Friday, December 17, 2021

Bhaja Govindam -learnings /Sloka1

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं, 
गोविन्दं भज मूढ़मते। 
संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले, 
न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ् करणे॥१॥ 

Vairagya is an essential and the most needed quality for a Mumukshu ( seeker).   A good Acharya will tend to inculcate this quality which is quintessential to pursuit of Vedanta. Vairagya is being detached from the phenomenal world staying rooted in the self while being a mute witness in the transitory world. 

The word “Bhaja” has many meanings namely to Know, search, think, seek, worship, be in love with god etc. The Sanskrit root means “ To Serve”. However in the context of performing a pooja or bhakti it means to pray with love. This word also is a verb indicating action. The word “Govinda” means the one who is known through the vedas or as extolled in it. It also means the one who is a Sarvagnya, one who knows all Jivas . 

The words भज गोविन्दं - are repeated thrice. In the vedas repetition is indication of emphasis and attaches a greater degree of attention. Like Om shanti, shanti, shantihi. The need for peace is emphasised, internal first and external second.

The vedas says that Sorrow and suffering (duhkha, tāpa) are inevitable part of life. Knowledge regarding their origin, causes and even categorization helps one to minimize their effect, if not eradicate them. The scriptures usually call them ‘tāpatraya,’ (‘the three miseries.’) and categorize them into ādhyātmika, ādhidaivika and adhibhautika. 

1. Adhibhautika literally means pertaining to the bhuta or living beings. 
2. Adhidaivika literally means pertaining to the daiva or fate, unseen forces and gods. 
3. Ādhyātmika literally means pertaining to the ātma or the body (and the mind). 

The Jiva acts through Manas (Mind), Vak (Speech)and Kayam (Work). These when performed “Nishkamya” helps us to be at peace as the doer-ship is disowned. 

संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले – When Kala (Yama) or the time to depart comes near, one must not do things which will take away our attention from the lord as it said that whatever we think at the last moments decides the next course of the atma. During that phase of life, one must devote and align to remembering and chanting god’s name continuously. 

न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ् करणे - Acharya while he was at Kashi and was writing the Bashya for the Brahma sutras at the Manikarnika ghat, noticed a man of very old age trying to memorise the sutras of grammar. Yes, one needs to know grammar in order to understand the sastras in depth but there is a age and period in life, not at the twilight of life. He also cautions that learning grammar and showing one’s prowess also can be an addiction like anyother. There is a need to be objective to do the right things at the right time. Will study and memorising grammar help us cross the ocean of Samsara? Not directly. But by doing Bhakti, by chanting the lords name one will surely be able to and this assurance comes in the Gita. In Kaliyuga nama sankirtana is the best way “Kalow nama Sahasram”. 

A deeper meaning from the jnana perspective is that by performing karma one does not get Mukti. Karma’s important outcome is Chitta shuddi with other peripheral benefits while being in the transitory universe. So the acharya with the greatest degree of concern addresses not any individual, but the mind of every soul as मूढ़मते , the mind which is deluded and living in an illusion, thinking the transitory world as real. He chooses to do this because the nature of the mind is the same irrespective of the body it resides. He very strongly emphasis that brute knowledge is useless without bhakti, Hence भज गोविन्दं In the second line he mentions गोविन्दं भज and not भज गोविन्दं. In the first line he is asking us to pray to the lord as an Aaradya devata while in the second, taking the meaning of the word “Govinda” the knower of all souls, he asks us to pray with love, devotion and surrender.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

ALWAYS HIGH

Dither me can nothing, have set from I,
Turbulent so is the path, as the goal is so high,
To go through the path, that reaches to the pinnacle,
Seems to one and all, simply futile and cynical,
Futile and cynical, quite so to them,
Who believe in all, but not in them,
Believe I, only in I,
Hence I see Always High.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Swami’s fall, a devotee’s resurrection

Very often we come across incidences of swamis exploiting and taking their devotees for a ride। For the most part the blame is on the swamis. But here I revert the table and put the blame on the devotees.

A true devotee has only one objective in life, that is having unlimited happiness or self realisation। All that is needed is thirst and quest for knowledge. Pray for wisdom and the Almighty will deliver for he wants you to get out of bondage and be free, which is your true nature. Remember, we get only what we deserve. So aim for the highest, and even if you get caught in the smaller things of life, you would still have a learning to progress to the highest. Let not the ideal be compromised. Look for the best to inspire. Do not look for shortcuts. As much struggle is inevitable, success is rest assured. Be persistent with your goal and have faith in the means to reach it.

Many of the Gurus of today consider themselves as apostles of Hinduism. They think that god has given them the mantel to lead the ignorant. How much more ignorant can they be? Deosn’t the creator know his creation and how to take care of it? He does not require any marketing and sales। The knowledge to reach to truth is open to all.

Hinduism encompasses the complete gamut of the laws of nature which has been made available by the great seers (I mean Rishi’s and not the so called self proclaimed and hyped Gurus). Nothing is a taboo here and what is required is understanding of the various facets in their respective positions।

The four ashramas ie. Brahmachraya, Grihasta, Vanaprashta and Sanyasa is prescribed for an orderly growth of an individual in trying to understand the limitations of the materialistic and sensual life. The Grihastashrama has been greatly praised for it provides the necessary support for the sustenance of the other ashramas at the societal level. Also at the individual level it provides the necessary experiences both intellectual dissemination and sensual gratification within the gambit of ethical and moral order and elevates his understanding.

Understanding and realizing the limitations of the material and sensual life, one proceeds to lead a life of contemplation (Vanaprastha) and then eventually to complete renunciation (sanyasa) as a natural step than a forced or intended one।

Energy is the same whether it is sexual or spiritual। How one uses or applies this energy is subject to the individual’s discretion which again arises depending on samskaras, Vasanas and karma of the individual।

The greatest humans, the rishis, were ghrahastas, who left no aspect of life unexplored। Their transcendental insights have been revealed and offered to mankind for better understanding and evolution of human thought and behavior.

We all know about the incident of Vishwamitra and Menaka। Their was nothing objectionable about their relations since it was within the gambit of an acceptable order.

Then what is the problem today in accepting so called swamiji’s who are ripped with scandalous charges of sex and molestation।

Just like a qualification is required to engage in any part of our daily mundane life, so also each ashrama has qualifications, roles and responsibilities। For a sanyasi, Viveka and Vairagay are clearly the foremost. As mentioned in the Vishnupuranam, religion is a business in Kaliyuga where the swamiji’s are bigger estate and Alliance managers than spiritual gurus.

Swami Nithyananda states the he tried to experiment with the actress। Experiment what?? Kama sutra has explored the spectrum of sexual sport and relationship virtually covering everything. This itself is a clear indication of the limitation within him which he had to overcome. Now that he has crossed that, he fully realizes the unrealized at the sensual level.

Why do swamijis’ need female attendents???? If the actress wanted offer herself as service to him, there are better avenues the so called swami could have utilized her services। Why only sexual? Even if it is sexual gratification, it is perfectly fine. But then let him step down from his ochre robe and thus bring less disgrace to it, take to life of a grihasta and once he becomes a pakvi (ready) take back to sanyasa.

Under the name of experimentation let not anybody try and cover up his limitation। Rather a open acceptance and frankness will bring some disrespect for some time but sure enough if there is true vairagya, the truth will glow .

People get empowered by great talks and oratory skills। But these need not make up for a true Guru. There are different gurus who can come at different points of once spiritual evolution and Just like you have different teachers and teachings as one graduates in school.

A true guru has no expectation and it is out compassion that he comes down to the mortal level to elevate their suffering stumped out of ignorance and karma।

In a person where the thought, speech and action are consistent , is a Mahatma, and where it is inconsistent, is “Duraatmana”.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Parenting

It is an uphill task bringing up children with ever increasing competition. Parents tend to workout multiple permutation and combinations in trying to script a block buster run. This means success, name, fame, luxuries, monies etc.. Parents aspire for a prodigy child. The trend to get instant gratification has become an epidemic in the society.

Where is this all leading to? Are you pushing yourselves to the walls thus leading to breed children to be lead to the slaughter houses of the so called competitive world? Are we looking to make our children vending machines of the various pseudo expectations of life?

Where is this all stemming from?
Displaced expectations and understanding.

What is it expected of a parent to deliver?
The individual is the fundamental building block of any family, society or country. How well it is built defines his actions in the multifarious roles he adorns.

Dream of making your child a man of institution. Self-reliant, bold and confident, an achiever all through, in his own chosen way. Have a broad vision of his life and not just few milestones of success.

How does one achieve it?

Mature and objective mentoring is the way.
Parents tend to look at their children to realizing their unfulfilled dreams. Do not be unfair to impose one's expectations on your children. Never compare a child with another. There is a spark in every child and is unique in nature. Understand their latent talents. Mould and groom them. Teach them to get inspired and not compete. Competition may lead to developing hatred, distastefulness and aversion. Inspirations are more profound in their impact bringing bountiful results over a life span.

Provide the child the necessary breeding ground where values can be inculcated. Focus on character building. A strong value system and bold character would have placed the fundamental building blocks of life. With these in place and constant grooming, fortifies the systems. Provide an environment nurturing positive and un-bracketed thinking.

Do not just fix lofty goals and expectations. Work on the means to achieve them. Putting them in a pricy school or a professional day care, doesn’t relieve you of your responsibilities. You are squarely responsible for the development of the child.

Any education should empower an individual. By education I do not mean the schools alone. It is the collective responsibility of the family, society and the institutions that contribute to the metamorphosis of the individual. It should give him the knowledge and wisdom to see and face life and not just a repository of information. Make him self-reliant and confident. Such an individual by his sheer power will be an achiever in life. Application of many of the principles comes as the child grows.


Recent upheavals in the Financial markets globally has shown how men educated from some of the most acclaimed and prestigious institutions of the world worked themselves through disgraceful practices.

Institutions do not make great individuals but individuals make great institutions.

To quote Abraham Lincoln,
"Perhaps a man's character was like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing."

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Unlimited Happiness

Every creature in the universe cries for freedom, least knowing what it is. The objective of any action is to attain happiness and actions are being performed, knowingly or unknowingly to attain it. With every action, there is the expectation to grow the bandwidth of happiness than the last time. This pursuit to increase the bandwidth of happiness makes us move from pillar to post. We know that finite input gives only finite output. But fail to realise that any activity in time and space is finite and hence the outcome of that also has to be finite. So if we need the output has infinite happiness, then the input also has to be infinite. Which means that you have to be infinite your self. How can this we known? Realise and know the nature of your true self. Nothing new is being said here. Sages and saints have lived and shown us the way. All we need is to follow them.