Oct 8 What is Vedanta

 What is Vedanta

Om. Vedanta is that bold philosophy which teaches the unity of life or oneness of consciousness. It is that supreme philosophy which boldly proclaims, with emphasis and force, that this little jiva (human being) is identical with the eternal or Absolute. It is that sublime philosophy which elevates the mind at once to magnanimous heights of Brahmanhood, divine splendour and glory, which makes a man absolutely fearless, which destroys all barriers that separate man from man and which brings concord, unruffled peace and harmony to suffering humanity. It is the only philosophy that can really unite (on the basis of one common Self in all) a Hindu and a Mohammedan, a Catholic and a Protestant, an Irishman and an Englishman, a Jain and a Parsee, in a common platform and in the core of their own hearts also. It is the only philosophy that, when properly understood and practised, can put a definite stop to world wars and all sorts of dissensions, splits and skirmishes that exist in nations and communities.

Vedanta is a magnetic healing balm for the wounded and the afflicted in the dreadful battlefield of this dire samsara (phenomenal existence). Vedanta is the divine collyrium which removes the cataract of ignorance and gives a new, inner eye of intuition or wisdom. Vedanta is the direct, royal road to the domain of felicity; it is the supreme abode of immortality and eternal bliss. It is a panacea, a 'cure-­all' for those who are being burned by the three fires and the five afflictions of this miserable mundane existence. It is the Himalayan herb that can bring immediate life to a dying man. It lifts a man, at once, to the status of Emperor of emperors, King of kings ­ even though he has nothing to eat; even though he is clad in rags.

Vedanta gives real spiritual strength; it inspires, renovates, vivifies, invigorates and energises. It eradicates ignorance ­ the root cause for human sufferings. It puts a stop to the never ending wheel of birth and death and confers immortality, infinite knowledge and bliss. It gives hope to the hopeless, power to the powerless, vigour to the vigourless and joy to the joyless.

Vedanta is the only universal, eternal religion. Vedanta means 'end of the vedas' or the essence of the teaching of the shrutis (scriptures).

Oct 7 Persevere in Sadhana

 Persevere in Sadhana

Let the sadhana (spiritual practice) always be regular, continuous, unbroken and earnest. Not only regularity but also continuity in sadhana and meditation are necessary if you want to attain self­-realisation quickly.

A spiritual stream, once set going, does not dry up unless the channel­-bed gets blocked, unless there is stagnation. Be vigilant eternally. Meditate regularly. Annihilate the under­current of vasana (habit­-patterns). 

Patience, perseverance, courage, determination, discrimination and dispassion are needed to tread the spiritual path. Put away thoughts, stimuli, perceptions, intentions, emotions, feelings, preoccupations and deliberations arising out of the senses and the sense objects.

You will attain supreme blessedness or the peace of the eternal. Keep the flame of thy aspiration ever kindled bright. Let purity, serenity, compassion, truth and oneness, manifest in thy thoughts and actions. Through penance, prayer and meditation the soul ascends on the divine chariot to the realms of infinite bliss, to God's halls of wisdom.

Regularity is of paramount importance in spiritual practice. Spiritual aspirants must be arduous and efficient in performing their tasks without a break. Pray without a break. Have unshakeable faith.

Remember vairagya (dispassion) and abhyasa (constant practice). Prayer is the wing by which you fly to God. Meditation or intuition is the eye by which you see God. Pray fervently unto the Lord. Pray for the Lord's light and guidance.

Meditate on the great truth within. Strive ever to keep thyself close to the divine centre. Day by day draw nearer unto the Lord. Strive inwardly to grow into the likeness of the divine ideal.

Oct 6 Realise Thy True Nature

 Realise Thy True Nature

First, learn to know yourself, the true value of your own character. Then alone you will be able to serve humanity and benefit people. You are taintless, tranquil, pure consciousness; you are beyond nature. All this time you have been duped by illusion, maya.

Know one individual (yourself) correctly - and you can know the whole world. To know thy self, is to know God. Seek perfection, freedom and eternal bliss in the Atman or Self, by the Self and through the Self. Talk only of Atman. Purify, meditate, lose yourself in Brahman or the Absolute and you will find your Self, you will know your Self.

Nobody doubts his own existence, though he may doubt the existence of God. Find the truth, the source of your own Self and then you will know everything. The more you know the more you will grow in humility. I climbed the peak of vedanta and merged in the Light of lights. How can I express it? To express the unspeakable - all words are feeble. I am the witness - the eternal, pure, infinite, internal self. I am Siva himself. I am changeless. None of the things of the world have touched me or touch me. I have no moods - I am beyond moods. I am the blissful Atman. The light which illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon, the stars and also the yonder lamp, is bliss eternal. That light am I. Om.

If you find you need a place of perfect security and peace then come, sit in my heart and be one with me. There is a central harmony within you, a wisdom, a spirit of wholeness which is divine. That is immortal Atman, your own innermost soul or self. Dwell in this Atman. Realise this Atman and be free for ever. The Atman or Supreme Self must be realised. This is practical religion.

- - -

 Open the eye of your heart,

       Enjoy the vision of the Lord.

       Break the seal of your ego,

       Realise the eternal bliss of your Self.

       Clean the dirt of your mind's mirror,

       Behold the beauty of the majestic Atman.

Sit on the horse of brahmakara vritti.

       Reach your destination; the home of eternal peace.

       Still the waves of the mind,

       Take a dip in the ocean of bliss,

       Shut up your mouth and the mouth of your mind

       And enjoy the peace of supreme silence.

Oct 5 Strive

 

Strive. Strive to realise God. This is the purpose of human birth. The perfection of the realisation of absolute knowledge, supreme bliss and immortality is the one and only goal in human life. Release from the round of births and life in eternity is the goal of man. Till Self-realisation is attained, man is subject to the law of karma and rebirth. Finish your task - God­realisation in this life itself; do not postpone it. Just as food is necessary for the body so also daily meditation and prayer are necessary for the soul.

O man! Wake up from this slumber of ignorance. Why do you waste your life building castles in the air? Turn your gaze within. Stop all this hurry and worry. Sit down and relax. Dive deep within. Discover the pearl of Atman. You will be freed from birth and death here and now.

Remember the goal every moment of this life. Strive incessantly to realise it by living a life of detachment, dispassion, devotion, deep meditation and samadhi (self-knowledge).

O man! Nothing is permanent. All things change. All things pass away. Seek the permanent, changeless, immortal Atman and be free. He is truly wise who lives in the eternal and who is endowed with discrimination and dispassion.

Life is a transforming process by which attachment, fear, anger, hatred and lust are transformed by steady and rigorous discipline and meditation into joy, bliss, peace and love.

- - -

In simplicity is the secret of real beauty. Simplify your life. Be humble, pure, straightforward and true to yourself and others. Be good and do good so that each tomorrow will find you farther than today. Be humble, be meek, be pure, be holy, be godly and peaceful. Be charitable. Be moral. Be humble. Be courageous. Be pure. Meditate. Become wise. Whoever does anything with enthusiasm, patience and perseverance, never fails to achieve his object. Annihilate desires.

Seek the company of saints and devotees. Control the mind. Control anger. Be charitable. Help the needy. Kill the ego. Be grateful. Respect the great. Be truthful. Indulge not in gossip. You will attain the supreme blessedness.

Oct 4 I Am Siva

I am Siva, the life and soul of all. I am the substratum for all the forms of the world. I am the substratum for the mind, prana (life) and senses. I am the energy in the atoms and the elements. I am the effulgence of the sun, moon and stars. I am the beauty of beauties. I am the charm and beauty in women. I am the life of all youth. I am the intelligence in all scientists, educationalists, culturists, research scholars and philosophers.

I am the foundation of the world. I am the wisdom of the sages. I am the siddhis (powers) in yogis. I am the life of the cyclones, earthquakes and volcanoes. I am the energy in dynamos. I am the energy in all germs and microbes. I am the power in herbs, minerals and tonics. I am goodness, truth, success and prosperity. I am Siva, the life and soul of all.

Lumbago and rheumatism shake my body. All diseases are my guests. Let them stay. What is that to me? I welcome them cordially. I always sing: "I am not this body, not this mind. Chidananda rupah sivoham sivoham". I defy, deny diseases. What is it to be if the body perishes? I am anamaya (diseaseless) Atman (Self). I am the life of this cosmic play.

I have burnt up all duality. I am sadchitananda. I have drunk the cup of pure knowledge ­ it is all sweet nectar. There are neither vrittis (thought-­waves) nor vasanas (tendencies) in the Absolute. There is neither thought nor world here. I have experienced this supreme state ­ it is neither dual nor non­dual. It is only keval asti (pure being). It is pure consciousness or supreme essence.

- - -

KNOW THE ATMAN: If atmic reality is cognised then all differences between trees, mountains, clothes and 'others', will vanish. With them, sankalpas (thoughts) will also be swept away. The only way out of grief and delusion is the inner realisation of the unity of the individual soul with Brahman (the Absolute). The Atman is to be known - there is no attainment higher than that. One fears not death who has realised Brahman, who is serene, ageless, self-­luminous, desireless, firm, immortal and self­-existent.

Oct 3 SONG OF MEDITATION SONG OF EIGHTEEN 'ITIES'

 SONG OF MEDITATION

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram 

Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram

Truth is Brahman, truth is your own self,

Realise this truth, be free, be free, be free, be free.

You must have a pure mind, if you want to realise 

Practise karma yoga, be pure, be pure, be pure, be pure.

You cannot enjoy peace of mind 

And cannot practise meditation

If you are passionate, kill this lust, kill this lust.

 

Be regular in your meditation,

And take satvic food,

You will have peace of mind, this is the Truth, this is the Truth.

When you meditate on Hari, keep His picture in front of you,

Look at it with a steady gaze, you will develop concentration.

If evil thoughts enter the mind,

Do not drive them forcibly,

Substitute divine thoughts, they will pass away, they will pass away.

Meditation leads to knowledge, meditation kills pains,

Meditation brings peace, meditate, meditate, meditate, meditate.

Samadhi is union with God, this follows meditation.

You will attain immortality, this is moksha, this is moksha.  

SONG OF EIGHTEEN 'ITIES'

Serenity, regularity, absence of vanity,

Sincerity, simplicity, veracity.

Equanimity, fixity, non-­irritability,

Adaptability, humility, tenacity,

Integrity, nobility, magnanimity,

Charity, generosity, purity.

Practise daily these eighteen 'ities',

You will soon attain immortality.

Brahman is the only real entity,

Mr. So and So is a false non­-entity,

You will abide in eternity and infinity,

You will behold unity in diversity,

You cannot attain this in the university.

But you can attain this in the Forest University.

Oct 2

 Could not locate.

Oct 1 SONG OF A KARMA YOGIN

 

Hari ke premi Hari Hari bolo

Avo pyare milker gawo

Hari charaname dhyana laghavo

Dukhme sukhme Hari Hari bolo

Abhiman tyago seva karo

Narayan Narayan Narayan Narayan.

Give up brahmin, sanyas abhiman,

Give up male-female, sex abhiman.

Give up doctor, judge abhiman,

Give up rajah, zamindar abhiman.

Relinquish pundit, scientist abhiman

Crush this professor, engineer abhiman

Kill this collector, thasildar abhiman.

Kill this vairagya, seva abhiman

Kill this tyagi, kartrtva abhiman.

(Narayan Narayan .....)

Remember always Hari Hari Hari Hari,

Sing always Sita-Ram, Radheshyam,

See good in every face,

Share what you have with others.

Develop nicely adaptability.

Serve always with Narayana Bhav.

Scrutinise always your inner motives

Work without egoism,

Cultivate the nimitta-bhav,

Give up expectation of fruits.

Surrender always fruits to the Lord,

Have equal vision and balanced mind.

Selfless work will purify your heart,

Then you will get knowledge of self.

(Narayan Narayan .....) 

Sept 30 SONG OF ADMONITION

 

SONG OF ADMONITION

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.

Radhe Shyama Radhe Shyama Shyama Shyama Radhe Radhe

Radhe Krishna Radhe Krishna Krishna Krishna Radhe Radhe

Gouri Sankar Gouri Sankar Sankar Sankar Gouri Gouri

Uma Sankar Uma Sankar Sankar Sankar Uma Uma.

O my Jesus                       O Lord Jesus

Hail Hail Jesus                  O Father Father     

O my Mary                        O Virgin Mary

Hail Hail Mary                   O Mother Mother

O my Buddha                    O Lord Buddha

Hail Hail Buddha               O Saviour Saviour

O my Allah                        O Lord Allah

Hail Hail Allah                   O Father Father

O my Shakti                      O Adi Shakti

Hail Hail Shakti                 O Mother Mother

Is there not a nobler mission

     than eating, drinking and sleeping?

It is difficult to get a human birth,

     therefore try your best to realise in this birth.

Fie on that wretch, woe to that man

Who wastes all his life in sensual pleasures.

Time sweeps away, kings and barons,

Where is Yudhishthira?      Where is Ashoka

Where is Shakespeare?     Where is Valmiki?

Where is Napoleon?           Where is Shivaji?

Be up and doing (in) yogic sadhan,

     you will enjoy Supreme Bliss.

Be up and doing (in) brahma vichar,

     you will attain Immortality (kaivalya moksha)

(Hare Rama Hare Rama…)

Can you expect real shanti

     if you waste your time in idle gossiping?

Can you enjoy Supreme Peace

     if you waste your time

In novels (and) newspapers?

In fights and quarrels?

In scandal, backbiting?

(Hare Rama Hare Rama…)

- - -

Am I not Thou? Art Thou not I?

     One alone is, therefore true.

When the mind melts in the silence,

     you will have Self-realisation.

What have you learnt, tell me frankly

     from the Bihar and Quetta earthquakes?

Have you got now real vairag?

     Do you practise japa and kirtan?

Here is a challenge to non-believers

     of the Hindu theory of transmigration:

Have you not heard the thrilling narratives

     of Shanti Devi, of her past life?

Can you expect real shanti

     if you waste your time in cards and cinemas

     (cards and smoking)?

When your throat is choked

     at the time of death,

     who will help you for your salvation?

(Hare Rama Hare Rama…)

Sept 29 COME TO ME, SECRET OF LOVE

 

COME TO ME

I want only Thee, my Lord.

When the senses hiss and drag me,

Come to me and crush them.

When I am overworked and tired,

Come to me with Thy peace and harmony.

When my mind becomes turbulent,

Come to me with Thy yoga power,

And still this boisterous mind.

When desires and cravings attack me,

Come to me with Thy light and grace.

When fear overpowers me,

Come to me with Thy courage.

When avidya (ignorance) tries to overwhelm me,

Come to me with Thy supreme wisdom.

—So says Sivananda.

SECRET OF LOVE

Subtle and profound is the path of love.

It is like the edge of a sharp razor.

But the true lover treads it easily.

His grace renders his path smooth.

There is no asking or bargaining there,

It is all sacrifice and self-surrender.

It is the out-­pouring of the heart's love

At the lotus feet of the Lord.

Egoism is burnt in the fire of love,

Desires are destroyed in the flame of love.

Two have become one now.

The lover plunges himself

In the ocean of divine love,

He immerses himself

In the sea of divine joy.

He offers his all in the Lord's service,

His tan (body), man (mind), dhan (wealth) ­

This is the secret of this love.

—So says Sivananda.

Sept 28 SHOWER THY GRACE, THOU ART MY SUPPORT

 

SHOWER THY GRACE

O Lord, if thou art the sun,

I am thy ray.

If thou art the ocean,

I am the drop.

If thou art the lotus,

I am the petal.

If thou art the tree,

I am the leaf.

There is no other Lord like thee.

Thou art the ocean of compassion.

I have no qualification

And yet Thou hast blessed me.

By singing Thy name I have broken all fetters,

I have cut Yama's noose.

—Sivananda sings to obtain Thy grace.

THOU ART MY SUPPORT

O Lord, Thou alone art my mind and senses.

Thou art my tongue, ears and eyes.

Thou art my prana, (the vital breath).

Thou alone dwellest in my heart.

Thou alone abideth in my breath.

Thou fillest my whole body.

Thou art the life within me.

Thou art the prompter of my thoughts.

Thou art the inner ruler.

Thou movest all the internal organs.

Thou illumineth my intellect.

Thou art my all in all.

Thou art my very soul.

Thou art the soul of my soul.

I have none but Thee.

Thou alone art my real friend.

Thou art my guru, my father and my mother.

—So says Sivananda.

- - -

Thou art my sole refuge,

I long for Thy grace alone.

Thou art the knower and the teacher,

Thou art the knowledge that knows,

Thou art the ultimate truth,

That is known or realized.

—So says Sivananda.

Sept 27 HERE RAINS NECTAR, OCEAN OF SWEETNESS

 

HERE RAINS NECTAR

My heart drinks the nectar now,

I have plunged myself in that ocean of joy,

I have drunk the cup of immortal bliss.

There is neither doubt nor sorrow here.

The terror of death is no more.

There is the sweet fragrance of the soul.

The music of the soul sounds itself.

Supreme freedom reigns here,

Brilliant effulgence streams forth,

There is the unstruck, sweet melody of harmony.

This is the sorrowless land of an old man.

The thirst of the five senses is quenched here.

Here the rain of nectar pours and pours,

The sacred stream of the Jamna­-Ganga

Flows here perennially.

The round of births and deaths ceases here.

Come, come my sweet companions,

Visit this limitless domain but once

And see my supreme Lord's Durbar (court).

—So says Sivananda.

OCEAN OF SWEETNESS

I have found the key of the mystery.

There is wonderful rest in the land of bliss.

Wonderful is the sorrowless land.

It is an infinite ocean of sweetness.

Look within and rest peacefully.

The three forms of misery are no more,

The five kinds of afflictions are not here.

One becomes speechless and silent ­

There is stupendous silence.

The seer, seen and sight have become one.

The knower, known and knowable are one.

There is the divine music of the supreme harmony

Without the play of fingers and strings.

One enjoys freedom and perfection.

Bliss is filled to the very brim.

I have realised oneness.

—So says Sivananda.