Know thy self to Know ThySelf

Know thy self to know ThySelf

What is thy self:  This is made up of senses, body, mind and intellect.  Any modifications that appear in any of these are also part of thy self.  What  and how we perceive through  the senses,  whatever goes on in our physical body in the absence of sensory stimulation and activity, any structural changes such as aging and disease of the body are all part of thy self.  Mental activity, imaginations, memory, planning for the future etc are the mental activities and they are part of thy self.  Any intellectual activity is the same.  Essentially what we think as our self is really a mixture of all of the above.  Lot of these processes happening in our sense body mind intellect complex are responses determined by years of conditioning that starts right at birth and continues on throughout our lives.  Two babies born  at the same time in the nursery ward are really no different from each other other than any genetic differences.  But after they go home with different sets of parents they are subjected to different sets of inputs which condition each of them to start identifying themselves as a certain name, a certain family, clan, religion and nationality.  By the time they are grown up this conditioning has become so ingrained in them that they would not hesitate to kill each other even though they started at the same starting point in that nursery.  The difference being the upbringing or the conditioning that each one was subjected to.  This self that is created by such upbringing and conditioning is perceived as the real self but as  we can see it is really created by what we grow up experiencing and that could be different for different people, it is everchanging and  not permanent and it is different for each and everyone of us.


What is ThySelf:  This is That which each baby brings with himself at the time of birth and which stays with each of us all throughout our life.  This is non changing and eternal consciousness that resides within.  Whereas the other self is constantly changing this True and Real self does not.  Traditionally it is said to be  beyond the sense, body, mind intellect complex.   But in reality it pervades all of those, literally powering them.  Like electricity powers the appliances, it is not separate and beyond the appliances, rather it is very much pervading the appliances, enlivening them.  Without electricity appliances would not function.  Similarly without the life force of the Real True Self the sense, body, mind intellect complex would not function and deteriorate rapidly which we call death.  In a dead body which only a moment before death, all the senses, body mind etc were functional but as soon as that something ( Self ) departs or withdraws the same senses etc are lifeless and quickly wither away and die.  Same senses and body mind etc that we so dearly called our self do not mean anything.  Have no value and become devoid of existence.  So these sense body mind complex that we so dearly call my self is really a temporary appliance that has been powered by the True ThySelf.







How knowing thy self will help to know ThySelf:  Most individuals function at the level of self and not The Self.  Look around and you can easily see that to be the case in people around you.  A female is behaving in a very typical female way, a father is behaving in a fatherly manner, an athlete is behaving in a very athletic way.  Behaving like a female is truly controlled by the hormones that body has circulating inside.  In addition, that body which has those female hormones circulating inside has been conditioned by the society to act in a certain way by having been told, “this is how a good female behaves and acts”  this individual having been subjected to influences from marketers  etc to act in a certain femiinie way.  Combination of all these hormones, and social conditioning is what results into a certain individual female to act in a certain female  way.  This conditioning becomes so intense that she  identifies with it 100% and does not see anything but that self image for all her life.  Same applies to one who acts like a father ( combination of male hormones and social influences ),  athletes, scientists, soldiers and members of various professions all identify themselves with the role they have been given.  Having identified with this superimposed identity that individual forgets his or her true nature.  That true nature that really powers every thing else.  This individual not realizing that there is something other than this sense body complex, does not see the one that is beyond, ie the True Self.  As the process of starting to see the self starts, the One who is beyond the self starts to become evident.   It has been there always but not put to use.  Because the seeing of the self is been done by The Self.  As the seeing process is practiced more and more ( by The Self ) the grip of the self loosens and the role being played by The Self strengthens.  Seeing of the self  is being done by The Self.  Realization dawns that this sense body complex that had become the dominant self identity is nothing but an everchanging wave pattern in the sense body complex.  

Why to know ThySelf,  What do you gain by knowing ThySelf:  Knowing ThySelf is important because it changes your perspective towards everything that is happening.  Realizing the temporariness of the changes taking place in the self, one sees the true nature of them.  As the Self awakens and becomes the Self image of the individual,  one stops defining oneself with the help of temporary things and processes and stops running after them.  This does not mean that this individual stops living in this body, this does not mean that this individual does not use his or her senses to interact with the world, this does not mean he does not use his mind or intellect.  But having broken lose from their grip, he instead of being driven by them, becomes the driver.  The role play changes.  Whereas previously senses were driving him to do things, mind was driving him to do things, he instead uses all these as tools to do what ever he wants to do.  His agenda is being set not by these senses rather he himself controls his agenda in life and all the senses, body, mind and intellect become his slaves.  It is said “ Mind is a terrible master and a wonderful slave”





One other gain  that is realized when the Self is awakened and realized is:  Experience of Ananda or Bliss.   Self is nothing other than Bliss.  Self is defined as Satchitananda.  Bliss that ever is.  This bliss is available any where any time and in any amount to the one who has realized how to access it  and awakened The Self.  The happiness that comes from realizing this Self is many  fold compared to the happiness that can be derived from outside elements.  For example when a person drinks alcohols or uses drugs, there is  a sense of euphoria or happiness but as soon as the effect of alcohol wears off individual is back to the old self.  He drinks again and gets the same euphoria again.  So what is wrong with that ?  Why not just drink and be happy rather than go through the process of tapa and sadhna to get closer to the Self ?  Reason being we all know the problems with excessive drinking, addiction, social ills and misbehaviour, endangering the lives of others and the health problems that this excessive alcohols would bring.  If a person does not have money than this could also cause a person to engage in crime.  Same is true with other drugs which give a sense of euphoria nd happiness.  

How about sense of happiness that comes from  food.  Let us look at that.  Food gives sense of happiness but how much food can you eat ?  If you eat too much because you want lot of happiness derived from food, what happens ?  Now you have lot of  problems and disease from overeating.  Temporary happiness but long term unhappiness of having to face lot of obesity related diseases.  How about happiness derived from making money.  Yes it would make a person happy for some time but when you see someone who has more money than you have, you will be unhappy and would want to make more money.  But that may not be possible always.  Some individual  will engage in illegal and unethical means tp make more money.  What does that do ?  It harms the society and the individual both.  He will go to jail and his actions will cause harm to others and to the environment.  So  we can see these things give happiness but only temporary and can potentially have many problems related to the process.

But when we have gotten in touch with The Self, there is no limit to how much we can have.  Having more of the bliss from this Self does not lead to addiction like alcohol, it does not cause obesity like food and it does not cause one to commit crime like trying to accumulate more wealth.  Experiencing bliss that comes from The Self is the cleanest form of Bliss there is.  

How to practice “Self watching the self”

Practicing Self watching the self can be done in the following way:
At any time and anywhere it can be done.
Observe the body, its posture, where the bends are in the body, if the back is traight see it as a straight back.  If back is not straight see it as a back that is not straight.  Observe the knees, bent or straight or in between.  Same for elbows shoulders etc. For each part of the body.  Do not change the position of any part, just observe it.  Do not react to what you observe.  
Observe the coolness or warmth in the body.  Observe ant sensations that may be present.  Do not try to look  for or imagine any sensations.  Just become more aware of whatever senasations are there.  Warm , cool, tingling, itching, pain, discomfort, pleasure etc.  Just observe.  Just know that they are there.  Do not try to change any thing to make them go away.  

Observe what is happening in the in each different part of the body.  Starting with the tip of the toes and gradually moving up one part at a time.  First observe the gross parts.  For example first observe the entire foot, entire  lower leg, entire knee, entire thigh, entire abdomen and so on.  Than narrow the observation to smaller components of each.  For example observe each toe separately, bottom of the foot separate from the top of the foot.  Than observe each toe separately, observe different  areas of the bottom of the foot and different areas of the top of the foot.  Gradually narrow the area of observation to even smaller segments.  Do the same for each section of the body.  For example for lower leg, knee, thigh, hips, abdomen, back, neck, head etc.  After  having done this expand the awareness to observe the whole body from tip of the toes to the top of the head all together, seeing the whole body at the same time.  It requires a special way of   observing.  You are observing the body but your attention is not on any one part of the body.  You  are aware of the entire body.   Stay in this awareness for as long as you can.  A feeling of bliss is likely to arise indicating awakening of the Self.  Degree of bliss being proportional to the awakening of the Self.

At another time any where any time you can practice Self watching the self by a different method.  With eyes open as you are seeing an object, just  be aware that the object is there. Do not react to the object but if you notice a reaction in the mind, observe that there is a reaction to the object you are seeing.  Observe the seeing of the object and observe the mental reaction to the object.  These mental reactions could be past memories triggered by the object, future plans, likes or dislikes arising in the mind should all be observed as happening.  Do not react to those.  Observe the wave of reaction.  Observe the starting point of this wave of reaction, observe the wave of reaction as it exists and observe the fading away of this wave of reaction.  Trace  it backwards from the end  to the beginning and trace it forward from the beginning to the end and also see the entire wave in its totality.  Observe such waves of reactions  as a response to the interaction of all the senses such as hearing, smelling, tasting and touching also.

At another time and any where any time you can practice Self watching the self by a different method.  Direct your attention to the mind and see what is happening.  You are likely to notice thoughts cruising through your mind.  Majority of these are random unrelated thoughts.  Does not matter random or organized.  Latch on to any one thought and start following it and see what happens to it.  How it eveolves into a different thought and leads to a slightly different thought and that in turn leads to a slightly different thought and this process goes on until you observe that the thought that you are in now is very different from the one the chain started as.  Observe what it is now and observe what it was when its started.  Trace it back from where it is now to where it started at.  Go back and forth through the chain and also see the entire chain as one long string of thoughts all at the same time.  Do this repeatedly with any given thought at any given time.  You can do this anywhere no matter what you are doing.  Catch the thought you are having and start following it.  with practice you will start noticing the separation between your thougts and yourself.  You would start seeing themselves as individual entities floating in the realm of your mind.  You nay even notice them as strings floating in the horizon of your mind.  They will become floating images on the canvas of your mind.  As you practice more of this gradually the grip of your mind on you will be loosened.  Your Self will be awakened moe and more and mind will become a tool, a servant at your disposal instead of being your master that it was.

As you practice these techniques of observing the interaction of senses and objects, as you practice observing the body and the mind and the waves of thoughts that arise in the mind, the Self is awakened and everything that is the true nature of The Self is awakened, which is the true Bliss or Ananda.  With time you become capable of connecting with that Self at will.  In further time you become fully established in that Self and the worldly pleasures become too insignificant because now you have found the unlimited ocean of Bliss within.  You never run out of energy because you have found an infinite source of energy.  You do not need to sleep 8 or 10 hours a day because this infinite soutce of Bliss and energy can refresh and re energize you in a very short period of time. 

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH OR STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM THE SPIRIT

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH  OR  STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM THE SPIRIT

Strength comes from external realm  and also from internal  realm.  We are all familiar with the strength that derives from objects in the external realm.  Common examples being money, occupation, political power, power of social status.  A person who has lot of money or position of power would feel very strong and feel that he or she can face and overcome anything.  But it is not infrequent that we see that the very same people also often find themselves in a situation that no matter how much money or power they have, they at times feel very week, helpless and lost.  Sense of  desperation overcomes them and nothing seems to be able to help.

Strength can also be derived from the inner realm.  It is commonly defined as Spiritual or Adhyatmic strength, or Aatmic strength.  This strength does not derive from  anything in the outside world.  It does not derive from money or position of power.  It does not come and go.  Since it does not depend on any physical object therefore it is available and accessible where ever the individual is, since being inside it always stays with the person.

A good and easy to understand example is the spiritual teacher.  How do we know if he has this inner strength.  If, when in the presence of that master, you feel happy, content, calm and centered, that tells you that you are near a reservoir of inner spiritual strength.  Just  like when you are standing near a waterfall you can feel a few drops of water falling on you and make you feel very happy, similarly when in the vicinity of a sage who possesses inner spiritual strength, you will feel the qualities described  above.  ( The opposite of this is when you are in the company of someone who is  mentally disturbed or one with a shady character, you would feel restless and perturbed )  

When you have inner strength you would naturally feel happy without any obvious external reason because you are in touch with the infinite internal source of bliss or Ananda.  As the connection between you  and that infinite source of bliss becomes stronger it starts to overflow and flow around you and that is when those around you start to experience that as well when they are around you.  If you are such an individual you will be able to face any difficulty with ease.  Be that difficulty of physical or emotional nature.  There are examples of individuals who were subjected to physical torture but they did not give up what they believed in.  guru Tegh Bahadur was tortured by Moghul emperor Aurangjaeb but the Guru did not cry or show any sign of pain or suffering because he possessed so much inner strength that any pain inflicted from outside was easy to bear.  There are multiple examples in not only Sikh religion but other religions as well where the individual possessing such inner spiritual strength was able withstand pain and suffering.

This  is an extreme example.  Not everyone has to go through such pain.  More often we run into day to day difficulties in our life relating to work, relationships etc.  Often such difficulties cause people to get disturbed, lose their balance and we see many of them end up committing crimes, violence or get depressed and end up on psychotropic medications.  But an individual who possesses inner spiritual strength will be able to sail through  these day to day obstacles and difficulties with ease.  Difficulties are bound to come up.  Having inner spiritual strength does not mean that there won’t be any difficulties.  having inner spiritual strength means we will be able handle them better and not let theses problems to cause us to lose our peace of mind.

The next logical question is:  How to develop that inner strength ?  The answer is through Spiritual Sadana.  Than the next question is :  How to do Spiritual Saadhna ?   How to learn and where to go ad learn how to do Spiritual Saadhna ?  One can learn how to  by attending Satsang and by Swadhyaya or reading holy scriptures in a sustained and persistent manner.  Not once in a while, not whenevr it is convenient or doing it when there is nothing else to do.  This has to be the first priority and should be continuous and with lot of effort and motivation and burning desire.  what would happen when we engage in Satang and Swadhyaya ? It will make it easier to practice spiritual saadhna.  Which is the easiest and most effective saadhna ?  answer is in Gita verse:

Chapter 12  verse 12:

Engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

In essence selfless service is the best way to engage in spiritual practice.  Engaging in selfless service while at  the same time participating in Satsang and  constatntly doing  Swadhyaya is the best way to  establish contact with that inner source of haapiness and peace. That is the sure way to deveop that inner strength.

When Sattva confronts Tamas

When Sattva confronts Tamas, who wins in the short term is determined by whose side Rajas takes.  Of course in the long term Sattva will prevail but it would have to persevere, persist and be raedy to make sacrifices and not compromise with it's principles.  Human history is full of spiritual leaders who confronted the  establishment.  But they had to make supreme sacrifices.  They had to pay with their lives but in doing so they showed their firm conviction and belief in what they were trying to do. 

 

Christ started out as a spiritual leader.  Making miracles happen and showing people the way that he believed to be the right spiritual way of life.  But later on he could see the corruption in the society and he had no choice but to challenge that.  In doing so he created enemies in high places and those in high places who were close to the ruling class, had his arrested and tried and crucified.  He never gave up what he believed in and the result is quite visible to the whole world.  His ideas and teachings have prevailed over the centuries.

 

Sikh Gurus provide another example of how spiritual leaders at some point felt the need to stand up against the establishment who they believed was acting against the interest of the masses.  Sikh Gurus did not have to take up arms but they did because they could see the injustice being practiced by the powerful.  They had to pay with their lives.  Guru Angad, Guru Tegh Bahadur and finally Guru Goving Singh along with his sons  were all killed by the ones who were in power and  controlled vast financial and military resources.  But we also see that teachings of Sikh gurus have prevailed in spite of that and are well and thriving.

 

Here  Christ and his teachings represent the Sattvic.  Sikh Gurus and their teaching represent the Sattvic.  Temple priests engaged in corruption in the temples represent the Tamas.  Mughal rulers and their persecution of Hindus represents Tamas.  The money and military power of the Romans at the time of Christ and the military strength of the mughals represent the Rajasic.  Sattvic challenged the Tamasic but the Rajas was on the side of Tamas. so Sattvic was defeated and overpowered at that time.  But eventually the Sattvic prevailed over the long term. 

 

So how is all this relevant to what   Baba Ramdev  is doing and facing.  He has been a spiritual leader and waking up the masses to a healthier lifestyle.  he has motivated millions to get up early in the morning and practice yoga and lead a healthier lifestyle.  Many claim to have been cured of diseases that could not be otherwise treated.  He has made people aware of nationalism and patriotism.  He has been a spiritual leader for many years.  When you are trying to improve the life of millions you start seeing the root causes of why it is not happening as it should.  You start seeing bigger issues that confront the society and addressing those seems like the next logical step.  That is where challenge to the establishment and its corrupt practices became the focus of his attention.  

 

But as you start to challenge the establishment than you become enemy number one for the state.  They will first try to convince you to go back to preaching and leave them alone.  But if you don't listen and comply than the full might of the establsihment is unleashed at you.  That is what happened to Christ, That is what happened to Sikh Gurus and that is what has happened to multiple other spiritual masters who tried to step out of the preacher's role and  challenge  the greater evils in the society.  But those had to pay dearly for doing that but no matter how powerful the establishment,  truth prevailed in the long run.

 

Baba Ramdev has challenged the establishment and teh ones who are powerful. He should not be surprised at the turn of events.  This is how the gane is played.  Question is:  How far is he going to go ?  Is he willing to make the ultimate sacrifice ?  What if he had allowed himself to be arrested in Ramlila grounds  ? What if he had allowed himself to arrested when he tried to enter Uttar Pradesh borders ?   What is the worst thing that could have happened to him?  With his popularity, it would have been impossible for the Govt to eliminate him.  He would have become a bigger hero than he already was.  Arrest would have legitimized his movement.  By tried to get away like he did he only helped those opposing him. 

 

If he truly believes in what he says regarding corruption than do not give up.  Avoid aggression and violence eben when faced with violence.  If he is a satyagrahi, offer himslef to be arrested rather than try to get away.  Lodged in jail he could be more effective.  While lodged in jail he could still conduct his yoga lessons for other prisoners and people working in the jail.  He could share his spiritual knowledge no matter where he is, even if it a jail. 

 

 

BEING SELF-ISH, PRACTICE SELF-ISM ( NOT OTHER -ISMS )

This sounds strange to say that one should become Self-ish and Self-centered.  Generally being self-ish and self-centerd is considered bad.  It would depend on if one is centeed in self or Self.  The small self or the big Self.  Being selfish is bad and tamasic, being Selfish is good and sattvic.  Being self centered is bad and tamasic, being Self centerd is good and saatvic.  

Being selfish and self centered:  We are doing things and all our endevours, efforts, strivings  and motivations are for the fulfilment of only our personal and individual desires.  We  only do  things which help me only.  When I am driven by that only than I am not concerned about anyone else and not concerned about how my actions could hurt others and the environment.

But on the other hand being Selfish and Self centered instantly transforms one’s  actions and motivations and the outcome of those actions.  What I do is not just for my individual gain.  All my actions take into account  the greater good.  Greater good would include everyone as a beneficiary  of my actions.  In that case I won’t do anything that would hurt anyone including the environment.  



Here The Self is the Universal consciousness that my little self is a part of but “I” has built walls to demarcate and partition the self from the Self and enclosed it in a compartment called this physical   body made up of senses, body, mind and intellect.  These layers enclose what is really a part of the Self into a smaller space and compartment and  interrupts  it’s inherent connectedness and it’s naturally being part of The Self.

In Gita Ch 18 v 66 Lord says:

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."

Here this should not be taken to mean that one should give up all other religions and embrace Hinduism.  Here it should be taken to mean that one needs to surrender to the Supreme Self.  This Supreme Self is not defined or bound by any religion.  All religions are supposed to only help the seeker to realize this Supreme Self.  All religions are in reality the small self we talked about earlier.  The way these religions operate they are no different than any other materiality.  They are merely a tool, a means and a path, and not the goal or the destination.

The concept of self and Self could be also understood from the following:



One example would be the space.  Before a house is built in a given area there is open empty space unbound and un partitioned.  When walls defining a home are built those walls enclose a portion of that space within those walls.  Now that space inside the house enclosed within the walls is separate from the larger space outside the walls of the house.  If the walls are broken and brought down, that space inside the house that was previously  enclosed within the house is freed up again and it rejoins and  becomes part of The Space outside again, thus merging back in the universal space.  

Our body is like this house and it’s walls, the space inside the house is the little self that has become separated from the Self due to the walls ( the body ),  When the body dies the little self is liberated and merged back with the greater Space, the Univrsal Consciousness.  It stays merged with the Universal Consciousness until another body encloses the little self again within the sense, body, mind, intellect complex and creates an individual living body.  But it really is the little self separated from the Universal Self.  

One does not have to wait for the body to die, one does not have to wait for the sense, body, mind intellect complex to dissolve physically to experience the oneness with the Universal Self.  Through spiritual practices such as meditation etc one can, while living in this body, transcend the sense, body, mind intellect complex and reestablish and experience the oneness of the little self and the Universal Self.  That is the state of Brahma nishtha gyanis, or realized souls.  They have realized and experienced this oneness.   Such a gyani is established in the Universal  Self and is satisfied and happy through this connectedness with his True Self.

Gita Ch 2, 55

“When one thoroughly casts off all the cravings of the mind, and is satisfied in the Self through the joys of the Self, he is than called the stable of the mind”


After experiencing this one ness  and this establishment in the Self, he does  not see the multiple forms of existence.  He sees everything as a part of the Universal being.  This has been called Vaishvanara  in the Upanishads.  Such an individual sees gold and dirt with the same equanimity.  He sees a wise man and a fool with equanimity.  

Gita Ch 5, 18




The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].

STHAVAR TIRTHA JANGAM TIRTHA

"Mud mangalmay sant samaju,
Jo jag jangam teerath raju"

"Company of holy saints is like a mobile tirtha"

Baalkand, Ramcharitmanasa

"Tirath gaye se ek phal,

Sant mile phal chaar….

Sat guru mile anek phal,

Kahe kabir vichaar…"

Kabir


STHAVAR TIRTHA AND JANGAM TIRTHA

Everyone knows about TIRTHA or places of pilgrimmage. Tirtha is a physical place made holy due to its association with a saint. Every religion has them. Eastern faiths such as Hinduism, Jains, Buddhist and Sikhs all have many places of pilgrimmage. These are places which are located at a certain place and one has to physically go there to benefit from the positive vibrations that holy places have. These are called STHAVAR TIRTHA. Meaning these are fixed in one physical location.

People want to visit these places of pilgrimage in the hopes of resolving their sins and earn merit. Some people visit them to elevate themselves spiritually. Some people visit them because they want money, boons, material things etc. But not many people can go to the places of pilgrimage because either they do not know about them, they do not have time or the money or simply they are ignorant. Those who do not know about them or those who are ignorant are unfortunate. Even more unfortunate are those who know about them and have the time and the means but do not go. Those are worse than the previous group. Having known about the pilgrimage and not going for it is in excusable. At times there may be valid reasons for not be able to go on a pilgrimage, for example family responsibilities etc.

For individuals who want to go and visit Tirthas or places of pilgrimage but have a good reason for not be able to do that, another form of resource is available. SAINTS who travel from place to place. These are called JANGAM TIRTHA. Jangam menas mobile, one that does not stay at one place. Saints move from one place to another. They never stay at one location for too long. where ever they go their presence creates the same positive vibrations and effects that a STHAVAR tirtha has. By His presence a saint creates the environment, aura and vibrations which offer means to elevate oneself spiritually and experience that unconditional peace that resides within us. It is the experience of most of us that when we go and spend time in the company of a visiting saint, we feel calm and at peace. The place feels so divine and tranquil. One naturally feels like helping others, one feels motivated to do get over the bondage of the material world, it has a purifying effect on our senses, body, mind and intellect. As these are purified the true Self shines through.

Since everyone can not go physically to places of pilgrimage, one should take full advantage of any visiting saint and spend as much time as possible in His or Her company. This is also a form of Satsanga. ( company of SAT or Truth ). Not just any truth but Absolute truth. Truth that is not defined by time or place like other relative truths.

From personal example: I visited the Kerala Ashram of Amritanandmayi ( AMMA) and it felt great and had a super spiritual experience. The whole place had a special sense of calmness, tranquility, love and devotion. This was Sthavar Tirtha. I had to physically go there. I also met AMMA when she was visiting Detroit and their was a spiritual program at one of the hotels. The feeling was the same as when visiting the Ashram. Why ? Because the Saint was there and by Her presence she had transformed that hotel into a Tirtha. Even though it was a hotel but while She was there the place had all the qualities and benefits of a Tirtha. It felt great spiritually and it felt the same as when visiting the Ashram in Kerala. So this was a Jangam Tirtha, brought into existence by the visiting Saint. The place turned into a Tirtha due to the presence of a Saint.

Similar was the feeling when I was in the company of SRI SRI Ravishankar, in whose company I spent time in Texas for few days in the month of April. The place had a different feel before He arrived. After He arrived the whole place was transformed and elevated to an entirely different level, spiritually. The vibrations, the feelings of calm, tranquility and peace were hard to miss. This is another example of Jangam Tirtha created and brought into existence by a visiting Saint.

Lucky are those that can visit places of pilgrimage. but those who can not go to such places, should not despair. The visiting saints offer the same opportunities when such saints are travelling and they happen to come and visit where we are. There is a bhajan which goes like this:

“Bhag bade jahan Sant padharey
ye Santan hai bade upkari
Sharan aye ko lete ubari”

( We are very fortunate that Saints have visited us, these saints are very benevolent and generous, seek their blessings and they will save you from being drowned in this world)

"Tirath gaye se ek phal,

Sant mile phal chaar….

Sat guru mile anek phal,

Kahe kabir vichaar…"

By Kabir

CHOICES WE MAKE: OFFERING OF DEVOTION OR A TOOL FOR INDULGENCE

CHOICES WE MAKE

Three guys were going where they wanted to go.

One of them was going to the home of a prostitute for a night of indulgence.

The second one was going home to his wife and children after a days work.

The third one was going to the temple.

They all stopped at a garden and saw beautiful flowers.  One flower, a beautiful sunflower stood out with its beauty and vibrant colors.  Flower saw these three guys coming toward him and wondered who will pick him and take it to his destination.  They all asked the sunflower to come with them.  

The guy going to the prostitute said to the flower:  You will adorn the beautiful hair of his lover and be surrounded by fun, games, all kinds of luxuries and see all kinds of beautiful sights and hear beautiful sounds.   What would happen after that ? The flower asked.  Well after some time you will be no more the beautiful and fragrant as  you are now and will be thrown away in trash in the morning.  

The second guy said, I want to take you with me and give to my wife and children, they would certainly enjoy having such a beautiful flower in the house.   You will be a symbol of my love for my wife and children.   And than what ?  The flower asked.  Well after you lose your beauty you will be thrown away in trash and I will find another beautiful flower tomorrow oon my way back from work.

The third guy said, I am going to offer you to the Lord in His feet and the you  will become an offering of devotion, a symbol of my  love and devotion to the Lord.  Flower asked, and than what happens to me ?  The man said: some devotee may take  you home as a symbol of Lord’s grace  and  prasaad and keep you with him in his home shrine, even after your leaves have dried up and shrivelled he is not goingto throw you away. Whenever he would look at you, it would remind him of the Lord’s Grace.  In essence you will become a symbol of devotion and love for a long time to come, even if your petals and leaves have all dried up.  

Flower started to think.  Do I go for the luxuries and opullence of the home of  the prostitute, or shall I go the home of a householder and adorn his wife and make his kids happy ?  Either way the value of my existence is only as long as I am beautiful looking and have lot of fragrance in me.  OR should I forego all that and let the third guy take me and offer me to the Lord, where I would become a symbol of devotion and not only when I am offered to the Lord but also become a Prasaad  that a devotee would receive.  Which one of three options do I take.  Become an object of indulgence, or become and object of pleasure or become an offering of devotion to the Lord.   

I do not know which option that flower selected.

But we are given these options in our life all the time.  This life is precious.  Do we want to use it up for indulgence, or use it up for fun and pleasures or transform it to become  an offering to the Lord.  The choice is ours and only ours to make.  Here our life is the flower, each of us can be any of these three guys and we are the ones who will have to make the choice.  Do we make this flower, our life, an offering to the Lord or do we use it up for indulgence and fun.  do we offer our life to this world or do we offer it to the Lord.  What choice makes this life worthwhile and noble vs what makes it just another life in the chain of so many lives we have had.  How does my life become different from billions of other human beings on this earth. 

Next question:  what does it mean to offer this flower of life to the Lord.  Does Lord need anything ? NO.  He does not lack anything, he has everything.  He is the giver and not the taker.  so what does it mean to give this life to the Lord ? 

 Think of it this way.  A parent has two sons.  One is prosperous and well  to do.  The other one is poor and not so well to do.  Parents do not need anything.  But when the well to do son goes out and helps the not so well to do son, it makes the parent happy.  Not because parents needed anything for rthemselves. but seeing the rich son help the poor one makes the parent happy and endears the rich son to the parents all the more.  Apply  this to this  life.  Helping the poor and the unfortunate ones is the best way to offer oneself to the Lord.  Seva or selfless service to the fellow humans is the best form of worship and the best way to offer ones life flower to the Lord.  Than this flower of life will truly become an offering or a prasaad of the Lord.

SATSANG AND SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES

SATSANG AND SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES

 Often people wonder “ Why should I attend Satsang or listen to Spiritual discourses” “ What good would it do to me ?” The one who is asking this question should consider themselves very lucky that this question has arisen in them. To most people such a question does not even arise in their minds so engrossed in the worldly things. Most people don’t even have any idea that such opportunities as Satsang and discourses exist. They are going about their own merry ways until the last day of their lives. So if this question has arisen in the mind, that is a very good thing. We are inherently divine and pure but our divinity and pure nature has been obscured by the materialistic and externally oriented awareness.


For an average worldly individual, awareness is object oriented and looks for happiness in the outside world. Although the outside does provide moments of happiness, no doubt, but these are not long lasting, we all know that, but at the same time we also know that the availability of these moments or opportunities of happiness in the outside world are not in our control. We think we can control them, but we know we can not because often we see that even though we did everything like it was supposed to be, but the happy moment that we were looking for did not materialize. If the environment or the people around us are not favorable or the resources are not adequate, no matter how much we try these moments of happiness may materialize only partially or not at all.

Why we look for happiness outside ? Our true nature is that of happiness and therefore we are looking for what we truly are: “happiness” or “Ananda” But we have forgotten that there is an in-exhaustible source of happiness that lies within us. This inexhaustible source is not only within ourselves but it is also accessible any time and anywhere without being dependent on the external factors. This is a very important point to remember. It is available any where and all the time without being dependent on any thing outside. But we have forgotten this fact and we continue to look outside. Like the Kasturi Mrig ( Musk Deer), who is looking for the fragrance all over the forest not realizing that the fragrance is right within himself. Ignorance of this fact makes this Kasturi mrig go round and round everywhere looking for what is within himself.. Same is the condition of human beings. They have forgotten their true state of being, they have forgotten that the source of happiness is within. They have forgotten their true nature.


When we attend Satsang and spiritual discourses delivered by realized saints, we are able to get over our ignorance, we are able to dispel our prejudices, preconceived ideas etc and get on the path of sadhna that leads us the discover, within ourselves, what has always been there but was enveloped by the clouds of ignorance. Through these discourses and satsang we are able to see and experience our true divine and transcendent self, which is the source of unlimited happiness.

But we have also seen that many people come to the discourses and satsang but not everyone is able to get in touch with their true self and experience that true happiness. So the next important point to bring up is: How does one attend these satsangs and what is required in a sadhak so that he or she can derive the most benefit ? Scriptures say:



Shravan Manan and Nidhidhyasan:


This is the sequence to be followed to get the most from satsang. Shravan is listening, we all know that. But what kind of listening ? Just sitting there and catching a few words here and there interspersed by other random thoughts arising in a fleeting mind which is going all over the place ! No this is not the kind of listening that helps. Shravan and listening has to be with enthusiasm, concentration and intense interest. One can not be casually sitting in satsang and not paying 100% attention to the speaker. Listen with lot of interest and enthusiasm. This is the key point to remember. So you are listening with interest and enthusiasm, is that going to be enough ? No !

Shravan has to be followed by Manan or reflection on what you have heard. Even if we listen intently but as soon as we get up and leave the place and go back to our usual random mental thought patterns, what ever we have heard, no matter how useful, it will be of no benefit unless we have reflected on what we have heard. We need to ponder, analyze, reflect and think over and over again and try to get to the core message, the true message and the real intent contained in the teaching. Only when we do that continuously we will reach the next stage called Nidhidhyasan. Than we become one with the message and the messenger. We attain unity with the knowledge contained in the message. If we do not follow these three steps while attending the satsang, we will not get anywhere in our spiritual path.


Teachings contained in the spiritual discourse are like a seed. Not just an ordinary seed but a seed that, if it sprouts and grows, has the potential to completely transform ourselves. But like any other seed, this seed requires the right kind of soil, the right amount of sun, water and fertilizer and tending. We won’t just throw a seed anywhere, be it a concrete surface or poor quality soil and hope that it would grow into a healthy fruit bearing tree. Similarly simply sitting through a satsang and being give the seeds of spiritual teachings and not providing that seed a healthy supportive environment that would be most conducive to growth, than not only how many satsangs we attend, not only how many pilgrimages we take, not only how many saints we come in contact with, none of that would help that seed to grow unless we prepare the soil. That is where the teaching comes: “The teacher will appear when the student is ready” Teacher is always there throwing seeds but the soil, the student is not ready and all those seeds simply wither away.




Teachings obtained in a satsang act like a shilpi or a sculptor. Just like a sculptor starts with a stone and gradually chisels away tiny pieces of stone one little bit at a time and creates a beautiful statue, perfect in so many ways, similarly we can become a sculptor ourselves and gradually chisel away our ignorance, impurities etc using the teaching received in a satsang as a tool. Just as a statue is not created in one day and not just with one strike of the hammer and chisel, similarly the task to unleash the real us from the stone takes a sustained chiselling over a period of time. 

Sthita-Pragna and Sthira-Buddhi

Sthita-Pragna   and Sthira-Buddhi

Lord has given a great teaching as to how to easily achieve that Supreme Peace that we all are after and we deserve but do not know that it is within us but do not know that it is there in us nor we know how to find and experience it.  in chapter two and also in chapter 5, He has given us the introduction to what this peace is and how to achieve it.

Verses from Chapter 2:


O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of sense desire which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness. 2.55



One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. 2.56



One who restrains his senses and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence. 2.61



Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence. 2.68

A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego--he alone can attain real peace. 2.71

A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, unbewildered, and who knows the science of God, is to be understood as already situated in Transcendence.  5.20

Verses from chapter 5

Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure or external objects but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme. 5.21


One who is beyond duality and doubt, whose mind is engaged within, who is always busy working for the welfare of all sentient beings, and who is free from all sins, achieves liberation in the Supreme. 5.25

Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized, self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of liberation in the Supreme in the very near future. 5.26



What is Sthira buddhi:

Sthir buddhi is the one who does not loose his cool in adverse circumstances and also on the contrary does not get too excited in favorable environment.  There are ongoing and constant inputs being recieved through our senses and also due to the ongoing vrittis in the mind.  These can lead to disturbance in the buddhi or intellect.  For example if we are engaged in a particular action and we suddenly see something nice, the tendency is that we are distracted and our efficiency for our  task at hand diminishes.  Or if I am doing something and a thought comes to mind of some tasty food I have  had in the past, than a sthir buddhi will react differently to that vs one who is not sthir buddhi ( One could call them fickle buddhi ).  A sthir buddhi will say, yes I have this thought coming to my mind of this tasty food I had, but right now I need to focus on my task on hand and he will continue to focus on what he is doing.  But one who is not sthir buddhi ( fickle buddhi ) he will immediately start planning how  he is going to go about getting that food again and this leads to a loss of his concentration in his work.  Same can apply to heat or cold.  If the air temperature rises and it gets too hot or if the air temperature drops and it gets too cold,  we all start complaining and lose focus of what we are doing.  But a sthir buddhi will be able to see those changes as fluctuations in the physical environment and not allow them to affect his concentration  in his work.  

Our Buddhi or intellect gets misdirected primarily due to the input  through our eyes from things that we see, through our ears as we hear things, through our skin as we feel and touch things, through our tongue as we taste things, through our nose as we smell things etc.  Of course mind is an ever present entity busy with thoughts  etc that throw us off balance.  The problem is not that we do not let our senses perform their functions or our mind perform its functions.  Problem comes when we get carried away with these functions.  eyes haveto see and the ears have to hear, nothing wrong with that but not being aware that these phenomena are happening due to the vry nature of the senses, as we are influenced by these interactions, that i what causes problem.  Like lord says, like wind can sweep away a boat, similarly senses and their activities can carry away the buddhi of a person or as seeker.  

What is the benefit of being Sthirabuddhi

Being Sthir buddhi offers many benefits.  These pertain to things in this world and also  many benefits for the spiritual progress and aid in the union with the Lord.

Material benfits for this world are simple to understand.  We can relate to them easier. If my intellect is stable and does not go through wild fluctuations from moment to moment I will be able to concentrate better on my work. Better concentrtion  means be able to finish my work in less time.  So much money is spent dealing  with childhood and adult attention defecit disorders’ evaluations and tratment.  

In the spiritual realm stable intellect leads to purity of the antahkarana,  that in turn leads to experience of that peace that comes from being in contact with our true source, the atman.  when Buddhi is sthir, the vrittis of the mind subside.  when those vrittis subside, the real peace that lies within each of us, can be experienced.  

How to become Sthirabuddhi

By practicing yoga of Equanimity:  In this Yoga, the seeker discards attachment to the outcome of his actions, he is not affected by the profit or loss, gives up desires, withdraws senses from their objects,  by overcoming anger, fear and attachments.  He is compared to a tortoise who withdraws his limbs within himself similarly a seeker who sithdraws his senses to himself, is the one who is not affected by the interaction between the senses and the objects.  This is how he practices yoga of Equanimity and once established in it he is known as Sthirbuddhi or Sthita prajna.  

Like a lake which has a diamond sitting at the bottom.  This can not be seen if there is turbulence in the water.  But if the water is calm and quite, that diamond lying at the bottom of the lake is easily visible.  The true peace within us, is that diamond, it is hidden from us due to the turbulence in our mind, mind becomes turbulent due to the input from our senses.  Once the senses are quietened the turbulence in th emind subsides, when that turbulence subsides, the intellect becomes stable or sthira, that in turn allows us to see that peace within us.  Once we know how to experience that peace we can access it any time and anywhere.  It does not depend on anything outside.  No one steal it from us, no one can destroy it either.