Sunday, July 1, 2012

Limitation of samadhi

Samadhi of any kind is a state. It begins at a certain time.It has avalue over aperiod of time. At the end of the period it subsides.This kind of a beginning followed by a certain duration and further marked by a full termination is what is called samadhi. or a state or avastha.since samadhi is a state or avastha, the seeker cannot carry it with him all the time. To be in samadhi, he has to be away from all other states. Activity is a state. inactivity is also a state. Experience is also a state. so too non experience is also a state. if he has to be in samadhi ,he should be away from all these, in this light what can samadhi mean and what place of importance it can claim in assessment of reason?If samadhi is our goal, then we cannot continue with life movements.We have to refuse the normal life and activities if we want samadhi, as the two are in mutual opposition. Thus only spiritual pursuit will have to be viewed as  standing in full opposition to it.Finally Vedanta vichara alone works if you want to the supreme truth.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

SIX SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS OF HINDUISM

In  Hinduism we have six school of thoughts. These are known as SATH DARSHANAS. sad in sanskrit being six. and Darshana means philosophy.[drs the root stands for to see or to understand.The six school of thouhts are Yoga-----[ashtanga yoga=eight limbs of yoga shastra]Yoga  shastra deals with body and the mind.It also talks about samatvam, which means to balance our body and mind, thereby  attaining cleansing the mind so that one can attain ti knowledge of the shastras.   [2]mimmsa= HERE shastra deals with our actions and rituals therein to reduce our dukkha[sadness] affecting the mind.According to these school of thoughts, if we perfect our actions, both physical and spiritual, we will never suffer from dukkha.[3]Nyaya=Nyaya emphasises on logic and establishes cause and effect relationships, between everything happening in this universe. Everything happens because of a cause, including suffering, and if we address the cause of dukkham, we can get rid of our troubles.[4] vaisehika=According to this school world goes through stages of evolution and dissolution.,including our actions. If we understand this correctly and act according to right stage of our actions we remain happy and avoid pain.[5]SAMKHYA=According to this school, life is a combination of consciousness[PURUSHA]  and PRAKRITHI[  inertness] While  Purusha is consciousness, the body, mind and senses are prakruthi. PRAKRUTHI depends upon Purusha for existence.At the same time PURUSHA needs Prakruthi in order to function in this universe. These close links between the two is  what allows life to function. [6] V EDANTA= IT holds the view of knowledge of religion as the cure for suffering.Vedanta  has KARMA KANDA [ACTION OR RITUALISTIC] and JNYANA KANDA[KNOWLEDGE  based]    Within this vedas, we have three schools, namely ADVAITA,VISHISHTADVAITA, AND DWAITA.      all SIX SCHOOL OF ABOVE MENTIONED   THOUGHTS          ARE FOR  addressing the spiritual  uplift for the mankind.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

AYURVEDA [ancient holistic health system]

Ayurveda, the ancient system, is not just treating sickness, but rather it prevents the sickness and enhances health, longevity, and vitality. It,s a complete way of life, based on balance of Vata, Pittha, Kapha. and thus being harmony with nature. Ayurvedic way of treatments are simple,It focuses on concepts,rather than complicated details and and steps of treatments  are practical.It also discusses psychology behind fitness imbalances of individuals, and provides effective ways to reduce mental, emotional and physical hunger, and enjoy constructive, lasting change. In INDIA Ayurveda, is practised, since thousands of years, and it,s branch of ADARVA Veda. This way of treatment is suitable to any kind of patients, since it does,nt focus on the bodily ailments. In this system  three forces of vada, pittha, and kapha should be balanced. for any patient. Thus there is universality, as far as treatments are concerned.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

POWER OF THE MIND

VASISTHA TELLS SRI RAMA.IT IS PRECISELY THE MIND WHICH TAKES BIRTH HERE IN THIS WORLD.THE MIND ALONE GROWS AND SWELLS.IT IS THE GROWING MIND THAT ONE HAS TO HARNESS FOR GETTING HIS REDUMPTION. SPIRITUAL VISION ALONE CAN HELP HIM TO THIS END.BIRTH,GROWTH,FREEDOM ETC ARE REALLY OF THE MIND AND OF NONE ELSE. THE FIRST STEP IN ACHIEVING LIBERATION IS TO LEAD THE MIND TO A STATE OF HOLINESS. FOR THAT,THE SEEKER MUST FIRST GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SASHTRAS.He should have  a clear sense of dispassion.The third comes the quality of seeking the company of the wise.Taking to vichara [discrimination], percieve with inner mind, your inmost presence-the self-in the body.Let it;s peacefulness and quietitude fill you as the cool  and brilliant moonlight fills the sky.

Monday, June 4, 2012

DHYANA YOGA-CH-6 VERSE13 AND 14[BHAGAVAT GITA]

SAMAM KAYA SHIROGREEVAM, DARAYAN ACHALAM STHIRAHA.  SAMPREKSHYA NASIKAGRAM SWAM DISHASCHANAVA  LOKAYAN....PRASHANTATMA VIGATHABEE  BRAHMACHARIVRATE STHITHAHA. MANAHA SAMYAMYA MACCHHITHO YUKTHA ASEETHA MATHPARAHA.MEANING--------HOLDING- ONESELF FIRM WITHOUT MOVING,KEEPING THE BODY,HEAD,AND NECK IN ONE STRAIGHT LINE,[AS THOUGH]LOOKINGAT THE TIP OF ONE,S NOSE[FOR EYE POSITION]AND NOT LOOKING IN ALL DIRECTIONS.......BEING THE ONE WHOSE MIND IS TRANQUIL,WHO IS FREE FROM FEAR, ESTABLISHED IN ONE'S COMMITMENT TO THE LIFE OF A BRAHMACHARIN, MAY[THAT]MEDITATOR SIT THINKING OF ME, HAVING ME AS THE ULTIMATE GOAL,WHILE WITHDRAWING THE FROM FROM EVERYTHING ELSE.    THIS IS THE ADVICE WHICH KRISHNA GIVES TO ARJUNA ABOUT THE WAY FOR MEDITATION,IT'S POSTURE ETC. BY HAVING STHIRATHA ONE CAN EASILY MEDITATE UPON THE ALL PERVADING LORD, AND THUS A JEEVA IS ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE LORD, LATER HE WILL REALISE, HE HIMSELF IS THE LORD, THROUGH VEDAS WHEN HIS MIND IS CLEAR. AND ONE CAN REALISE BRAHMAN OR ATMAN, WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY.

Monday, April 16, 2012

VIVDISA AND VIDVAT SANYASA-AN OVERVIEW

BY THE STUDY OF VEDAS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS TEXTS,THE DESIRE FOR SELF REALIZATION ARISES.   AND WHEN IT ARISES ONE WILL NATURALLY GO FOR ATMIC PURSUITS RATHER THAN ANITYA VASTUS.WHICH ARE BUT TEMPORARY. NOW IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE TOTALLY ON BRAHMAN WHICH IS LIMITLESS AND ABSOLUTE TRUTH,THE SEEKER DECIDES TO TAKE SANYAS. THIS  IS CALLED RENUNCIATION OF THE SEEKER. AT THIS STAGE A SANYASIIN PERFORMS STUDY ETC FOR REALISATION OF ULTIMATE TRUTH. WHERE AS IN VIDVAT SANYASA, HE ALREADY HAS A KNOWLEDGE OF BRAHMAN THIS IS CALLED KNOWER'S RENUNCIATION. HENCE MANY A TIMES PEOPLE TAKE TO SANYAS FOR TOTAL DEVOTION TOWARDS  SCRIPTURAL TEXTS WITHOUT ANY FAMILY ATTACHMENTS  AND FEELINGS WHICH ARE BONDAGES  ,TO SOME EXTENT   FOR A FULL TIME STUDIES. IN VIDVAT SANYASA HE ALREADY KNOWS THE LIMITATIONS OF BODY AND MIND AND PURSUES BRAHMAN  SO IN ONE TYPE OF SANYASA ONE IS A SEEKER AND IN ANOTHER ONE, THE RENUNCIATION IS DONE BY THE KNOWER. NOW WHAT  DOES ONE RENUNCIATE. IT'S ONES EGO, THE FALSE IDENTIFICATION WITH BODY AND MIND THAT ARE NOT NITYAM.HENCE IN VIVIDEESHA SANYASA ONE IS SEEKER OF ALL-PERVADING BRAHMAN, AND IN VIDVAT SANYASA, HE IS  A KNOWER OF ALL PERVADING BRAHMAN AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO BE KNOWN., FOR HIM.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

HASTHAMALAKA GEETAM-----ADISHANKARA

HASTHA=HAND, AMALAKA=AMLA FRUIT[WHEN AMALAKA IS ON UR PALM, THESE CAN BE SEEN AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE. HENCE NAME HASTHAMALAKA INDICATES ONE WHO EXPLAINS TRUTH AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE.-------THIRD VERSE STATES------NIMITTHAM MANHA,CHAKSHURADHI PRAVRUTHOU,NIRASTHAKI LOPADIRAKASHA KALPAHA.------RAVIRLOKACHESHTA NIMITHAM YADAYAHA,     SA NITHYOPALABDHI,  --SWARPOHAMATMA.       PURPORT---JUST AS THE SUN IS THE WITNESS OF ALL KARMAS DONE BY HUMAN-BEINGS,OUR MIND,EYES AND OTHER SENSE ORGANS GET THE SENTIENCY DUE TO ATMA ALONE. ALTHOUGH ATMA DOES NOT DO ANY WORK.  BUT SENTIENCY HAPPENS BECAUSE OF ATMA AND ATMA ALONE. IT,S LIKE THIS------IN  THIS WORLD WHEN SUN  RISES,EVERYBODY GETS UP AND INVOLVES THEMSELVES IN DAY TO DAY WORK.[INVARIABLY ANIMALS AND BIRDS ALSO DO THEIR JOBS TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.]BUT SUN JUST REMAINS AS WITNESS. IT DOES NOT DO ANY JOB.IT JUST LIGHTENS OBJECTS,IT NEITHER FORCES ANYBODY TO DO KARMA. THUS WE FIND SUN IS  ONLY A NIMTHA. IT,S ONLY A WITNESS OF ALL TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IN THIS VERSE ATMA  IS COMPARED TO SUN[ONLY A COMPARISON MIND YOU]. IN FACT ATMA IS BRAHMASWAROOPA ITSELF---THUS YOU FIND IN OUR VEDAS, MANY SHRUTHI TEXTS REFERS TO DO UPASNA ON SUN AS BRAHMAN----[--ASAVADITHYO BRAHMA ], INCIDENTALLY IT JUST TELLS YOU TO SAGUNOPASANA, AND LATER, WHEN YOU MATURE, YOU MAY KNOW NRGUNATWAM OF ATMA OR BRAHMAN   --------