PIERCING THE CHAKRA

 

What happens when we die?

 

Many masters have been asked the same question and the usual reply is “Why are you bothered about what happens after death? Be concerned with what happens when you are alive!”

 

Intellectually we know – what happens is that we are born and reborn again to learn the lessons and there is no passing the test of living embodied until we actually pass.

 

Puttapurthi swami gave a different reply “This is what happens” using the Kundalini Phenomenon.

 

There are seven main chakras (spiritual centres) in our spine, which are seats of various levels of consciousness.

 

At the time of one’s death, if one’s consciousness is only at the lowest Mooladhara and Swadishtana centres, one will be reborn as an animal.

 

If it is between the third and the fourth, Manipura and Anahat, one would be born as a human. If from Vissudhi (throat) and Ajna (space between the Eyebrows) chakras, there will be no birth in earth but one becomes a Yaksha, Gandharva or a Siddha – a Demi God or an Angel. Only when consciousness is at Sahasrara (Head/Fontannel) chakra it is completely liberated.

 

When the Kundalini pierces the Manipura chakra, the person becomes free of past live vasanas and starts overcoming the worldly mindset and desires.

 

So what to do for the Kundalini to pierce the Manipura chakra?

 

1.    Omkar Chanting – works on the Sahasrara Chakra and Vissudhi Chakra

2.    Jyothi Meditation – works on Ajna Chakra and Anahat (Heart Chakra)

3.    Surya Namaskar – works on the Manipura Chakra.

 

Three sadhanas are given above to ensure that we get rebirth as a Human/ Angel or becoming one with the Divine.

 

Be blissful.

 

S.Sekar

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

WHAT IS THE ATTITUDE WITH WHICH WE MUST LEAD OUR DAILY LIFE?

 

Bhagawan lovingly gives us two tips with memorable practical illustrations.

Life is a newspaper; read casually a few columns and headlines that catch your fancy and throw it aside. Do not consider it any more important than that. Remember, today’s newspaper, is tomorrow’s 'waste paper'! So too, life is worth only a casual perusal! One birth is enough; let the death coming to you in this life be the last. You are all caskets of divine Love; share it and spread it. Express that Love in acts of service, words of sympathy, and thoughts of compassion.

Just as when you wake up from sleep you know that the dream you had was a matter of minutes, even though the chain of events dreamt spanned many years, this life too will appear a transient affair when you awaken into jnana (supreme wisdom) after this brief 'dream of life’. Be always full of joy so that when death calls, you can quit with a light laugh, without whimpering in grief.

I bless you to shape your life to attain that supreme everlasting bliss!

Be blissful

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

A NEW PARADIGM

How unpredictable is life they say!!!
I am forced to agree to it today.
What we were a few months ago
And now our lifestyle has done a tango!!

Surging ahead under the guise of progress,
We left behind a peaceful life without stress.
We were thrilled by our monetary gains,
A new electronic life sans physical strain.

Who cared about the possible side effects,
So long as comfort and pleasures overruled the defects.
This story went on for many many years.
Nature, a mute spectator, watched humans with tears.

A victim of rape, nature shed copious tears,
Begging mankind to lend its ears.
She warned them of possible repercussions,
If they paid deaf ears to her sincere persuasion.

Her implores and pleas were finally heeded in the year 2020,
By the Covid19 virus which infiltrated the world with an army mighty.
Sweeping the whole world at one go.
This virulent enemy attacked all sparing no friend or foe.

Corona virus shook the world by its ferocity,
Shattering world complacency by putting an end to its atrocity.
Crumbling the walls of the progressive ego,
Stumping world economy all at one go.

To restore order, Covid 19 set new rules.
Social distancing was the first of its tools.
Humans were doled a punishment so severe,
That their lives were at stake if they refused to adhere.

Corona virus has brought about a new order,
To rebuild the lives of all transcending all borders.
Priorities of the world have undergone a sea change,
Setting a new normal to restore the damage.
Like the filling of wine in old bottles,
Nature is finally self-healing now with the help of reluctant mortals

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH AND FOLLOW

 

In the 10th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna spoke to Arjuna in 35 verses. Krishna was talking about the various manifestations of the truth (the reality).In our journey of life, we experience the same truth (God principle) as is explained analytically in the 10th Chapter. 

 

Any spiritual seeker constantly seeks inputs from all sources until he discovers a path to transform himself. Similarly, you will have to explore and identify a path by which you can transform yourself. In this process, it is important to remember that only you can lift yourself. Only you have to step up and take responsibility for your evolution and growth. In this journey of seeking transformation, you will attain knowledge from various sources; however, you should understand that knowledge alone without comprehension would not serve the purpose. Therefore, comprehension of the knowledge is necessary to attain complete transformation.

 

Krishna spoke to Arjuna, a spiritual seeker and was available to give him the entire philosophy and knowledge needed for spiritual transformation. However, as previously spelt out, knowledge ‘as is’ is meaningless unless the receiver is able to comprehend and utilize it, even if the receiver is the great Arjuna himself. In undertaking this journey of transformation, a seeker must self analyze the answer to one important question.

 

What sort of human are you?

 

The very purpose of having sessions on Bhagavad Gita is to help one, help himself. To help yourself ascertain your level of spiritual development, you can draw a graph on spiritual development of a person from 0 to 100 on x axis and the life of the Athma at y axis, where zero denotes that a person is not at all developed and 100 denotes a fully developed person. At zero, the person’s actions can be categorized as self-centered, taking interest only in the activities of his family and himself. He is incapable of thinking beyond his own circle. This is the primary level of development and is observed in almost all animals and insects. Unfortunately, most of us also fall in this category.

 

Here, the important difference we need to realize is that we are different from these other living things. It is because we are bestowed with physical and mental faculties much higher than them and therefore are created to achieve a higher level of development.

 

Keeping in mind that you need to progress from zero to hundred, you must start thinking beyond your circle. Let your home be the centre of your affection but not the boundary of your affection. Albeit your family’s sorrows are your sorrows, and their joy yours, these feelings must gradually but steadily spread from the inner circle (family) to everyone.

 

Do not feel content with the knowledge that you have come across but not understood or utilized. Break free from the shackles of ignorance and try to learn and implement the knowledge gained. For example, if a businessman is interested only in his business and a homemaker only in her home, both fail to look beyond the circle drawn by them. This indicates that they are at the Zero percent (0%) development level.

 

You should realize that to get 100% development level, you have to look beyond your inner circle by stretching your boundaries. Try to apply the knowledge like Arjuna, which would help you in your spiritual growth. Once you are able to expand your circle size, and are able to treat them similar to your inner circle, your spiritual growth increases.

 

Understand how life is a wonderful opportunity and discover the meaning of life by starting to accept all as your own. Find the purpose of your life and not live through life as is. As life is filled with a lot of ups and downs, enjoy each moment and understand the reason for such fluctuations in your experiences. However, most of you are fatigued and tired by the time you reach middle age. This is because you fail to stand and smell the roses along the way. The ups get overshadowed by the downs we face. You should not let this happen.

 

This brings us to empirical knowledge on a spiritual journey. This journey of spiritual development is explained to us very eloquently in Bhajagovindam by Adi Shankara. He explains the vicious cycle of birth and death and what one needs to do in order to escape this vicious cycle.

 

In the Shloka 21 of Bhaja Govindham, the stanza “Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam

Punarapi janani jaTarae shayanam Iha samsaarae bahudhusthaarae Krupayaaparae paahi murarae” denotes a cycle of birth and death a human has to undergo based on his Purva Janma Vasanas (inherited predispositions) and the law of karma (sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence). Till we attain the 100% level of spiritual development we will all undergo this vicious cycle of birth and death. Although, there is no set time when one can decisively tell when one can escape this cycle of rebirths, it is very well elucidated in the following shloka, what steps one needs to take in order to progress fast and forge in that journey towards the 100% level of development.

 

The whole shloka focuses on intellectual bondage. It urges you to pose important questions by ourselves and find the answers to the same by yourself. However, when you fail to pose these questions or find answers, our ignorance in these matters boomerang on you and cause sorrow, you in turn blame the other person or the environment or even God! This shloka calls on you to maintain a dispossess viewpoint towards our possessions even during your ownership over them. It is important to understand that attachments need to go, but not objects of attachment. The problem is with your attitude and not the objects. Detachment is the removal of selfishness, demands and expectations. However, maintaining this spirit of detachment in our relationships or over our possessions is what is difficult. Today you put in a lot of effort to acquire things or maintain relationships but your possessiveness towards them makes you agitated, bitter and irritated. To overcome this, you must analyze all the things you feel attached to, then remove the possessiveness but retain the possessions, only then will you enjoy the fruits of your labor.  

 

Conclusion:

 

In this process of spiritual development, it is important to understand that actions based on superstitions and beliefs would not provide solutions your problems. There is no other way to come out of or mitigate your problems except by finding the truth (posing the right questions and finding answers for them). You may feel unhappy, agitated, and devastated in your journey of finding the truth.

 

Understand that the ultimate abode of all you experience in the world is the truth. Everything is happening in the universe as governed by that truth viz., the law of gravity, water boiling at a particular temperature, water freezing at a specific temperature; there is a law governing all this, which is the ‘ultimate truth’. In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna says to Krishna, "Reality is that truth that I am seeing". Everything is happening because of cause and effect. If you wish to lead a life where you are spiritually developed, start acting now. You are the maker of your fortune. Whatever you do today will have an effect on tomorrow. Even the smallest of steps you take to find the truth would result in giant leaps of your spiritual development.          

 

It is crucial for you to reflect over this truth right here and right now. You have to understand that time is of essence here. Do not waste your precious time on pursuing only material ends. Go find the truth and spread the knowledge about the process.

 

 

Be blissful.

 

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

Date: 02-02-2021

BUMBLE BEE AND AERODYNAMICS

 

In uddhava Gita there is an inner story named Avadhutha Gita.

 

Avadhutha gets advice from Lord Krishna very similar to Arjuna getting upadesa from Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-Gita.

 

Uddhava, through his various experiences from observing animals, birds and people, narrates his learnings to King Dattathreya in uddhava Gita.

 

Similarly we can also closely observe animals and beings and learn lessons from them.

 

People who know martial arts have observed Snakes, monkeys, cats and other animals and fight accordingly and win. 

 

As per the rules of aerodynamics, the bumble bee cannot fly. But it flies, because it does not know the rules of Aerodynamics.

 

So also the value of human motivation and determined efforts will take us to places which cannot be imagined.

 

Motivate yourself, be determined in your efforts, and persevere for your cause and the effect will be tremendous.

 

Don't go by what others say and do. People always find the time, resources and energy to criticize and pass unwanted and painful remarks on others.

 

Thanks for your kind understanding.

Be blissful

S. Sekar - On a spiritual path.

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

 

Cat has nine lives but I have only one.

MAN CAN LEARN ANY NUMBER OF GOOD QUALITIES THROUGH OBSERVATION

All of us can learn by talking to someone, by seeing things, by reading books and from inspiration from others. "Man can learn any number of good qualities from animals, birds, insects and worms.

The animal, donkey is viewed with contempt. But the quality of patience to be found in a donkey is not found even in man. Whatever burdens may be heaped on its back, it bears them all with forbearance. Even when it is starved of food and water, it presents a calm face. Man has thus to learn the quality of forbearance from the donkey.

The ant is one of the tiniest among insects. But the ant has a capacity for foresight; with foreknowledge of the rainy season ahead, it starts storing food from three months in advance.

Then, there is the spider - Determination is one of its traits. However many times its web may be destroyed or broken, the spider will go on remaking it with relentless determination".

Uddhava, through his various experiences from observing animals, birds and people, narrated his learnings to King Dattathreya in Uddhava Gita.

Let us learn and imbibe from what we have learnt.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

Date: 05-01-2021

VEDIC PRAYERS

Vedic Prayers have become more relevant this New Year having seen the plight of corona Virus (Covid-19) during the year gone by. We shall see the significance of Vedic prayers in general and also a gist of selected Vedic prayers.

We often confront different trying situations in our life. All different trying situations are obstacles to our peace of mind. They rob our mental peace. All difficult situations are obstacles to our peace and progress. These difficult situations are called Tapaga and Pratibandhaga. These Tapas and Pratibandas are classified into three types based on the cause of the situation.

When the cause is our own body, mind, complex because of depression or any other health issues, which are within us, they are called Adyathmika (within Atma, body mind complex). Then I become an obstacle to myself. When obstacles come from outside in the form of living being , may be human being, animals, plants, bacteria, coronavirus , they are called Bhutani; meaning prani or living beings. When they cause difficulties, it is called Adibouthika prathibandha. The third classification is the natural element like earthquake caused by earth, floods and rains caused by water, bush fire or cyclones, when elements disturb the human beings. They are called Adideiviga. According to scriptures, each elemental force is presided by a Devatha. Those obstacles are called Adideiviga prathibandha. With the help of science and technology we can solve most of the problem. Science and Technology are called Gnana sakthi and Kriya sakthi. In spite of this, we confront situations which are choiceless, since our Gnana sakthi and Kriya sakthi are limited.

Whenever we face such choiceless situations, our scriptures prescribe prayers to help us face the situation. It can reduce psychological impact caused by these choiceless situations. We can remain balanced and come out of depression. It can reduce the impact of pain. The second benefit of prayer is that it can activate our gnana sakthi and kriya sakthi so that we can solve our problems. We do have the resources and we only have to tap it. For stimulating Gnana Kriya sakthi, these prayers are useful.

Every day we confront difficulties at the individual level, group level, family level and corporate level. We also face helpless situations. We have to give up our intellectual arrogance and offer our prayers to God. These are prescribed in Scriptures. In Spiritual Journey also, we face obstacles. Often we face helplessness.

Given below are a selected few Vedic prayers which occur in the beginning of the Upanishads. These are chanted by Guru and Shisya before the study of Upanishads which occur in Vedas. This is to mitigate and alleviate the problems that we are confronted with (adyathmika, adibouthika, tapathrayam and pratibandathrayam). They can be chanted by anyone who wants peace and tranquility. We can see the essence or gist of each one of these prayers.

1^st Prayer

Om apyayantu mamangani vakpranascaksuh srotramatho balamindriyani

Ca sarvani | sarvam brahmaupanisadam | maham brahma nirakuryam |

Ma ma brahma nirakarot | anirakaranamastvanirakaranam me astu |

Tadatmani nirate ya upanisatsu dharmaste mayi santu | te mayi santu |

Om santih santhi santhi || (Sama Veda)

First prayer talks about sarira (body, mind, sense complex) resistance and builds balam (strength) and immunity. We have to employ our body, mind, sense complex to accomplish our goals (Viz. Artha, Kama, Dharma and Moksha) both material and spiritual. Let me have faith in God and chant these prayers. I can reduce my mental agitation and use gnana, kriya sakthi. Let me not negate the existence of Eswara (Brahman) without making an enquiry. Vedas promise us to gain Eswara gnanam. One must surrender to a Guru and seek the knowledge of Eswara with the help of scriptures. Let me be humble and drop my intellectual arrogance. Eswara is the changeless reality behind the changing world. Sarvam Brahma. World is changing with names and forms. Upanishads reveal that. Upanishads talk about divine virtues for worldly success and spiritual success. Deivi sampat values are mentioned in the 16^th chapter of Bhagavad Gita. Oh Lord let me have your blessing. This is Sama Veda Vedic prayer.

2^nd Prayer

Om bhadram karnebhih srnuyama devah | bhadram

Pasyemaksabhiryajatrah | sthirairangaistustuvag m sastanubhih | vyasema

Devahitam yadayuh | svasti na indro vrddhasravah | svasti nah pusa

Visvavedah | svasti nastarksyo aristanemih | svasti no brhaspatirdadhatu

|| om santhi santih santih || (Atharvana Veda)

This is Atharvana Veda Vedic prayer. This comes in Mandukya Upanishad. Whatever prompts peace and progress is Mangalam which means auspicious. Whatever obstructs peace is amangalam (inauspicious). Oh Lord let me hear good news. Let me see good things. Let me have auspicious experiences in my life which will contribute to peace and progress in my life. Starting a day with a prayer is auspicious (shoshtram kurvanthaga). We can start the day with Vishnu Saharanama parayanam. Let the journey to reach my goal be mangalam. Let all devatas (Indra, Sun, Garuda, Brhaspati) bless me and make me reach my goal and get moksha or liberation in this janma itself.

3^rd Prayer

Om vanme manasi pratisthita | mano me vaci pratisthitam | aviravirma

edhi | vedasya ma anisthah | srutam me ma prahasih | anenadhitena |

ahoratran sandadhami | rtam vadisyami | satyam vadisyami |

tanmamavatu | tadvaktaramavatu | avatu mam | avatu vaktaramavatu

vaktaram || om santih santih santih || (Rig Veda)

Third is Rig Veda prayer. In this prayer we appreciate the importance of two faculties (skills) which are very much prominent in human beings. Thinking faculty or skill and communicating faculty. These two skills have made human beings far superior to other life forms. Because of these two powers we have become the roof and crown of  creation. Success is heavily dependent on these two skills. Thinking and communicating skills are extremely important for an individual and for family success. Communication gap has broken several families. Therefore Oh Lord may I have both thinking and communicating skills. I want these to function properly and with coordination. All misunderstandings and problems are due to lack of communication. Successes in families and in corporates are due to these two skills. Let me have a healthy mind and refined speech and let them function in coordination. Vedas prescribe Guru Shisya samvada for which I require thinking skill and communication skill. For spiritual enquiry we require faith in God and also reasoning power. May the mind and speech cooperate with me and bring me Vedic wisdom through dialog with my Guru. I will reflect over the teaching with the help of the mind. Finally, I will propagate this truth to others also. I will share spiritual truth and empirical truth with others by keeping my mind and speech healthy. God is not a person sitting somewhere but is a consciousness principle. God is a principle which can be approved but cannot be proved. My faith in God will be converted into knowledge by understanding God, who will reveal himself to me.

4^th Prayer

Om saha navavatu saha nau bhunaktu saha viryan karavavahai |

Tejasvi navadhitamastu ma vidvisavahai | om santih santih santih ||

(Krishnayajur Veda)

This is Krishnayajur Veda Vedic prayer occurring in Katopanishad and Thaithreya Upanishad. This is between Guru and Shisya.  Oh lord protect me and my Guru in such a way that we can continue this journey. Let us both put sufficient effort in gaining knowledge. Guru is communicating and shisya in receiving the knowledge. Let our relationship be never strained. Otherwise the communication will be affected. There should be no communication gap. Both of us help in being together bonding properly and putting forth the effort. This is important before marriage between two persons. This prayer is for guru-shisya bonding. Let us never get estranged. Let us be together in our spiritual journey.

5^th Prayer

Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate |

Purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate |

Om santih santih santih || (Suklayajur Veda)

This is Shuklayajur Veda prayer occurring in Ishavasya Upanishad. This talks about relationship between God and the world (Eswara jagat sambandha). God or Brahman is poornam (limitless). This universe in front of me is also limitless. You can never find the limit of Cosmos. God is limitless. World is limitless. If there are two, one will limit the other. This is resolved in the second part of the prayer. God is karanam and world is karyam. They are really not two. They are only seemingly two. Truly they are only one. A product cannot exist independent of its cause. Therefore a product is seemingly existent and borrowing its existence from the cause like the clay and the pot. They are not really two. They only appear to be two. Pot cannot exist when clay is separated. When you separate the cause intellectually then you will find that effect doesn’t exist. When you separate karanam there are no two things. Only karanam exists. Karyam is nothing but changing names and forms. Eswara is changeless and is existence- consciousness principle. Eswara alone exists. World seems to exist by borrowing existence from God. World is like earthenware, very useful but not independently existent. God is satyam. World is Mithyam. Brahma satyam, Jagat mithyam. Gold and ornament are seemingly two. God and World are seemingly two.

6^th Prayer

Om asato ma sadgamaya, tamaso ma jyotirgamaya,

Mrtyormamrtam gamaya | om santih santih santih || (Bri. Upa. 1.3.28)    

This prayer mantra occurs in Brigadharanya Upanishad. Hiranyagarba Upasana. This is contextual interpretation. We can connect it into a spiritual prayer also. From the changing perishable world, karya prabancha, with no existence, causing instability take me to satgamaya which is stable. Lead me from untruth to Truth. Furniture comes and goes, wood remains. World comes and goes, God (existence, consciousness, bliss) remains. Holding on to the stable God, I will live my life. When we are anchored in God life becomes an enjoyment. Otherwise life becomes unstable and stressful. We should move from World dependence to God dependence and finally to Self dependence.

Mrtyormamrtam gamaya

Holding the universe is like holding on to death. May you take me from mortality to immortality. Let me discover the immortal Self in Me so that I can never get fear of death.

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre (Bhagavad Gita Ch.II. 20)

The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya

Immortal truth is not away somewhere. God the cause is in and through karya prabancha. Karanam is never away from karyam. We need not travel to reach God. God is in the form of Sat Chit Ananda swaroopa (existence, consciousness, bliss principle). We are ignorant of this fact. Our journey to God is from ignorance to knowledge. Oh Lord from the darkness of ignorance may you take me to wisdom of knowledge so that I can discover God who is never away from Me. I can enjoy the world only when I am anchored in God.

May God bless us so that we will get out of this problematic situation and that the year 2021 is a peaceful year. Let us continue our spiritual journey without any obstacles.

Be blissful.

S.SEKAR

Contact: sekrajc@yahoo.com

Date: 03-01-2021