LIVING IS A TECHNIQUE

The art of living is a technique to be learnt. If you have the will and the skill you will have the way to know what it is all about. Brahman the imperishable truth has created plant, animal and humans. Of all these only the human beings have been given the Buddhi and intellect and they have the option to tear the veil of ignorance and experience the everlasting truth and the fullness of permanent bliss.

What a person gets from going to a school or college is information and knowledge and thereby you get intelligence. To use your intelligence you need intellect (thoughts and ideas). You have to question things right from your formative years and thereby develop your intellect. To develop your intellect you have to question everything and not take anything for granted.

Enjoyment, happiness and peace are in your state of mind. You are in stress when your mind is agitated since mind has no direction. Only the intellect monitors the mind and controls it and when the mind is in control there is no longer agitation. Pleasure or pain is not in the external objects and it is how you relate to it.

What is the purpose of my Life? Bhagavad Gita presents to the humanity the ultimate truth of life and explains what is living is all about. Every human born has to die one day as life is given to us for a limited period of time.  We have to use the equipment Buddhi or Intellect to the fullest extent. You should have Buddhi to sharpen the intellect. Intellect is the capacity to reason and understand and not using your intellect will cause worries, stress and strains. For any human being who faces any difficulty in life, the fault lies within himself and never outside. We have to use our intellect in accepting this.

You gain what you pursue in life say the scriptures. Every scripture has the same theme. Everybody is engrossed in this world. To pull the mind from material entanglement and engrossed on god is impossible. Through steadfast yoga and meditation you reach Brahman which means you have got to be consistent in your efforts. A clear understanding with a proper plan of action and consistency will enable you to reach your destination.

The supreme Brahman is beyond the manifest and unmanifest world. What you see in the world is an expression of truth. There is a substratum (Brahman) of everything which is unseen that supports the world. You can see waves on the ocean big and small and a constant display which never stops. It is the vast sheet of water that supports the waves. You focus on the manifest waves alone rather than on the vast unmanifest sheet of water that supports the waves. The unmanifest truth which is the reality (Brahman) is the one which supports the truth. If you are determined to get to the truth you can reach the goal. You have to set the right direction without which you can’t get Peace, Happiness and contentment.

You have a Physical body, Mind and intellect which are the three equipments given to everyone. The body acts, mind feels and intellect thinks. All of us have not used the equipments fully and accordingly we can rate ourselves as not developed and fully developed by measurement between 0 and 100. As you move to the higher your understanding gets better and better and you will realise the path. By this way when you move higher, you can never fall back in life.

When a person drops off all his desires viz. vasanas which are nothing but unmanifested desires coming from the past and has successfully dealt with his vasanas he will come to know the truth. When the last thought or desire is dropped you merge with the truth. This is the theory of reincarnation.

Phenomenon of death is that your resultant thought decides your movement. Thought determines your movement. Your destiny your fate is in your own making because of your own feelings and your own actions. You are whatever you are consciously or unconsciously. The beauty of human life is that you can alter whatever way you want if you decide. The present life is the result of our past actions. A human alone has the ability to alter his being to change and take control of himself. You have to take responsibility for your own life. You are whatever your thoughts are. Whatever you perceive.

You have got to act in this world. Think of reality Brahman and do whatever you ought to do and not looking for any benefit. You have got to move from self centeredness (inability to accommodate anything beyond your own interests). Let your home become the centre of happiness. Your home should be the centre, not the boundary of your affection. Then the world compliments whatever you do. You are the architect of your fortunes. You are the architect of your misfortunes.    

Eradicate your vasanas (unfulfilled desires) so that the mind and intellect is absorbed in the truth. You merge with the reality. For example if you determine to be healthy your mind will think about being healthy. Mind and intellect get absorbed in this reality and you merge with the truth.

Physical body is your outer personality. Mind and intellect are your inner personality. Beyond the outer and inner personality is your real personality (your own dharma). Who you are.

What are you doing to discover who you essentially are? You desperately try to find happiness. At every level of your personality you chase it. Religious books and discourses by themselves cannot bring about spiritual development in you. You have to take effort in reflection and contemplation upon the knowledge received. The truth is you have got to lift yourself by yourself.

Human life is unique. To be born a human is very rare. It is a God given opportunity. Human beings about 99.9% have no clue what is beyond regular, mundane, repetitive, routine work that has to be done. A small percentage suspect this is not everything. These infinitesimal numbers think that there is something missing in my life. I feel a sense of incompleteness. This thought comes but you dismiss it and carry on in your life. Those who pursue are spiritually inclined. It takes them to the truth. Karma, Bhakti and Gnanam are required to realise the truth.

The entire creation is called Prakriti and is made of the three gunas – Satva (pure and balanced attitude), rajas (Dynamic and action oriented) and tamas (Inactive and inert). These three attributes are responsible for the subtle varieties in creation and upkeep of the cycle of life in nature – causing birth, growth, old age and decay. Human behavior is also based on these three gunas which is the tendency inherent in individuals.

To put it shortly, it does not matter what you do in life. It matters how you do it. Whatever you do, you change your attitude. By changing the attitude towards the world you can condition the mind. Happiness is not dependent on what you have but dependent on what you are. The five senses should be under your control. Have a value system. You should uphold your values. Keep in mind that your thoughts always should be on something higher. The law of life is that the mind should be at rest while the body engages in action. You do everything for success. Be prepared in all respects for a possible failure. Do what you are supposed to do. Learn to be peaceful inspite of situations rather than because of situations. That is wisdom. Always remember that you get what you deserve, not what you desire. Aham Bramasmi is the essence of all Upanishads. We get to know this through Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhithyasanam. Can we use this knowledge in solving day to day problem is the question? To receive the teaching, assimilate and implement is difficult. It requires a lot of preparation and internal refinement in a person. Always remember! “Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise and Wisdom makes Life endurable”. After all life is for living and try to enjoy your life by having an equanimous mind accepting success and defeat on the same level and doing what you ought to do with a desire less mind.

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

MORE ABOUT “ATMA”

‘Atma’ is consciousness principle and is everlasting and changeless and all pervading.  Consciousness is indestructible and is not affected. The ultimate knowledge that we should get is; I am Brahmasmi.

We can see that the light is spread over the hall but we cannot scrape it or cut it. The light enables us to see (proof). Space cannot move from one place to another because it is all pervading.  Space is all pervading and is not accessible to all elements. Material or matter is not self conscious and also not conscious of others.  

‘Atma” cannot be perceived and cannot be seen by physical eyes. Non perceptibility doesn’t prove non existence. It tells only the limitation of the sense organs. God alone is another name for ‘Atma’.

Nature cannot be changed because what cannot be changed is called nature. Wisdom (intelligence) is preparing the mind to accept the choice less (helpless) situations without any resistance. By repeating to ourselves that I am willing to undergo the choice less situations in life, will I get freedom from stress. One should not grieve about the death of anyone.

Brain is a machine through which the mind operates. Electricity operates through the visible Fan. Mind operates through the visible brain. Brain perishes. Mind survives.

One cannot conquer physical mortality. Once I claim that I am the immortal spirit, my instinctive urge for immortality is fulfilled. I will be able to accept the mortality of the body. Grief is avoided by willingly accepting choice less situations and mentally telling yourself that I am willing to go through the situation. Pray to bhagawan; lord give me the serenity to accept what cannot be changed. The only one person who can be changed by me is myself. O lord give me the courage to change what can be changed which is myself. O Lord give me the serenity to know the difference. i.e., others cannot be changed and I should change myself which is the only option.

Matter cannot be created or destroyed. When a carpenter creates furniture it existed even before he did the work and made the furniture. The furniture existed in another form i.e., wood form. Wood was already there. Carpenter worked on the existing wood and converted it into the furniture form. Thus wood was converted from one form to another. Earlier this was called a piece of wood and now we call as furniture after conversion. Creation is nothing but a form of change from one state to another. This can be extended to death or destruction. The world where we live is anadhi. Also the world is ananthaga. There is neither creation nor destruction. For example Water exists in 3 states Viz. solid (Ice), liquid (Water) and Gas (Vapour) which is invisible. Invisibility is called as avyaktha avastha. It is an eternal process. Nothing is born. Nothing is dying. No one should be crying if they understand the above thatvam (Truth).  

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

KARMI Verses KARMA YOGA

A Karmi reacts violently if results are not as per his expected level. He starts questioning god. His faith in god and prayer is often challenged. A Karma Yogi is an intelligent person. He also wants Success in his activity. He uses his Bhakti and prayers intelligently. He will tell himself; I work for success in life. But I pray for Samatvam (equanimity) whatever be the type of result. The very prayer increases his immunity of mind. If failure is his destiny he will have to face that. Life is a series of success and failures. No one can avoid it. Lord Krishna fails in his attempt to make peace with Duryodhana. Pray to god to give the mind to accept failure. This is the best method of reducing stress before the result comes.

Rama is ready for being crowned as an emperor by king Dasaratha and the entire Ayodhya was celebrating. An assistant Mantara of Kaikeyi could turn the whole situation different. Rama gets the news that he will not get the empire. Losing empire is one thing. Secondly he can’t live in ayodhya but live in a forest for 14 years. He was calm and composed on hearing the news. In our lives also many plans are bound to go haywire.  We should pray to lord to strengthen our mind to accept the situation as it comes as per the law of Karma. We should use our buddhi in such circumstances. Buddhi means right attitude which is the Karma Yoga attitude. Indication of Saranagadhi is lowering your anxiety level. Mental equanimity is spiritual growth.

World is unpredictable, uncontrollable and unsustainable. World has got beauty, Variety and Novelty but no stability. Since nothing is under our control relying upon the world for my peace, security and happiness is a risky proposal because I am relying upon the unreliable. Thus dependence on the world is risky. Self reliance is alone the best thing. We can learn to draw peace, security and Happiness from our own self. Self reliance is the success in life. I have to discover my higher self by self reliance in myself. A Gnani gives emotional support in a relationship. Agnani seeks support from relationships.

A Karma yogi will enter Gnana yoga after going through painful experiences. People desert him. You may continue to love others but don’t emotionally lean on any one. Don’t have any self pity but believe in yourself and be confident in your actions. Learn to draw peace, security and happiness through Gnana yoga.

Tell yourself; I want success but I don’t mind failure. Hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. The only preparation is doing prayer. Through prayer you strengthen your mind.

Karma Yoga by itself cannot give moksha. One has to do Gnana yoga. The only permanent source is ‘Atma’. Relationship is also not permanent. ‘Atma’ only can give peace, security and Happiness. You can enjoy the world but hold on to ‘Atma’ for peace, security and Happiness.

Lord Krishna talks about the role of karma yoga to Arjuna. Karma is meant to prepare your mind. It does not give you liberation but indirectly helps in liberation by preparing the mind. After karma yoga everyone has to go through Gnana yoga. One has to do Sravanam, Mananam and Nithithyasanam and discover oneself. Self knowledge is a compulsory step for liberation. As a karma yogi everyone can perform all the activities including worldly activities. We don’t have control over our karma palan.  Cent percent success cannot be expected in all our karmas. Special poojas can’t give success to anyone. We have to ask our self; have I prepared my mind to face unfavourable happenings like facing a failure? We work for success and pray for success. A karma yogi will also work for success but pray for samathuvam (equanimity). He pray’s to god to give him the result according to his karma or the work he has done and not what he desire. Spiritual success is equanimity with regard to success or failure. He prays to god to give him calmness, cheerfulness and confidence to accept both success and failure without any violent reaction.

An equanimous mind can learn from life. A violent mind will not learn from experience. A karma yogi learns from life even though he feels guilty. We can’t change the world or people and situations. What is required is not the transformation of the world but the transformation of myself. Viz. instead of cleaning a city I can better wear footwear and immunize myself. I can change from Karma yoga pradana life to Gnana yoga pradana life and gain self knowledge. Gnana yoga pradana life has three levels viz. Sravanam, Mananam and nithithyasanam. All the three put together is Gnana yoga. Sravanam is the study of spiritual scriptures under the guidance of a live acharya who has acquired knowledge and practiced the same for some time. I should see my real nature and receive the knowledge which is called sravanam. Getting all the doubts cleared and converting the knowledge to conviction is mananam. i.e. until I have no doubt about the vedantic teaching (Aham bramasmi). I should realize that I am the Wave and I am Water. Assimilation has to take place by dwelling upon the teaching (vedanthic meditation) which is called nidhithyasanam. I will have to soak in the spirit of knowledge.    

Life is like MBBS which means meaningless, Burdensome, boring and struggle. If you face this situation then you are facing the problem of samsara. If you overcome samsara you become enlightened by gaining Self knowledge.

Flexibility of the mind is called sangathagaga. We should tell ourselves; I want success but I will prepare my mind (emotionally) for failure.  I work for success but I am prepared to face failure. To be a parent is to accept the actions of our children.

S.Sekar

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

KARMA YOGA AND GNANA YOGA AS EXPLAINED BY LORD KRISHNA TO ARJUNA

In the 2^nd and 3^rd Chapters of Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna tells Arjuna about the importance of doing Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga, which enables a person to attain Moksha (Liberation).

The 3rd Chapter begins with Arjuna’s complaint to lord Krishna. Arjuna tells the lord that his teaching was very confusing. We should know that any form of communication is a tough job where a teacher has to convert his thoughts into gross words. All the most it is a tough job to convert thoughts into words on the subject of ‘Atma’ which is an abstract one. The student (sishya) has to convert the words into his own thoughts. A television receiving station has to reconvert the transmitted waves into music or a movie. From the early ages Communication was always in the form of a dialogue between a Teacher (Guru) and a pupil (Sishya). All our Upanishads are in the form of a dialogue. What is in the mind of a guru and sishya is tallied by means of a dialogue (through communication). This spiritual dialogue is called Samvada.  

As per lord Krishna every spiritual seeker has to go through Karma yoga for preparing the mind. He is called a junior seeker or a preparing seeker for preparing his mind to go through Jnana yoga. Preparing seeker is called a junior seeker who prepares himself for Jnana yoga. After sometime he will be ready for Jnana yoga pradhana life in which one turns inwards enquiring about who am I. Prepared seeker is a serious seeker of Jnana yoga who does self enquiry. Once you go through Jnana yoga, you will discover; I am not the body. I am not the mind. I am the ‘Atma’. This discovery alone will give liberation (spiritual enlightenment) called ‘Moksha’. Liberation (Jeevan mukthi) is a state of mind in which I look upon human life as an asset and a blessing and is possible even when one is alive. On the other hand Samsara problem comes when you think that life is a liability, burden and boring. You start having negative attitude towards life. You curse yourself all the time and start doubting whether Bagawan is there at all.

The sequence is karma yoga> Preparation>Jnana yoga>Enlightenment>Liberation. Vedas existed long time ago. For a spiritual seeker Vedas are like a GPS (global positioning system as in a vehicle). In the 3^rd chapter Sri Krishna tells (Arjuna) that everybody has to go through karma yoga and Jnana yoga sequentially. A junior seeker has to become a senior seeker and prepares him for Jnana yoga. Arjuna mistakes that these two are independent paths towards attaining liberation. (Moksha, destination). Arjuna thought that Jnana yoga is superior. Karma yoga is doing one’s own duty. As an escape route Arjuna wanted to do Jnana yoga as doing karma yoga is painful. With this confusion Arjuna starts the 3^rd Chapter of Bhagavad Gita.

   

Spiritual purity comes by giving more and more and taking less and less. If Gita is told backwards it sounds tagi tagi and Thyagi (one who does not desire about the fruits of action). We have to learn to give more and more and take lesser than what we contribute. Krishna calls it as karma yoga nishta. We have to contribute in the 5 fields of pancha maha yagna. Krishna calls them as yogis or junior seekers. They are preparing their mind for Jnana yoga by following the karma yoga way of life. I should have infrastructure set up. Karma yoga sadana requires karma yoga nishta which is a conducive infrastructure (life style). It involves religious activities and social activities (Vaidiga and Logiga karmas). Vedic rituals require a man and a wife (couple). Just as an office requires different departments Vedic rituals require a family type of set up in which husband and wife should participate. Karma yoga requires earning (a person has to earn a lot) and Jnana yoga requires learning. I should work and earn lot of wealth for doing karma yoga. Infrastructure requires continuous earning and a set up.

Knowing what PORT is will help us doing our action properly.

P refers to Possession. You have to possess something in order to give it to someone. Possession is required for doing karma yoga. Starting point is your house.  

O refers to Obligation. You have to perform your obligatory duties to your Spouse, Children, Employees, employer etc; to the Priest who is helping you to perform the rituals.

R refers to Relationship. You have to maintain relationship with a lot of people like your Wife, Children, In-laws and others. You have to know as to how to maintain the relationship. Greater the relationship greater will be your contacts and you will be successful. You have to have the qualities of a PRO.

T refers to Transaction. A lot of transaction is required. I have to visit other person’s functions and also give gifts to them as reciprocation.

An expanded PORT is called Grihasta Ashrama. The 4 Ashramas are Bramachari, Grihasta, Vanapresta and Sanyasa.

Karma yoga infrastructure is not conducive to Jnana yoga. Jnana yoga requires a contemplative lifestyle. Jnana yoga infrastructure consists of: the study of ‘Atma’ (Nithya, Sathya, Akartha, Aboktha, Sarvagathaga, Nirvikara, and Aprameya). I will get to know the truth about myself through Jnana yoga and it requires study. For doing Jnana yoga PORT reduction is required. Reduce the no of relationships, no of transactions etc. PORT reduction is conducive to Jnana yoga. A reduced PORT is called Sanyasa ashrama. Jnana yoga says the whole world is in me which is ‘Brahman’. A temporary withdrawal is required from the society to assimilate the teaching and then you can come back again to your society. ‘Atma’ is also called Nishkarma.

Learn to be alone for some time now and then. Nobody is going to be with us all the time. Learn to be independent of them. Otherwise the shock will be so much that you will not be able to withstand. That requires tremendous maturity and also requires Karma yoga. Jnana yoga is impossible without Karma yoga. Karma yoga is incomplete without Jnana yoga.

While studying the nature of Brahman mankind has tried to grapple with the challenge of realising the Supreme Brahman since time immemorial. The question is; knowing the difference between the eternal truth and the unreal.  It becomes a fruitful exercise only if one has tremendous faith in one’s preceptor. Through inference we should be able to know that Truth is eternal while the universe is Maya also called “Maya Sakthi”. The observance of smoke leads us to infer fire’s presence. Similarly by inference we recognize or realise consciousness that is the cause of our existence.

Waker jevatma does 4 things.

1.    It projects the dream world.

2.    Enters the dream world.

3.    Disowns the waker jevatma status and

4.    Claims as Dreamer jevatma.

For a dreamer Jevatma the dream becomes a nightmare and not a dream. In fact I should drop the wrong notion that I am the waker Jevatma. Actually I am the Paramatma with a special power called “Maya Sakthi”. I should claim that I am the Paramatma with “Maya sakthi” and created this world, entire universe and the entire body mind complex. I am Brahman. I am Jagat Karanamasmi. Without the waker the dream cannot survive. I (waker Jevatma) am the Projection of consciousness. I am the consciousness principle. I am the Karanam. Everything else is the Karyam. Karanam alone is appearing as karyam. I am in the form of everything.

We can take wave as an example to explain Consciousness or Brahman. When a Wave mistook it as a wave it was humble, simple and worshipped the Ocean. ‘I am borne out of you. I will worship you’. Let us imagine the wave to shift its vision through Vedanta. It understands that ‘I am not a wave but I am Water’. After claiming that I am water the enlightened wave addresses the ocean and says that there is no such thing called ocean. Ocean is also the same thing called water. I the water alone am appearing as a wave and also as a large ocean. There is neither a wave nor an ocean separated from the water. Similarly Jevatma is the Bhakta and Paramathma is the Bagawan. Bagawan and Bhakta are one and the same consciousness principle. They are the same and one Ekathma. An enlightened Jnani proclaims that ‘I am everything’.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

SUMMARY OF THE SECOND CHAPTER OF BHAGAVAD GITA

The second chapter of Gita is entitled “The Sankhya Yoga”. Yoga means union. Yuj means to join. In Sanskrit it is called Yoga and in English it is called Religion. Each chapter of Bhagavad Gita is called Yoga and it helps you to unite. You are separated from something and you are asked to unite to something you are separated from. If you use physical body to unite with self it is Karma Yoga. If you use your mind to unite with self it is Bhakti yoga. If you use your knowledge/ intellect to unite with self it is called Gnana Yoga. The physical Body, Mind and Intellect are the equipments that you carry with you.

The 2^nd and 18^th Chapters are the most important in the entire Gita where lord Krishna condenses the entire Gita teaching. The first chapter is the preparatory ground. The actual teaching of the Gita begins from the second chapter. The second chapter contains the essence of entire Gita. 18^th Chapter contains the summary of entire Bhagavad Gita.

The eighteenth chapter of Gita is entitled “Mokshasanyasayoga” (The yoga of liberation through renunciation). You are completely attached to the external world. When you grow and go to a higher dimension the lower falls away. It is like a Child which is attached to a toy. As the child grows up and takes interest in a bicycle the child gives up the toy for the cycle. Thus it can be said that enhancing your knowledge is renunciation. You don’t renounce anything. You drop/ give up something and take up some other thing as your knowledge is enhanced. You have to perform your obligatory duties and responsibilities without craving for the fruit of action. The lord states that these ordained duties are of two kinds – daily routine ones (nithya) and occasional special duties (naimittika). These have to be done by all but it is the attitude behind the acts that matters. This is called renunciation in action. You have to develop the spirit of renunciation while acting. Whoever does obligatory duties without bothering about the fruit of actions is a Sanyasi (A person who does what he ought to do viz.Teacher, priest).

The 2^nd Chapter can be classified into 4 main topics as under:

1^st Topic – Arjuna saranagadhi (Verse 1 to 10).

2^nd Topic – Gnana Yogaga (verse 11 to 38) otherwise called Sankya yogaga.

3^rd Topic – Karma Yogaga (verse 39 to 53).

4^th Topic – Chitapragna Lakshanani (verse 54 to 72).

1^st Topic: Arjuna saranagadhi: Verses 1 to 10.

Arjuna chooses to surrender to lord Krishna as he suffers from the problem of samsara in the battle field. Samsara was intensely felt by Arjuna. The battlefield triggered the problem of samsara as he faced his own near and dear towards whom he was attached. Raga or attachment is an expression of samsara. Whenever I get attached to anything in this world Viz. a person or an object, I allow that person to determine my emotional state. Events in that person’s life determine my emotional state. I have become an emotional slave. My mind and my emotional state is no more under my control. The world will determine my emotional state when I am angry, happy etc. The precious gift of freewill that bagawan has given me has been lost by me when I am attached to something. I have lost control of my entire life. The quality of my Life, action, judgment depends upon my emotional quotient. At this point of time there is no difference between me and an animal.

Attachment is the most powerful expression of samsara as per Vedanta. Attachment is the loss of freewill – a slave of the world. Love is not attachment. The world today is infested with attachment which passes off as Love. Attachment is an emotional slavery. Love is, being available to the object of love whenever that person requires help. In the 1^st Chapter of Gita, Arjuna was in the intense grip of grief (anger, jealousy) which is a severe expression of samsara and also called as Soka. The 3^rd expression of samsara is when my knowledge, my intelligence and IQ are blocked when I am affected by samsara. I will not be able to take the right decisions in Life. Right decisions require right judgement. Right judgement requires discriminative power. My discriminative power is lost when I face samsara problem. There is delusion (confusion) called Moha. During this time feelings like my future is bleak and my current life is lost come in the mind. Samsara is Raga+Soga+Moga put together, which Arjuna experienced intensely. When the pain is mild you can either go to a doctor or take medicines by yourself and avoid going to a doctor. When the pain is intense you have to necessarily go to a doctor for getting a cure. Similarly Arjuna discovered the problem and wanted a solution. He discovered that he could never solve the problem by himself. He discovered helplessness. In the 2^nd Chapter, Arjuna rushes to a doctor (Krishna). Lord Krishna was available to him and that too very near to him.

3^rd Topic: Karma Yoga: Verses 39 to 53.

Krishna talks about vishesa karma yoga. Scriptures talk about specific spiritual exercises which are exclusively designed for spiritual growth. Preparation for Gnana yoga by doing special exercises is necessary. One has to do pancha maha yagna wherein I reverentially contribute in 5 areas of infrastructure.

They are: Deva yagna – doing all types of religious pujas (sandyavandanam, Temple visit etc.) meant for spiritual growth. Use all pujas for spiritual benefit.

Pithur yagna – Reverential contribution done for my parents, grandparents especially when they need my services in their old age. Ancestor worship in the form of shrardha/ tharpana will add to my spiritual growth.

Manushya Yagna – any type of service viz. a smile, to anyone is Manushya yagna.

Rishi yagna / Brahma yagna – Worship of rishis and scriptures. I contribute to the preservation of my religion.

Bootha yagna – Reverence to animals.

By doing all the above mentioned without any exception, the spiritual growth becomes faster.

Vishesha karma yoga / samanya Karma yoga talks about performing an action. We have to convert every action into worship be it any action that we do. The actions may be waking, eating, working in the office etc. Doing one’s work with a focused mind and with passion is considered worship. All action must be done cheerfully unmindful of the result which could be favourable or unfavourable. Failures are also an integral part of our life. It is necessary that you have to mentally prepare yourself to confront failure when it happens. Our mind cannot take failure in life so easily. You have to tell yourself that your job is only to perform up to your capacity. The result will be as per the law of karma. Keep telling yourself; ‘I want success but I am not afraid to take failure also as god’s will or eswara prasada. Failures will not disturb my mind (imaginary or actual failure)’. A reacting mind cannot learn from life experiences. Depending upon the world for peace, security and happiness is a risky proposal. Therefore I should learn to depend on myself for getting peace, security and happiness. I have to strengthen myself and Gnana yoga alone will strengthen me to depend on myself.

2^nd Topic: Gnana Yoga: Verses 11 to 38.

Gnana yoga is the pursuit of self knowledge and knowing who I am (my real nature). Atma itself is not the body, mind or sense organs. These are only the medium through which I the atma functions. Atma is different and is of the nature of consciousness principle. It is chaitanya swaroopa which is the invisible and innermost essence of every individual.

The 5 features of consciousness are as under:

- Consciousness is not a part, product, property of the body.

- Consciousness is an independent principle which pervades the body and makes the body alive. It is in the body and not of the body.

- It is not limited by the boundaries of the body. It is all pervading like space.

- Consciousness continues to exist even after the material body disintegrates. This is like the presence of electricity even after the removal of the bulb.

- The surviving consciousness after the death of the body is not accessible for transaction since there is no medium through which it can express itself. It is the ‘Atma’. We see the light on a paurnami night and call it moonlight. It is not the light of the moon. It is actually the sunlight. Sunlight is not a part, Product, property of the moon. Sunlight is all pervading and we mistake it as moonlight. Likewise Consciousness which you experience does not belong to the body and is an independent entity. Surya enlivens the Moon and “Atma” enlivens the body. ‘Atma’ is Nithya (everlasting), Sathya (truth), Akartha (non-doer), Aboktha (non enjoyer), Sarvagathaga (all pervading); Nirvikara (does not undergo any change). It is Aprameya; not an object that is perceived by sense organs (because sense organs can perceive only the material things). We have to understand atma separating it from the body. This is similar to Moon and light which are two separate things.

There are two ‘I’s. The first ‘I’ is the body and the second ‘I’ is the Chaithanyam (‘Atma’). Pure consciousness is an abstract entity like light. Light pervades the entire hall and space. One can neither touch it nor cut it. It is intangible and indivisible. Understanding the light concept more and more will help understand the ‘Atma’. I realize that ‘I’ am not the body and ‘I’ am the ‘Atma” which is eternal. I will understand that I have a temporary body which will be taken by god without giving any notice period. I become the user of the body and not the owner.

4^th Topic: Sthitapragna Lakshanani: Verses 54 to 72.

By Chitapragna Lakshanani is meant natural or spontaneous traits of a Gnani. One of the traits of a Gnani is being equanimous and having a samatvam mind. This is called abyasa. A gnani has discovered that he is the ‘Atma’ which is poornam and functioning through a finite medium called body, mind. Gnani can give up anything without feeling that he is missing anything. You can use the sense organs but never become a slave of the same. Use the mind but never become the slave of the mind. Do vedantic meditation and meditate upon the teachings of the gita. Do nidhidhyasanam which will be useful for receiving, retaining and assimilating the knowledge. A person can discover fulfillment in him or herself which is called poornatvam. Self fulfillment is poornatvam when you get freedom from binding desires. Freedom from attachment, freedom from fear, freedom from anger. You perform the duties of life. What happens is not in our control. Krishna concludes by comparing a gnani to an ocean. When rivers are full and pours water into an ocean the ocean is poornam.

Ocean is the same (poornam) when no water comes from the rivers. Sometimes we feel that rising sun shows prosperity and setting sun is adversity because it will disappear. We should treat both as the same. Wise people are those who have got a calm mind in prosperity as well as in adversity. This samatvam is the benefit of being a Chitapragna. Lord Krishna calls it Brahmisthiti. Krishna tells Arjuna that he should go through karma yoga and Gnana yoga to become Brahmisthiti.

What is retirement?

You are an expression of your own Vasanas (manifestation of desires). Everybody is helplessly expressing his own vasanas. A singer will be singing. An artist will be painting. He cannot renounce that. You should not be bothered about what you get out of your action. You have to relinquish the fruits of your action. Your duty is to do what you ought to do. There is no such thing as retirement. You continue to function and not worry about the result of your action. Never retire from action. You retire from the fruit of your action.

If you wish to live, there are ways to live. Even the deep sea will become a wonderland if you have a passion for swimming. We have to swim along the Ocean of Life (starting with our birth due to our previous janma karma) if we have to reach the feet of Lord; the almighty.

It will be useful to know the difference between intelligence and intellect in this context.

All of us are acquainted with intelligence. The most brilliant persons in this world deal with intelligence which is the knowledge gained from external agencies viz., School, College. You can improve your knowledge further and become more intelligent. The intellect has to be developed by oneself. A teacher can guide you but you have to develop by yourself. It is like developing your muscles. Developing the muscles from when you are born with what you have developed till now. The way to develop your intellect is not to accept anything for granted. We find that people everywhere take everything for granted. Questioning everything at every step right from your formative years (from the age of 6) will help develop your intellect. Life is how you relate to the world. It is not the world that distresses you but how you relate to it. Otherwise you have unreasonable expectations which cause you misery. You will find that success and peace are totally lacking because of the absence of intellect. You will find that there is no intellectual development at all in you. Buddhi is intellect. One should have a satvic buddhi which enables you to choose the right field of activity. You can choose an activity that goes with your personality. You can differentiate between what is to be done and what is to be avoided. Satvic intellect gives you the direction. It guides you to the path of liberation.

Beauty is for admiring; Knowledge is for giving; Mind is for thinking; Life is for living. Let’s enjoy every minute of living our life.

Living is not a science. We should understand that Living is an art, a skill, a technique. You need to learn and practice it as you would to play a game or a musical instrument. Let us appreciate this fact and start using our intellect and not fall prey to emotions.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

REMOVAL OF IGNORANCE AND PATH TO LIBERATION

Ignorance is caused due the lack of knowledge or education. Hence you start to assume what you think is right and you tend to do the wrong thing. This in turn makes you to face unfavorable situations in life. This may lead to anger, frustration and depression.

Everybody has to go through Gnana Yoga to get liberation. Krishna starts with Gnana Yoga to Arjuna. Krishna wants to talk about the nature of ‘Atma’ which is the spiritual component of everyone. Material part of everybody is called ‘Anathma’. Physical body, mind and world come under the material part ‘Anathma’. Behind the body mind complex is the invisible component for everyone which is ‘Atma’. Gnana Yoga portion can be grasped well if we grasp the following:-

- Success in Life is not only part of communication skill but requires listening skill which is called Shravanam in Sanskrit.

- Thinking and clearing your doubts or reflection on what you listen is required. This is Mananam.

- Dropping the false notion / misconception is called Nithithyasanam. Most powerful misconception is I am this body.

In slokas 12 and 13 in the 2^nd Chapter Krishna talks about “Atma” and “Anathma”. “Atma” is a changeless principle and is immortal. “Anathma” (Body mind complex) is a changing principle both at micro and macro level and is mortal. We can see things are changing continuously and they bring favourable and unfavourable experiences. They are uncontrollable. Success in life is not controlling the world. It is nothing but preparing the mind for the flow of favourable and unfavourable experiences. We should use our freewill to contribute and not control. Keep doing what you can do. Mentally be prepared for both types of experiences coming and going. Even when an unfavourable experience is coming the silver lining is that this will also pass away.

Once you face a helpless situation tell Bhagawan; O Lord give me the willingness to go through without any resistance. Give me the serenity to accept what cannot be changed. ‘Titiksha’ is accepting deliberately where action has to be done and accepting what can’t be changed and avoiding impulsive reaction/ responses. Our stand is that we want double standard with regard to life.

Light alone can remove darkness. We have to remove ignorance by the light of knowledge. Krishna tells Arjuna that wise people do not grieve towards any human being and in any situation. We are contributors and we are not controllers. Grief immobilizes any one and makes him more and more inefficient. The essence of “Gita” is that sorrow is caused by ignorance. Wisdom is the solution to the problem of sorrow. From being ignorant one has to seek and go towards the path of knowledge. From samsara to Moga. Darkness to light.

“Bhagavad Gita” tell us the path for the removal of ignorance. It is like doing a surgery with a special needle dipped in Gnanam. Preparation is done by doing Karma yoga. Surgery is done by Gnana yoga. By this way we can remove ignorance or Attachment in our life.

Be blissful.

S.Sekar

Contact; sekrajc@yahoo.com

POINTS ON KARMA YOGA

Aham Brahmasmi is the essence of all Upanishads. We get to know this by doing Sravanam, Mananam and Nidithyasanam.

Can we use the knowledge gained from Upanishads in solving our day to day problems? It is difficult to receive, assimilate and implement this knowledge. It requires our internal refinement and a lot of preparation. Gnana yoga is pursuit of spiritual knowledge. Karma yoga is a preparatory discipline.

Principles of Karma Yoga

We are unable to accept ‘Brahman’. In Karma yoga we are changing from Atma No. 1 to Atma No. 2. ‘Atma 1’ alone is popularly known as Paramathma. There are three layers in a human body as given in ‘Tatva Bodha’. They are ‘Stula Sariram’, Sukshma Sariram (invisible body) and Karana Sariram (storehouse of past karmas i.e. punyam and Pavam). Everyone is a mixture of Stula, Sukshma and Karana sariram. Body, Prana and mind are matter and material in nature and are inert. They don’t have sentiency (sensory faculty) of their own. They borrow consciousness from Atma No 1, which is paramathma and is eternal and all pervading. It can be called as the ATM (from where we borrow/withdraw money) of consciousness. This borrowed sentiency (the faculty through which the external world is apprehended) is called borrowed consciousness or reflected consciousness. Sarirathrayam plus reflected consciousness is called Atma No 2 or Jeevatma. Thus Body, mind, prana, all stored up karma plus borrowed Consciousness is “I” the Jeevatma. I am a ‘kartha’ and ‘Boktha’ at Karma Yogi level. I will have several punniyam, pavam earned through past actions. ‘I’ am paramathma at Gnana Yoga level. The body will survive till punniyam and pavam is exhausted. Jeevatma will become invisible after death and will take another body which is ready. The journey ends only in Moksha. Without knowing the law of karma, karma yoga is impossible.

Unfolding punya pava palan is prarabdham which is called fate or destiny. This is already determined by me by my own past actions. (I have to pay the price for my own actions). Is my future determined by Prarabdha only? Fate is one of the influencing factors and is not the only factor. The second factor which influences our future is our effort or freewill or our prayathna. What I produce is called Agami (Punniyam and Pavam) and is based on my present effort. The question will be raised as to what will be the status/ Condition of my physical body 5 years later. This is decided by prarabdha and agami. We should remember this in order to become a healthy Karma yogi. No human being can handle this part of Karma and only Eswara / Bhagawan maintains the punniyam and pavam of everyone. Eswara also maintains the law and order of the Cosmos and he is the Karma Pala Padha. Thus every event is a resultant of agami and prarabdha. A karma yogi must be a devotee of God. A karma yogi is involved in continuous activity both secular and sacred activity.

We have to remember 4 points (four principles of Karma Yoga) while performing our actions. I use the word RIDE to explain this.

R – Reduction of all adharmic actions gradually. By adharmic is meant what I don’t want others to do to me. Start living alertly and avoiding the avoidable.

I – Increase Dharmic activity. The activities which involves our contribution, our service to infrastructure around us by helping others. Become a socially responsible citizen. Do pancha maga yagna. I should learn to look at others reverentially. If possible contribute to their maintenance and growth. Worship and respect our parents. Do prithru yagna for the departed soul.

D – Dedication of all the activities and worship to the lord. I visualize every action as a flower which is used for remembrance of the lord and dedication. Bhagavan is the invisible examiner called karma pala dhadha. A Happy mind is a generous mind and an unhappy mind is a stringy mind. When I remember the lord my anxiety regarding my future comes down. Future is unknown and the unknown causes fear. Follow the principle that work is worship and dedicate all actions to God.

E – Experiencing the future as it unfolds as my own karma pala and as prasada coming from the lord.

Four benefits that we get starting with “S” from Karma Yoga are as under:-

1. Self respect. I will get out of my low self image. Low self image (freedom from inferiority complex) is removed if I contribute more.

2. Serenity. I don’t have anxiety regarding my future. When I work I accept the result with humility. I enjoy a non reacting mind. That is samathvam which is freedom from stress.

3. Harmony of the setup. Start contributing by taking less and giving more. Balance taking and giving.

4. Spiritual growth. An increased desire to come to gnana yoga from Atma No 2 to Atma No 1. Moving from “I” am jeevatma to “I” am Paramathma. From Dasogam to sogam.

Be blissful.

S.Sekar

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com