The statements of the Upanishads were pronounced millions of years ago; but these statements are relevant even today. Yet there is a perennial doubt about knowing one’s Self (Atma) or the Supreme Brahman because scriptures state that it has no qualities or attributes, and that it cannot be known by the sense organs; moreover, it is also stated that it is not an object to be known. So one may ask whether such a quest to know the Self is worth all the effort. Lord Krishna allays these doubts in the Bhagavad Gita, asserting that this knowledge can be gained by approaching a Guru who is knowledgeable in the scriptures and is a knower of the Truth (Tatva Darshina). The Bhagavad Gita may be a political and administrative gospel where Krishna represents the country’s culture and thought process in its climax, while it unfolds the ideal of excellence that every individual would aspire for, pointed out Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha in a lecture. This excellence is made possible only with the individual’s will power and strength. Purity of mind is important for excellence in performance. Every individual is a psycho-physical complex being where the two aspects are seamlessly melded. Speaking, walking, or sleeping involve the coordination of the physical and the mental powers. But it is the subtle Self (Atma) pervading the entire individual’s personality that is responsible for activating these physical and mental faculties. The crucial message is that the mind is the crux of one’s personality and it can be moulded. It is the inner instrument that can look and assimilate the external world on the one hand and also help us to look inwards to realise our inner Self. All the excellences based on thoughts and feelings pertain to the mind. It is capable of building the inner personality and giving the impetus for excellence. God’s power of Sankalpa is tremendous. While this manifested universe of matter and energy depends on God, He remains a supra-material presence and is the essence of consciousness, bliss and eternal existence. This same consciousness is also within us.
By Swami Gautmananda The percentage of spiritual quotient in a person’s life time depends on how much time he devotes to God and thoughts of God. Naturally, for one who gets involved in worldly activities in all earnestness, this allotment of time to God may not be much. Sri Ramakrishna advised his disciples to sincerely seek God’s help before delving into this quest because only He can guide them to this spiritual realisation. A mother who is in the advanced stage of pregnancy will find a reduction in her daily chores; and after child birth, her time is totally devoted to looking after the baby. A sincere seeker of God finds himself in a similar situation. When the yearning is strong, by God’s grace, worldly responsibilities that seemed to consume one’s time would somehow get decreased and the individual would get time for total involvement with God. That is why great sages and realised souls seek true Bhakti from God. Even the devout Narada sought this favour alone from God. The state of Bhakti ensures that one remains in close union with God in one’s thoughts. Those who have attained realisation do not get attracted to worldly objects. Their state of mind is called Samadhi. Some of these realised souls are chosen by God to lead mankind through the spiritual path. Sri Ramakrishna’s close disciples knew the times when he had direct vision of God and would be in a state of trance; and through this preceptor’s guidance were motivated to seek God. If one does not catch a glimpse of God’s presence, one remains under a delusion that one is acting speaking and thinking, etc. We tend to think that we are able to differentiate between good and bad, right and wrong. One is not aware of the inner Self that remains a witness to the behaviour of the individual and thinks that this body, mind complex is an independent entity with all these faculties. It is God’s Maya that casts a spell on us and prevents us from grasping the true Jnana. It is through God’s grace that one can transcend this Maya. Great devotees like Bhishma and Kunti, understood the power of Lord’s Maya and seek His help to save them from its distracting influence.
KARTIK POORNIMA The full moon of today is a joyful occasion that takes us all to the days of our ancient rishis. Popularly known as “Kartik snan”, this day is observed as the day for beginning the life of a mendicant. During the rainy days, which normally extend up to 4 months, the monks of all orders do not move but settle down in one place and observe a special rite as “Chathurmas vrata”. Actually the previous Ekadashi day is known as “Prabodhini Ekadasi” which is believed to be the day on which the resting period comes to a close and all the ascetics start to move around to different places of pilgrimage. Since all the hermits start to move out, the householders also take bath in Ganges or in any other nearby river and feel a sense of purging of all their misdeeds done during the course of the year. In north India, especially in Bihar and U P people throng to the rivers for a dip on this day. Incidentally, it was on this day, the famous Ras Lila of Lord Krishna has also taken place. The sportive play of the individual soul with cosmic soul is depicted in this sport between Krishna and Radha. It is also the birth day of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak’s contribution to the world deserves a greater degree of appreciation and gratefulness from humanity. He rejected idolatry and propounded instead a simple monotheism. His spirituality was based on work ethics. Working hard, sharing with the others whatever we have and reciting the name of the Lord are some of his unique teachings. It was thus the “guru-ka-langar” has got its birth. The Langar is a community-kitchen, where all were welcomed with open arms. The event of “tera” in his life, is on eye-opener to every one. When he was working as a shopkeeper, while weighing the objects, on reaching the number 13( tera, a word that denotes the numerals as well as meaning ‘yours’). He would often slip into trance and repeatedly chant: “Teara, tera, tera- – -everything is yours, everything is yours, God. When he received invitation to stay with the rich mallick, Bhago, he would say,”The bread served by carpenter Lalo, though earned by the sweat of his brow, is like sweet milk but what you offer me is the blood of the poor.” Guru Nanak Jayanthi reassures the way to salvation to men in the world but mind given to the Almighty. Swami Nishthatmananda Muzaffarpur
Redefining Bhakti By Swami Omkara Nanda The greatness of the Vedas lies in the fact that they provide guidance for living for the entire range of human needs — from the most materialistic to the most detached and spiritual. Cutting across time, people and places, the authenticity, versatility and relevance of the Vedas have been acknowledged. The Bhagavad Gita redefines the Bhakti Bhava and establishes its crucial role in the Jivatma’s salvation by providing a direct link with the divine. Bhakti Bhava is a unique emotional experience and its flowering in an individual is directly proportional to the spiritual maturity that one attains gradually. This implies that the individual has faith in the message of the scriptures and in the teachings of the Lord, preceptors and the devout saints who have directly experienced God and remain devoted to Him. Lord Krishna reiterates that faith in scriptures is what differentiates a believer from a non-believer and that lack of knowledge of the Supreme Lord is the cause of all misery in this world. While it is easy to deny God, one needs faith to know Him. While the world, environment and people remain the same, there is an inner transformation bringing about an attitudinal change in us as love and devotion to Him begin to take root in our consciousness. Our outlook on things changes and our ability to deal with the problems of life is strengthened. Arjuna, who always thought of Lord Krishna to be a friend, is made to realise that He is none other than the Supreme Brahman incarnate. There is nothing further to be known than the ultimate knowledge of the Supreme Brahman. Unless one is able to cross the barriers of desire, greed and delusion, it will not be possible to know God. Among thousands of men, one maybe, struggles for perfection. Among those who thus struggle, perhaps one attains perfection. Amongst those who are perfect maybe only one may know the Lord. The Lord explains that He is manifest as the universe comprising earth, water, fire, ether, mind, intellect and egoism. He is also the sustaining force of the entire universe.
