Q: Gopal Babu, Study Group: Self Unfoldment
In Varaha Avatara, Lord Vishnu takes the form of a boar and rescues the earth submerged under water, hidden by King Hiranyaksha? Since water is part of the earth, how is it possible to submerge the earth under water?
Swami Shantanandaji: The seven continents are being submerged under water and that can be considered as the submersion of earth under water and Bhagawan lifted it from water. If you look at pralaya (प्रलय) theory, the whole solar system disappears under water and the earth is only a small portion.
Q: Balasubramanian: Study Group: Tattva Bodha, Mana Sodhanam
Is “do not grieve” same as “do not regret”? There are major decisions we make based on certain information which may turn out to be different, leading to regrets. How do we come out of it? Specifically, did Arjuna regret his decision to fight, post-war?
A:Swami Shantanandaji: Do not regret – you take a certain decision based on certain data available at that time. As time passes, when we look at it, we may think we could have made better decisions if we had better data that was available. Scientists discover certain things based on certain data available at a given time. Twenty years later, the discovery may be disputed because of better data. Does this mean the scientist has to regret? No. In all his/her sense, what the scientist did was right at that time, even though it may be different today.
What is necessary is that an objective view is taken while making a decision not an emotional view. Arjuna did not regret his decision. In fact Arjuna asked Sri Krishna to repeat Gita after the war. Sri Krishna said “I cannot tell you now. I was in an inspired mood at the time I spoke and now I cannot repeat it.”
Q. (No Name)
Pujya Swamiji, can you please explain the meaning of the mantra “Na karmana na prajaya na danena thyaganeke amritattvam….?” What is the significance of chanting this while welcoming a Sanyasi?
न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः ।
परेण नाकं निहितं गुहायां विभ्राजते यद्यतयो विशन्ति ॥
Swami Shantanandaji: When a Swamiji arrives at your home, you are supposed to receive him with a Poorna Kumbha (पूर्ण कुंभ), which is filled with water. Poorna means full. A Sanyasi who has realized the truth is complete. That’s why we receive him with a Poorna Kumbha.
Amrithattvam – Immortality can be attained only through thyaga (त्याग) not through rituals nor through progeny nor through money. Only thyaga will give you the state of realization. Renounce your ego which alone will give you the state of realization. When you chant the mantra you are reminding the Sanyasi the reason what he is standing for. This mantra is from Kaivalya Upanishad and our Swamiji’s commentary is available. Please check it out.
Q. (No Name)
How do I know that there is something unchanging in me?
Swami Shantanandaji: When you are a child, you used the word “I”, when you are middle-aged or old, you still the use word “I”. This “I” does not change. Everything else changes in you - your body, your emotion, your ideology all change. Even your ego changes over time, but consciousness/awareness doesn’t change. That “Aham” (अहम्) or “I” never changes, stays the same. How do you know that? Look back in your memory, that “aham” is the same continuously present in the waking or dream state. Who is one constantly present while being awake, sleeping or dreaming? It is the paramathma - He never changes.
Q. (No Name)
You mentioned that ego, emotion and friendship are temporary and therefore cannot be real. What about blood relations, e.g., parents, children? Aren’t these permanent and hence real?
Swami Shantanandaji: We are analyzing reality from different degrees. Your mother also became a mother only in this life. Before this jeeva, you had many lives and many parents. So what is permanent? Everything is temporary from the view point of truth. Even this creation is temporary, so where do blood relations stand?
Q. Arvind Ram:
When faced with an unprecedented situation which no one in your family has faced before; How do you know what you’re doing is right or what is your dharma?
Swami Shantanandaji: We will talk about it as we go along in the Gita. We will deal with this topic in Karma Yoga. What exactly is one’s duty is discussed in detail in the Third Chapter of the Gita.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
October 18, 2009
Q: We studied a chapter on Meditation in Self-Unfoldment book where terms of meditation (dhyaanam, ध्यानम्), thoughtlessness (samaadhi, समाधि) were briefly mentioned. Can you please explain the terms dhyaanam, savikalpa samaadhi (सविकल्प समाधि) and nirvikalpa samaadhi (निर्विकल्प समाधि)?
Question came up during class-room discussions. Study Group: Self-Unfoldment, Moderator: Venu/Babu
A: Thoughtlessness is not to be taken literally. Mind is just the flow of thoughts. While practicing meditation, the thoughts are gradually reduced. A stage will come when there will be no more thoughts. First, one reaches Savikalpa Samadhi, where there is still the awareness that one is meditating. One senses the calmness but is conscious of the stage of Samadhi. After more practice, even this notion is no more. Gurudeo used to explain that even the last thought has been 'thoughted' when one reaches the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. It is somewhat similar to falling asleep: one is not aware when that happens. Except that in Samadhi, there is complete alertness while in sleep there is ignorance.
Q: In Yaksha Prashna, King Yudhishtira gives the following answers for a couple of questions asked by Yaksha. Can you please elaborate on the answers?
Q1. What is heavier than earth?
A1: Mother.
Q2: What is taller than the sky?
A2: Father.
Gopal Babu, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A1: Heavy, by definition is something difficult to lift and carry. Runa (ऋण), the indebtedness is very heavy. One’s indebtedness to one’s mother, for all the sacrifices she has made is indeed so hefty, that it is more difficult to repay it than lifting the earth.
A2: A child always looks up to her father; the ideal that she wishes to match. One’s ideal needs to be so lofty, that one could possibly never reach it. However, the attempts to reach it makes one learn, build a better person. That is why a father is said to be taller than sky.
Q: in the 10th chapter of Geeta, while expounding that He is the best one in any domain, Bhagawaan says he is Dhananjaya among Pandavaas. Why not Yudhisthira, who is Dharma incarnate?
Diwakar, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A: One reason is to make Arjuna happy as Bhagawaan is addressing Arjuna and not Yudhisthira. Another reason is that even though Yudhisthira is son of Dharma, he had a weakness. He could not resist a play of dice, gambling (द्युत). This weakness caused him much loss. Loss of wealth, kingdom and even wife. Because of this major weakness he is not sited as the best. Whereas, as a warrior, there were none equal to Arjuna. He was a hero, the finest soldier. Most capable protector of Dharma.
Q: The values offered by Geeta, Hinduism are truly timeless and priceless. In spite of the advanced thinking of the religion and Gurus, why is India and Hinduism so backwards in terms of women’s rights and emancipation of the caste system?
Uma Balasubramanyan, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A: I think that women’s rights are most advanced in India. We have had a woman prime minister for twenty years. In our society, a woman is considered a mother and all that is noble and sacred is also considered mother. No society has glorified mother more than Indian. Now, there are certain cases of maltreatment of women, system of dowry etc. These are societal evils and not defects of the religion and culture.
We will talk about the caste system during the fourth chapter of Geeta. In brief, the caste system in theory is not the problem but as practiced it has become malevolent. The tendency to look down on other humans, the conceit that - I am of high caste and you of low - is the source of evil. That is personal, individual human folly and does not have Hindu religious sanction.
Q: In Vasana chapter, could you please elaborate on Action-less Action.
Vidya Vishvanathan, Self Unfoldment (second successful year). Moderator Keshav Murthy).
A: Action presupposes desire because without desire, one does not undertake action. Action means desire. So, action-less means desire-less. When a person performs an action which is action-less, he carries out action motivated by selfless desire. Such desire for the welfare of society is not considered harmful. That is why even jeevanmuktta purushas (जीवन्मुक्त पुरुष) are found to be working vigorously. In Geeta, Bhagwaan tells Arjuna, perform actions mandated by your duty, not for your own sake, but with a view to protecting the masses.
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिं आस्थिता जनकादयः
लोकसंग्रहम एवापि संपश्यन कर्तुं अर्हसि ||३:२०||
Question came up during class-room discussions. Study Group: Self-Unfoldment, Moderator: Venu/Babu
A: Thoughtlessness is not to be taken literally. Mind is just the flow of thoughts. While practicing meditation, the thoughts are gradually reduced. A stage will come when there will be no more thoughts. First, one reaches Savikalpa Samadhi, where there is still the awareness that one is meditating. One senses the calmness but is conscious of the stage of Samadhi. After more practice, even this notion is no more. Gurudeo used to explain that even the last thought has been 'thoughted' when one reaches the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. It is somewhat similar to falling asleep: one is not aware when that happens. Except that in Samadhi, there is complete alertness while in sleep there is ignorance.
Q: In Yaksha Prashna, King Yudhishtira gives the following answers for a couple of questions asked by Yaksha. Can you please elaborate on the answers?
Q1. What is heavier than earth?
A1: Mother.
Q2: What is taller than the sky?
A2: Father.
Gopal Babu, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A1: Heavy, by definition is something difficult to lift and carry. Runa (ऋण), the indebtedness is very heavy. One’s indebtedness to one’s mother, for all the sacrifices she has made is indeed so hefty, that it is more difficult to repay it than lifting the earth.
A2: A child always looks up to her father; the ideal that she wishes to match. One’s ideal needs to be so lofty, that one could possibly never reach it. However, the attempts to reach it makes one learn, build a better person. That is why a father is said to be taller than sky.
Q: in the 10th chapter of Geeta, while expounding that He is the best one in any domain, Bhagawaan says he is Dhananjaya among Pandavaas. Why not Yudhisthira, who is Dharma incarnate?
Diwakar, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A: One reason is to make Arjuna happy as Bhagawaan is addressing Arjuna and not Yudhisthira. Another reason is that even though Yudhisthira is son of Dharma, he had a weakness. He could not resist a play of dice, gambling (द्युत). This weakness caused him much loss. Loss of wealth, kingdom and even wife. Because of this major weakness he is not sited as the best. Whereas, as a warrior, there were none equal to Arjuna. He was a hero, the finest soldier. Most capable protector of Dharma.
Q: The values offered by Geeta, Hinduism are truly timeless and priceless. In spite of the advanced thinking of the religion and Gurus, why is India and Hinduism so backwards in terms of women’s rights and emancipation of the caste system?
Uma Balasubramanyan, Study Group: Self-Unfoldment
A: I think that women’s rights are most advanced in India. We have had a woman prime minister for twenty years. In our society, a woman is considered a mother and all that is noble and sacred is also considered mother. No society has glorified mother more than Indian. Now, there are certain cases of maltreatment of women, system of dowry etc. These are societal evils and not defects of the religion and culture.
We will talk about the caste system during the fourth chapter of Geeta. In brief, the caste system in theory is not the problem but as practiced it has become malevolent. The tendency to look down on other humans, the conceit that - I am of high caste and you of low - is the source of evil. That is personal, individual human folly and does not have Hindu religious sanction.
Q: In Vasana chapter, could you please elaborate on Action-less Action.
Vidya Vishvanathan, Self Unfoldment (second successful year). Moderator Keshav Murthy).
A: Action presupposes desire because without desire, one does not undertake action. Action means desire. So, action-less means desire-less. When a person performs an action which is action-less, he carries out action motivated by selfless desire. Such desire for the welfare of society is not considered harmful. That is why even jeevanmuktta purushas (जीवन्मुक्त पुरुष) are found to be working vigorously. In Geeta, Bhagwaan tells Arjuna, perform actions mandated by your duty, not for your own sake, but with a view to protecting the masses.
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिं आस्थिता जनकादयः
लोकसंग्रहम एवापि संपश्यन कर्तुं अर्हसि ||३:२०||
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)