask your question of that worm. I'm sure you'll get your answer."
Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.
Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had happened.
Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, "Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question of that calf."
Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier.
"Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of `go-hatya'!"
Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died!
Sage Narada was horrified. Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.
"Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!"
Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him.
"And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven't even got the answer to my question?!" sage Narada complained.
Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for him.
"You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer."
"No, my Lord! Please don't ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance."
But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do? Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth.
Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.
Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, "What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?'
The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak.
"O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.
You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.
Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!"
And this is the value of Vaishnava Association. We develop in all ways; spiritual as well as material.
Shortcut to escape from Past Sins and Succeed in life
It is true that whatever good or bad a person experiences in this life is, the result of his past *karma* ( activity) .
*karma* is a complex word . Every selfish *Karma* has a side effect . For example when a lady does cooking , it is for feeding her family . However, while operating it's flame, she is unknowingly causing the death of several creatures . It results in a negative reaction .
It is due to this reason that , Bhagavan Sri Krishna advises in His Bhagavat Gita to perform all *Karma* selflessly as an offering to Him .
The first vow one should take is * SaranAgathi* . (Seeking total and unconditional refuge at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna) . One should perform every *Karma* selflessly , without desiring it's fruits ( dedicating it to Bhagavan) . If so, the negative reactions of *Karma* does not affect him . Bhagavan shall return the fruits of those Karma to His bhakta with a blessing . Such a Bhakta will succeed in life . And he automatically escapes from all sins of his past *Karma* .
Daily bath is required to remove dirt from the body . Similarly , daily Nama-Japa is required to remove the dirt from heart . Sri Krishna's names are immensely powerful . When a bhakta chants Krishna-nama with faith , it automatically invokes Bhagavan whose presence automatically burns off all sins and dirt .
In the case of such a devout Bhakta , Bhagavan Himself will reveal through a medium of His choice if any *prayachit*( atonement) needs to be done for major past sins . Jyothisha is the means to know about past sins . However, accuracy of Jyothisha depends heavily on the seeker's Bhakti and resulting grace from Ishta-deva . There is no point in approaching a Jyothishi without any Bhakti and getting exploited by him .
Please chant this all purifying *Shodakshari Mantra* :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Realization of Freedom from Evils
Gist: Self (soul) being a part of God is innately free from evils. Trying to get rid of evil in us is accepting them in us. Be indifferent to (be detached, become an observer of) evils rather than trying to wipe them out. Evil is distinct and apart from the Self. Evil is born only because of our affinity with the unreal (nature). Evils make their dream like appearance but have no existence of their own. Our inherent Self, like God is Pure, free of evils and ever attained.
Realization of Freedom from Evils
Man (Soul, Self) being only a part of God is identical with God in attributes. As God is totally free from evils, so is a man; and this freedom from evils is not acquired, it is innate and axiomatic. In the Ramacaritamanasa Saint Tulasidasa declares -
"Ishwar ansh jeev avinaashi, chetan amal sahaj sukhraashi." (Manasa 7:117:7)
[Soul being a fragment of God in its nature is sentient, pure and an embodiment of bliss.]
People have a strong conviction that they will attain God only after having freed themselves from evils. But the method of attaining God is quite different from that of gaining mundane material objects. Mundane objects are acquired, while God being eternally existent, is ever attained. The Self (Soul) is inherently free from evils and is ever attained. It is important to accept this fact, that purity is not to be inculcated. Be indifferent (detached, observer) to evils rather than trying to wipe them out. If we try to get rid of them by accepting them in us, we will rather confirm them. The reason is that our wiping them out supposes their pre-existence.
Every aspirant has the experience that evils were more forceful, more lasting and occurred more frequently than they do today. This reduction in frequency and intensity should encourage an aspirant that these evils are not inherent in him. Had they been a part of his nature, these changes would not have taken place. Though there is changes in nature (in frequency of evil acts), there is no change in the Self. It means that evil is distinct from the Self.
All evils such as desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy etc., are 'Asat' (unreal) i.e. they have no existence of their own and are born because of our affinity with the unreal. While sleeping, one dreams and forgets their wakeful state, similarly by assuming a relationship with the unreal, we become unaware of our inherent pure nature and feel ourselves to be impure. In the same manner, these evils make their dream like appearance but have no existence of their own.
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.
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.
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