PRELUDE TO TWELFTH CHAPTER OF BHAGAVAD GITA

Twelfth chapter is a small chapter consisting of 20 verses but is a very important chapter, which puts the entire Vedic teaching in essence. We can say the 12^th chapter is Veda saraha. This chapter happens to be the final chapter of the middle portion of Bhagavad Gita beginning with the 7^th chapter. Madyama Shatkam dwells upon eswara swaroopa and is based on 11^th chapter. Madyama Shatkam talks about the importance of eswara anugraha or eswara kripa. For this, we require our effort with grace of God. Effort and grace are complimentary like the two wings of a bird. We have to learn to look at the whole universe as eswara’s body. Towards the end of the chapter, Krishna includes a statement. A person proceeds from eka rupa eswara to vishwa rupa eswara only if he has one important qualification. If this qualification is not there, other religious disciplines that he does viz., Vedas etc will be useless and it will not work. Naturally, Arjuna was curious to know what that qualification is. Krishna answers Arjuna about this important qualification, which is Bhakti or Devotion. What should I do to be a Bhakta is a question? What is that Bhakti which Krishna highlighted in the 11^th Chapter?

12^th chapter is a commentary on what is Bhakti. That is why 12^th chapter is entitled Bhakti Yoga and dwells on Bhakti. Krishna is expanding further on Bhakti. Therefore, we have to connect the previous discussion with the 12^th chapter. Bhakti is discussed in the 7^th chapter. Krishna himself talks about 4 types of Bhakti in the 7^th chapter. We have to build up on this. A Bhakta has to progress through 4 stages. Initially we worship the lord to solve our problems. This is called Aarta Bhakti. Children before the exams are Aarta Bhaktas. Preparing to the next stage is Ardarthi Bhakti. Whenever we start a fresh thing Viz., a business venture, a house warming ceremony, a married life there are so many slips between the cup and the lip. We do varieties of pujas for the success of worldly ventures. This is Ardarthi Bhakti. This is also non-spiritual Bhakti. Gradually we have to progress to Jignasu Bhakti. The others who worship are the seeker of knowledge (Jijnasu Bhakti is the enquirer) and the wise (Gnani Bhakta) who are the men of knowledge who have attained to self-illumination. Be devoted to God, whatever be your motive. Devotion will purify the motive in due course. We have to understand that everything in this world is perishable. Eswara Gnanam and surrender to the Lord is the only solution for the problem of Samsara. For a seeker of Moksha this conversion is called Mumukshu Bhakti or Jignasu Bhakti.

I want Moksha but I don’t know how to get Moksha. There are so many people attaining Moksha through different methods. Study of Veda gives Eswara Gnanam. Krishna makes it very clear in the 4^th chapter. You should be interested in receiving the knowledge through a Guru by way of spiritual education program. Things will happen and will work only if the mind is ready to receive the knowledge and assimilate the knowledge received. Fitness for receiving eswara Gnanam should be there. Therefore, Krishna recommends preparatory discipline.

Two important Yoga’s are there for getting Gnana yoga. They are Karma yoga and Upasana yoga. Karma yoga is for diluting Raga Dvesha. Without this (Karma yoga), our mind will not be quiet (3^rd Ch). Second is Upasana yoga. Our mind should not be pre occupied. A preoccupied mind is a smaller mind and cannot focus attention to a guru’s teaching. Mind must be 100% available. For that Upasana yoga, meditation in one form or other is required. Only at that time of Dhyanam mind will have every thought also. A Jignasu Bhakta must go through three Yogas. He has the longest Bhakti duration. He has to do Karma yoga and Upasana yoga for Gnana yoga prapti and Gnana yoga for getting Gnana prapti. Karma yoga, Upasana yoga and Gnana yoga put together is Bhakti Yoga. Krishna calls it Annanya Bhakti. Jignasu Bhakti will become Gnana Bhakti. Gnana Bhakta is a liberated person. 12^th chapter can be briefly divided into two parts. First is 3 yogas presented by Krishna. This is discussed up to 12^th verse. When a person has done all the 3 yogas he will get converted into a Gnana Bhakta.

What is the Life style of a Gnani Bhakta? What benefit he will get by becoming a Gnani Bhakta? The description of a Gnani Bhakta (Chitapragna) is given in 2 Chapter BG Ver 54 to Ver 72.  By Chitapragna Lakshanani is meant natural or spontaneous traits of a Gnani. A Chitapragna of the 2^nd chapter is Gnani Bhakta of 12^th Chapter (Para Brahma, 12 Ch, Ver 20). Jignasu Bhakta will become a Gnani Bhakta. Krishna divides from 3 to 5 stages of yoga. 2 levels of Karma yoga, 2 levels of Upasana yoga and 1 level of Gnana yoga. Krishna tells the first level of Karma yoga as Sagama karma. He permits worldly desires. The second level of Karma yoga is doing Pancha Maha Yagna. The first level of Upasana yoga is meditation upon my own favorite deity. The second level of Upasana yoga is Vishwa rupa dhayana. I meditate upon Vishwa rupa eswara as descriped in 11^th Chapter. Learn to look at the Universe as the body of the lord. The Fifth and final step is Gnana Yoga consisting of Shravanam, Mananam and Nidhith yasanam. We finally come to Nirguna Eswara Bhakti. This beautiful Bhakti Yoga package is talked about in the 12^th Chapter and the chapter starts with Arjuna’s question to Krishna.

Be Blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

DESIRE TO NO DESIRE IS THE ANSWER

Desire, Anger and Fear are to be eradicated while doing Karma Yoga. Kama (pleasure) is a major problem that affects Life and has to be removed from your thoughts. Cultivate good thoughts and appreciate every day the nature’s beauty around you.  Unethical desires alone are to be condemned. May you encourage only healthy desires. Three organs in the body generate desires. Sense organ gets tempted and is the founder member. Mind becomes the next member nourishing the Kama. The next is Buddhi, which justifies unethical desires. Sense organs initiate the desire. Control sense organs by avoiding temptations. Say no to drugs, no to liquor, cigarette etc. Once you take to them thereafter coming out is difficult. Sense control is the best method of mastering Kama. Ethical Kama will become non-binding desires. You will feel complete fulfillment.

Only when you have desires, you will be born again. Man has desires. He is an extrovert. Be an introvert, discover yourself, and seek the truth.

Human – Desire = God.

A quotation comes to my mind when I think about desire. I believe this statement to be true.

“A Person, who has wants, Worships

A person, who has no wants, is worshipped”

Note: Wants = Desires

          No wants = No desires or Desireless

Every human being has a bundle of desires (Vasanas). Vasanas are unfulfilled desires. You merely satisfy your desires, as you grow older. Still you will have a bundle of desires and there is no end to it. You have to move from selfish desires to unselfish desires and finally selfless desires in order to move to something higher. When desires are exhausted, you merge with the higher truth.  For example, the river merges with the ocean. Ocean says the river is in me and I am also in the river. What you see is Individuality of the river to the totality of the ocean. You are able to relate to one and all.

Every human being can make a life for himself. All you need is to be determined and put in your efforts to reach the goal (spiritual goal). The only goal a human being has in life is to get back to his original state.

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

AMAZING VISHWARUPA DHARSHANA

We should understand that the entire world is in the infinite Vishwarupam of the lord. The entire space is the body of the lord. In Upanishads, we get this description of Vishwarupa varnana.

Vishwarupa dharshana is not an extraordinary form of the lord. It is an extraordinary way of looking at the Universe itself as the body of the lord. World as the body of the lord is already available in front of me. It need not appear newly since it appears all the time. We do not experience the world as the body of the lord. We only experience the world and so we don’t have vishwarupa dharshanam. We require two qualifications for Vishwarupa dharsan. One is we require Gnanam and the second is Sanskara which is refinement of the mind. In Hinduism Sanskaras or Samskaras are the imprints left on the subconscious mind by experience in this life or the previous lives. These Samskaras then colour our life, nature, responses, state of mind etc. “Whenever an action is performed by a person with the desire for a specific result (whether for oneself or another), sanskara is created. These accumulate and determine the situations with which we will be presented in the future and will influence the scope of future actions”. Gnanam makes us understand that God is the cause of the Creation. Universe is the product of Eswara. Cause alone expresses in the form of varieties of things. Bagawan is the cause and world is the effect. Bagawan alone with different names and forms is appearing as universe. Bagawan with names and forms is called the universe. Even though we use ornaments such as bangles, chains etc, we know all of these as gold.  We have gold darshan only.

When I experience the product, I don’t see the Karanam(cause). Even though the entire world is the body of the lord eventually, Bagawan is the owner of the entire creation. I don’t accept the entire creation to be owned by the Bagawan. I claim ownership with respect to a few things, few people, property etc. This is because, ‘I’ have got mamakara. Once I claim ownership of possession, I want to take control of them. The problem is that I don’t have control over anything at all. When I try to control the uncontrollable, anxiety is inevitable. I have trespassed into the property of the lord. Bagawan’s prosecution is our mental stress, strain, fear, anxiety etc. If only I remember that I don’t have ownership, I can’t control anything and that I can only contribute, my life will be a blessing and also peaceful. I can raise the children properly. What they are going to do is not in my control. Do not control in every stage of their life.

Pray to God; O lord whatever happens according to the law of Karma let it happen. Let me do whatever I have to do all the time. Let me do my duty, relax my mind, and enjoy the wonderful Vishwarupa. Reduction of Ahamkara and Mamakara (I and mine) and reduction of Raga Dvesha (likes and dislikes) is required for having viswarupa darshana all the time. Lord Krishna blesses Arjuna’s mind Divya Chakshu (third eye). Krishna made Arjuna experience the Vishwarupa Eswara, which is the attitude towards the world itself as explained above.

Krishna tells Arjuna, “With your own eyes you will not be able to see my cosmic form. I will bless you with divine eye Viz., Divya Chakshu and you can see me”. Because of Ahamkara and Mamakara factors, our mind gets narrower and narrower. We are always preoccupied with something or other and we don’t have time to appreciate the Vishwarupa Eswara. We don’t appreciate the trees, flowers, which are, present everywhere in nature. We always worry about a few things centered on Ahamkara and Mamakara; our mind gets subjective, and we look at every event as Ahamkara and Mamakara. Once we eliminate them, we can live in the present. Everything becomes glorious and holy if we have the right attitude. Karma yoga and Upasana yoga helps to overcome Ahamkara and Mamakara and remove that narrow mind. Three ingredients make our mind preoccupied. They are Raga (attachment), Soga (grief) and Moga (delusion / conflict).

The Body of the lord is all pervading Akasa (Taittiriya Upanishads). The space (Akasa/ Sky) is the body of the lord. The infinite space is available all the time. There can be only one all pervading space. We have to read books on Astronomy to know about stars and outer space. The nearest star is Surya or Sun. During summer, we even cannot see the Sun. Surya is only an ordinary star. There are stars above the sky, which are brighter than Surya or Sun god. We can compare the size of our planets to stars in the outer space, galaxy etc.

Life is a unique opportunity given to us by Bagawan. We have to enjoy the presence of Vishwarupa Dharshan. Once I look upon world as Eswara itself, my attitude to the world is one of reverence only. Since the entire universe is contained in the body of the lord, I am in the presence of the lord. I am in the very lap of the lord all the time. Just as a wave need not do anything to enjoy the presence of the ocean. The waves are always in the presence of the ocean. So also, I am always in the presence of the lord.

I should not claim ownership of anything as everything belongs to Bagawan. He can take anything from me without prior notice. I am only the user of what Bagawan has given me. When you claim the ownership of body and mind, it is called Ahamkara version of ownership. When I claim to possess something or someone Viz, my husband, my children, my things, it is called Mamakara. Ahamkara and Mamakara become an obstacle in appreciating bagawan as absolute.

Every experience in our life is coming from the world consisting of things, beings and experiences (varieties of situations). Until you go to bed, it continues. We react differently to situations based on our Raga, Dvesha, Kama (entertainment), Krodha and Moga. We are tension ridden all the time. This is a typical human mind. For a Vishwarupa Bhakta, all of these are not things, beings and situations. They are all Eswara vishwarupa. World does not give me experiences. Only God gives me experiences. Whatever god gives me is fair. There is nothing unfair in Bagawan’s treatment. I get what I deserve according to the law of karma. Whatever Bagawan gives is prasada. I should accept that without any complaint. This awareness is there for a Vishwarupa Bhakta (Nishkama Bhakti 9^th Chapter of BG).

The more you see the creation the more wonderful it is. No organ of our body can be created by anyone. You can only take precaution with regard to an Earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane, Storm etc, but you cannot prevent them from occurring. It is the work of Nature (Bagawan).

Arjuna, filled with wonder, bowed down his head (Fear of seeing a huge form of lord) to the Lord and spoke with joined hands (Showing Bhakti). Our eyes are capable of experiencing only Boologa (earth). Arjuna saw beyond Boologa with extended vision spatially and time wise. He could see the future Mahabharatha war in a symbolic form. He saw the all-pervading Vishwarupa. Whatever arrives and departs is finite only. His vision is described as a circle with circumference everywhere with center in all places, which means it is infinite.

Divinisation is required for spiritual growth. From Eka rupa to Vishwarupa to Arupa (No form), understanding of Bagawan is compulsory.

Be Blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

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THOUGHTS ON ‘I’

If I am I because You are You

And You are You because I am I

Then I am not and You are not

But If I am I because I am I

And You are You because You are You

Then I am and You are

But we are Not

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Simply stated, what that means can be summarized by

“Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” – Oscar Wilde

While that’s correct, let’s look a little deeper and ask why be you. If your life has a purpose (and it does) then you cannot find and fulfill that purpose without you being you. Your value is the unique you. There is no one else like you and therefore no one else can fulfill your purpose. Giving and sharing that unique you matters.

If you want to be original just try being yourself, because God has never made two people exactly alike. No two fingerprints are the same. No two ear lobes are same.

Have faith in yourself. Have a doubtless belief in yourself. That is the way you will win. The rule is there is no rule.

You are not just matter. It is you that matters.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

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Five Ways to Create Good Karma

Karma, in layman's terms, is an individual's action, intention, work, or deed. We can define it as any deliberate action willfully done by a human being. Action done by animals does not come under karma. Animals are programmed and they don’t use their freewill. For an animal, we call it as Chesta. Action done by us in our sleep will not come under karma, as it is not done willfully / deliberately. In simple terms, it can be said that your actions define your future, for what you sow, is what you will reap. In order to live a happy and peaceful life, it is very important that we create good karma around us. Our goodness, love, care and help towards others is what will lead us to a calm and happy life. Don't do wrong to anyone, even if you feel he has wronged you. Revenge is never the answer, as it lessens his wrongful deeds and adds to yours. Always remember no person can get away with harming another. Sooner or later, he has to pay for his karma.

There have always been arguments over whether karma relates to the deeds of past life, or the present ones, affecting the future. The cycle goes both ways. It is observed that at some point of time a person experiences undeserved sufferings and pains. This can be related to one’s past wrongful deeds. The only way to get rid of this is by staying positive and creating good karma around you, to the extent that it overpowers the wrong deeds of your past.

Here are a few ways to help you create good karma around yourself.

Think Positive: Your thoughts define your personality and with a positive outlook towards life, people and work, you will automatically create a positive bubble for yourself. A positive mind only thinks of betterment, and the one who thinks for the betterment of all, is only adding to his good deeds.

Spread Love: Love more, hate less. Not a new ideology though, but worth mentioning. You can win over evil just by the simple act of love. It isn’t easy to be good to people who may not be treating you right, but remember, never stoop down to that person's level in order to deal with him. It will only fill up your heart and mind with negativity. Try to be nice always, don’t hurt anyone. Stay happy and spread happiness. Ignore negative people.

Understand Pain: Always think before acting. Never let your actions be the reason for a person's pain. We must understand that if our actions hurt, or cause pain to another, it only adds to our bad deeds, which sooner or later, will get back to us.

Clear Intentions and thoughts: Bad action creates bad karma and so does bad intent. We may feel that what we think or feel remains with us, but such is never the case. Every thought is accountable. You should always be careful of what you think, for it soon changes into actions and every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

Select your friends wisely: We are generally known by the people we hang around with. It is a common notion and a much factual one too that, the people we stay with most of our time have an impact on our behavior and thinking. It is therefore very important to stay with positive, happy and kind-hearted people. Spending time with negative and evil souls will only, sooner or later, incorporate the same feelings in you.

Let our thoughts deeds and actions be centered on doing good things to all the other people around us. Let us be happy always, also make others happy, and thereby create a positive energy around us. In happiness lies our prosperity.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

HINDUSTANI FLAVOUR WORLDOVER (MORE INDIAN THAN YOU THINK)

Indelible footprints of India everywhere.

The western world had a misconception about India and Indian lifestyle 60 years ago. Foreigners imagined India to be a land of Snakes and Snake charmers living in tree houses. When I heard about this, I had a hearty laugh. To me India was a spiritual country with rich cultural heritage and sound value system. I would spend hours arguing over the spread of Indian culture across the globe. I would talk about the sages and Rishis of our historical past who left no stones unturned to disseminate the Indian Philosophy and Culture across the Globe.

As I grew up, I realized with wonderment how Indian way of life was influencing the world. India is a colourful and vibrant country with magnetic charm and pulsating with life. With such irresistible qualities, it is no wonder that Indian way of life has diffused into the world and created a stir in its own way.

In this complex world of stress and strife, Indians offered a panacea to the world by way of Yoga and Meditation. Many centers offering Yoga classes as stress busters can be seen in every nook and corner of the world. Even Pilates (a physical fitness system) is based on Aerobics and yoga postures of Surya Namaskaras.  Ayurveda an intrinsic part of Indian medicine is very popular among the westerners. Ayurvedic massages and Spa are much sought after medicinal therapies. Indian Ayurveda, a holistic approach to health that fuses the forces of mind, body, senses and spirit has kindled the curiosity of the westerners. Companies like L’Oreal have evinced interest in India Ayurveda skin care products and companies like Estee Lauder have created their own Ayurvedic spa treatments.  

My trip to the United States was an eye-opener in one way. I realized how far Indians had stretched themselves to popularize Indian cuisine even in remote areas. You could find restaurants under the name of Taj in many remote places serving north Indian cuisine. These restaurants attracted a fair number of foreigners. Indian cuisine is now one of the most popular cuisines across the globe and is enjoyed by the general population in North America, Europe, Australia and parts of Africa.

Indian spices, so integral to Indian cuisine, are an all time favorite of the food lovers across the world. The subtle flavour of these spices enhances the quality and appeal of vegetarian food attracting the discerning gourmand. Chicken Tikka is an all time favorite of the people around the globe. The Indian Jhal Moori (masala puffed rice) is an all time favorite of Queen Elizabeth of England.

I cannot fail to mention the various dance forms of India that have captivated the western audience. Barathanatyam and Kathak have never failed to enthrall western senses. The most powerful Indian cultural export has long been its film industry, nicknamed Bollywood, which is generally believed to produce the largest number of feature films in the world. Sometimes dubbed in local languages, these films, filled with colorful costumes, dances, music, and love stories are watched in Kuwait, Nigeria, Russia, Scandinavia, the Caribbean and even Fiji. Bollywood has globalised Indian dances and exposed it to the western world. I was totally surprised and thrilled to watch foreigners dance energetically to Bollywood numbers in the popular American TV show, “So you think you can dance”. The energetic Bhangra a north Indian dance form has been incorporated in Gyms and has become popular in the West.      

How can I miss mentioning about our very own Henna tattoos which has now become commonplace in households around the world.

There are many other aspects of Indian culture that have spread on a global scale. From curries to computer programs, self-realization to the arts, and well beyond, we are seeing its influence. The popular Indian art of using henna to create beautiful body designs and patterns only temporarily affects the surface of the skin. The influence of India leaves a permanent — and positive —impact on the world.

Isn’t it proof enough that Indians mark their presence everywhere?

S.SEKAR

Email: sekrajc@yahoo.com

Chennai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYhrZ3ppik

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BHAKTI AS A MEANS TO ATTAIN LIBERATION

Lord Krishna talked about different levels of Bhakti (up to 19^th Verse of 9^th Chapter of BG) which everyone would have to necessarily go through for spiritual development and Moksha or Liberation. He presents Bhakti as a means of liberation. He talks about three levels of Bhakti through which liberation is obtained. They are Karma yoga for purification of the mind, Upasana yoga meditation upon God/Lord and Gnana yoga a spiritual education program. Gnana yoga gives knowledge of Eswara and liberation. Higher nature of the lord, which was described as Para Prakruthi Gnana in the 7^th chapter. Bhakti is not a specific sadana. Bhakti is the common environment in which all the three yoga’s Viz., Karma, Upasana and Gnana yoga are practiced. It should be a reverential attitude and a reverential contribution. A coin has two sides. Vishwa Rupa has also two sides. It is similar to Day and Night.  Bhakti = Karma yoga+ Upasana yoga+ Gnana yoga. In the 12th chapter of “Bhagavad Gita”, there is a discussion on Bhakti. Out of the 35 qualities of a Bhakta the first and Foremost is the One who hates nobody. Who hates No creature. This is a quality of Bhakti and the Lord doesn’t talk about going to a temple.

Bhakti is classified based on the motive, which we have. In Vedic tradition before starting a pooja, we take Sankalpa. Bhakti is divided into Sakama and Nishkama Bhakti. In Sakama Bhakti, I see lord in everything except Spirituality. In Kathopanishad Sreyas and Preyas are discussed. Sreyas means ultimate good, and preyas means immediately palatable. Therefore, everyone should be interested for sreyas, not for preyas. Sakama Bhakti will be predominant in human life. The journey from Sakama Bhakti to Nishkama Bhakti is difficult. We have to increase Nishkama Pooja gradually and gradually decrease Sakama Pooja. Sakama Nishkama Vivekaha.

There are four differences between Sakama Bhakti and Nishkama Bhakti. Sakama Bhakti is deity specific. When I want to do pooja for a particular purpose, the pooja must be directed to a relevant/ particular deity. Nishkama Bhakti is not deity specific. You can invoke any devata and pray. The second difference is that particular result comes from doing the type of pooja. Sakama Bhakti is ritual specific. You have to select the time, Flower, Mantra etc whereas in Nishkama Bhakti any type of pooja can be done. Nishkama Bhakti is non-ritual specific. Third Diff; we have to follow all the rules properly going along with that pooja. If there are mistakes, the results will not be as expected one. It can be counterproductive. In Nishkama Bhakti, the result is always predictable and is always positive. It will take the person through all spiritual levels. He will get a Guru as a guide and will gain the capacity to grasp the teaching. Fourth Diff; even if Sakama Bhakti becomes successful the greatest result in Sakama Bhakti is finite in nature. He may go to Brahmaloka. This will end one day. You have to come back. We can enjoy the fruits for sometime and the palan is exhausted after sometime. Pleasure is for sometime only. Sakama Bhakti will give finite results and perpetuate Samsara. Nishkama Bhakti gradually takes you to Moksha and is predictable. Nishkama Bhakti is always successful and will lead to liberation in due course.

We have to keep in mind the three types of doshas or limitations with respect to all accomplishments. Every pleasure is mixed with pain. No satisfaction is there when you accomplish a certain thing. Comparison is the most painful thing. Jealousy is there in every field. Never there is total satisfaction for any one. In all these things, we depend more and more on external factors. Thus, I am travelling from dependence to more dependence to more dependence. Lord Krishna wants to highlight the perishable nature of these pleasures. For every drop of enjoyment, Amurtham/ Punyam, is debited like your credit card. Punyam earned is only finite and will get exhausted one day or other. Our prarabdha Karma is invisible. We do not know our date of death. This is the problem of Sakama Bhakti. Convert Sakama Bhakti/ pooja to Nishkama Bhakti/ pooja. In the Sankalpa, you say ‘Sarve Bhavanthu Sukinaga’. Expand prayer to universal Jignasu Bhakti.

Our whole life is spent in acquisition and maintenance. We want to acquire health. We have to maintain our health after acquiring it. This holds good for anything.     

The world is perishable. World is the product. God is imperishable. He is the cause. Objects will come and go. Eswara is Nithyaga. World provides food, shelter and clothing. Provision of food and shelter is not enough. We have something more to look for beyond food, shelter and clothing. The ultimate goal is Eswara prapti.  An intelligent person should choose Nishkama Bhakti. An intelligent person will prioritize. Balancing material and spiritual pursuit is wisdom.

When pooja is meant for universal well being and spiritual growth, it is accepted by bagawan. One can offer anything that is available with him for pooja. Always the attitude determines the ethics of pooja. In the seventh chapter, Jignasu Bhakti is discussed. Pure mind is the one who is interested in Moksha.

Enjoy your action by dedicating to the lord. There is a saying ‘Work is worship’. There must be excellence in any job that you do. A daily chore, which you consider boring, will become interesting in due course. You will never get boredom. It is an attitude like self-inspiration and self-motivation. Whatever action you do which is secular or sacred do it with devotion. You should be self-disciplined. You may follow willful denial of certain comforts on a particular day.  You should say No to that thing Viz., to food, to coffee, to A.C etc.   

Brigadaranya Upanishads talks about the study of Scriptures. By living a religious life, a person gets a desire for Vedantic study. He gets an opportunity to study the spiritual scriptures. Desire without an opportunity is useless. A vedantic person knows punya gives pleasure in the beginning and pain after the punya is exhausted. Arriving Punya will give me happiness. Ending punya will give me sorrow.    

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to decide whether he wants Sakama Bhakti or Nishkama Bhakti. In the third chapter of Gita 30th verse, Karma Yoga is defined in the same fashion as Nishkama Bhakti. There is no difference between Karma yoga and Nishkama Bhakti. We can invoke Bagawan when we worship any devata. Jignasu Bhakti is described in the 7^th Chapter. As we seek, so we get the result. Pray for universal well being and seek inner growth.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com