View Full Version : The Vedas
More and more scientists are finding answers in the Vedas. Perhaps the Vedas are more science than religion, and therefore, Hinduism religious beliefs and practices are more in the realm of science than religion. http://gemstate.net/susan/indexHP.htm
Human Physiology: Expression of Veda and the Vedic Literature"
by Nadar, T.
Copyright © 1997 Theory and Review
The universal source of all orderliness has within itself all the diverse laws of Nature governing life at every level of the manifest universe. The entire animate and inanimate creation is based on these laws and their sequential unfoldment.
One of the main questions in psychology concerns the relationship of the mind and the body. There are a large number of ideas about how they are connected. Nadar is one of the foremost proponents of the idea that both the mind and the body arise from a deeper set of universal laws or principles that govern the universe. According to Nadar these laws were set out in ancient times in the Vedic records of India.
The laws of nature described in the Vedas are the subjective laws of nature that structure our mind and psyche. Seers of the ancient Vedic tradition probing deep within their consciousness discovered these laws in much the same way as Newton or Einstein, when they discovered the laws of universal gravitation or special relativity, enjoyed a vivid experience of sudden understanding or a kind of deep "insight" into these laws. The seers experience was not on the level of thinking, or theoretical conjecture, or imagination, but on the level of direct experience, which is more vivid, distinct, clear and orderly than sensory experience. What the seers did was to allow their mind to settle to its silent state, and watch as their awareness became active. The seers described clearly the sequential process by which thoughts arise in the conscious mind. They then wrote these descriptions down in the Vedic hymns
Modern scientists generally avoid discussions of subjective means of gaining knowledge because they consider them to be unreliable. However, all human knowledge is subjective because it exists inside our minds. Somewhere deep inside us are mental structures that govern reliable knowledge. By turning awareness inward through meditation techniques the ancients discovered a method to allow the excitations of the mind to settle down so they could see the silent structures of the mind. Once the excitations of thought settles, the seers could watch the first excitations of the mind begin to arise, and it was by probing these fine excitations that they mapped out the structures of the mind.
The next key point in the logic is that the laws of nature that structure human awareness are the same laws that structure the brain, and that structure the universe. This key point is usually accepted by modern science, but Nadar takes it a step further. Nadar bases this book on the understanding that the fundamental laws of nature are the expressions of the Vedic literature. If this is the case then it should be possible to show the relationship between these laws and the structure of something in the universe. Nadar undertakes this assignments, and connects the Vedic literature to the structure of the human brain and nervous system. He begins by showing how the laws of nature sequentially unfold from the deepest levels in the unified field of natural law, the source of physical creation according to physicists. He then shows the parallel structure of the Vedic literature, and begins to connect the two structures.
Since the human mind and the human brain are so closely connected, it is logical to look for structural parallels between laws of nature that are proposed to describe subjective conscious experience and the structures of the physiology. This is exactly what Dr. Tony Nadar did. His book systematically outlines the relationship between the subjective laws of nature described in the Vedic hymns, and the objective laws of nature found in the structure of the human nervous system.
When the Vedic seers settled their minds into pure consciousness, the first wave of activity was a transformation of silent consciousness into a three-fold structure of knower, known and process of knowing. Nadar shows how this three fold structure is mirrored through the rest of Vedic literature, and corresponds to a three fold grouping structure in the physiology.
Nadar's book is valuable for anyone who is interested in a systematic attempt to connect mental structures and the brain. His works both indicates how the mental universe can be organized, and simultaneously indicates how this may relate to structures in the brain. His book is very important for anyone who is developing mind-body theories to read and consider.
Straight from the Vedas as I understand Vedic philosophy, and helpful to all.
http://mindluck.blogspot.com/2007/08/un ... nergy.html (http://mindluck.blogspot.com/2007/08/universe-is-pure-energy.html)
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Universe is pure energy
Law Of Attraction Introduction
The Universe is pure energy. It is always in motion - it is a moving, pulsating, vibrating, magnet like force, that is in constant motion at the core. It is pure energy.
The Universe has been called many things - God, Inner Being, Your Source, Higher Being, Infinite Mind. Or if we are really brave, we may associate it with Quatum Phsyics - the area of all possibility.
The Universe, and its power, is the source of all that there is. It contains everything we desire and is waiting for us to activate it, where it will create, attract, offer us inspired action, and even mold itself into whatever we want. We simply must align ourselves to our desires using the Laws Of Attraction.
We are all aware of most of the Universal laws. We know that there are laws of Physics, laws of Chemistry, we all know that gravity works. But most people are not aware of the mental and spiritual laws that govern our very existence.
It is these laws that we must align ourselves to. To connect to the Law Of Attraction, you must channel through your subconscious mind. The same subconscious mind that beats our hearts, makes us breath, and organizes all our muscles in perfect harmony.
Unfortunately, the mind also holds all of our learned behaviors and our 'faulty' programing. All the limiting belief's, negative patterns, and patterns we learned from the time we were very young.
Now since it is our thoughts, our feelings, our deepest beliefs is the key to connecting with the Law Of Attraction - the power that responds to our desires - then it only stands to reason that we must first break through and overcome the negative thought patterns and beliefs that we have.
The conscious mind does not like to change and will create resistance since it's job is to protect you and it wants to be in control. Your conscious mind - the ego - will use every possible thought in order to maintain control. The ego feels threatened by Universal Power - which we all have and we were born with - so we need to help the ego accept new beliefs.
For example, if your mind believes that you can not become rich then we must slowly introduce the new belief that you can become rich. Once the mind starts to believe that riches are within your grasp then it will start to release the resistance to that old limiting belief.
So what we need to do is provide some 'friendly persuasion' to the ego to help shift the consciousness to create a belief in the mind.
Below is a compilation of the causes of corruption as understood by Mr. Psablokh in his book "Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics."
Finding its utility to mankind recently Rig Veda has been accorded the status of “Heritage” by UNESCO. Rig Veda has a large number of hymns/riks on the causes of corruption and how to eliminate the same in any mosaic society. In the other three Holy Vedas also a few mantras/hymns relate to Corruption.
Sama Veda 179 and 913 describes corruption as hydra headed, having nine heads (nine kinds) and it enters the human body through ninety nine sources i.e. nine kind of corruption enters through five senses, five sense organs and outward looking mind (9X11==99). Later Ramayana described this evil through nine corrupt heads of Ravana. We burn his nine corrupt heads every year on Dussehra day. Similarly later Mahabharata described 99 sources of entry of corruption through 99 corrupt sons of blind Kaurva king Dhritrashtra. 99 vritras (powers of evil) are mentioned in Rig Veda 1-84-13. It further says in 1-104-3 taking bribe for money belonging to the state is misappropriation of public funds. All bribe takers are thieves of God and they get rebirth in the foulest of the womb (confirmed even in Bhagavad-Gita). R.V 3-34-6 and Yajur Veda 30-22, the corrupt people should not be allowed by the ruler to mix with people following chatvar varnasharam (four divine professions). Y.V 30-19 and R.V 5-61-8 mention that those persons who praise and justify are also corrupt persons, keep away from them. R.V 1-42-4 even mentions keep away from Gurus (preceptors) who take donations/charity.
Causes of Corruption
1. The corruption creeps in society when the matter is considered as inert and the members of society do not find any sin in treating the benign mother earth as a quarry. In Rig Vedas spirit of God is in the shuniya (cosmic void) of each sub atomic particle of atom- the building block of matter. Hence the matter has unsuspected vitality and its use on need based living is virtue and its excessive use is a sin. Corruption creeps in a society where economics (artha) is based on inert matter and the possession of wealth/any kind of matter having predominance of tamasic guna of stupor is considered as a matter of pride.
MAYA creates a golden lid for such individuals and hides the truth and supreme reality for them.
2. Rig Veda further says that purpose of human birth is to assist the ineffable and formless God who is also Supreme Architect (Viswakarma) in the maintenance of His grand and wondrous Design. For the maintenance of this Design, He has created Rta- eternal cosmic laws of necessity and wants all human beings to follow the same. Having created these eternal laws of nature “He Himself” follows them sternly lest a great harm is done to the cosmic creation. Thus He and His Laws (Rta) are the same. When the individuals in any society starts ignoring these laws available to human beings through the Book of Nature (which even blind individuals can read), corruption creeps in society.
3. R.V 10-34-13 also says that any kind of gambling particularly the game of dice is also cause of corruption. The vehement effect of this evil of the game of dice was described in Mahabharata.
Corruption destroys all the noble attributes of human beings due to pursuit of only material knowledge bereft of spiritual and divine knowledge, which in Vedas is ignorance/nescience/ajnan. (R.V 1-129-6). Only harmonized divine, spiritual and material knowledge is true knowledge (Janan) in Vedas.
Start of Corruption
Rig Veda says when even one human being dies of starvation, it is a signal that corruption has crept in society and avarnas (followers of non divine professions) who want honour, power and wealth for themselves have started multiplying. In Kaliyuga (Dark Age) their number far exceeds the followers of divine professions (varnas). Ethics and community welfare becomes the greatest casualty. Rig Veda says the thieves of God (bribe givers/takers) who consider matter as inert become insensitive to hydra headed corruption and resort to ostentatious worship and donations/gift culture to gain social recognition. Most of them drift from darkness to utter darkness through meditation (Isa Upanishad and Yajur Veda). The various virtuous concepts like iddm nan mmam –nothing for self all for society akin to enlightened liberalism of Aristotle, moderation of Vedas/middle path of Buddha and the noble concept of illusion of comfort in the vast turbulent sea of matter (Vedic Phantasmagoria-Cosmic delusion MAYA) are no longer considered as virtue in the materialistic corrupt society dominated by avarna, vritras, kimidin etc.
(Reference: Sama Veda 179 and 913)
Website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/.
Rest assured that to say anything is not Atma is a misconception. There is no manas (mind) that is not Atma. There is no world that is not Atma. When all sankalpas (eras) are gone and all actions over, Brahman alone remains, and there is nothing that is not Atma.
Reference: Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. (to be continued)
Being devoid of the three bodies, the three periods of time, the three gunas of jiva, the three planes and the three worlds, and following the saying "All is Brahman," know thee that there is nothing to be known in the absence of chitta (consciousness); there is no old age in the absence of body; no action in the absence of hands; no death in the absence of creatures. There is no virtue, no purity, no fear, no repetition of mantras, no guru nor any disciple. There is no second in the absence of one. Where the second is not, even the first disappears.
Reference: Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. (to be continued)
When there is truth alone, there is no non-Truth possible; when there is non-Truth alone, there is no truth possible. Auspiciousness is desired only if something inauspicious exists. If you regard fear and non-fear, then fear will arise out of non-fear; if bondage should become emancipation, then in the absence of bondage, there will be no emancipation. If birth should imply death, then in the absence of birth, there is no death. If "thou" implies "I", then in the absense of "thou" there is no I; If the concept of "this" creates the idea of "that", this does exist in the absence of the way to indicate "that." If being should imply non-being, then non-being will imply being. If an effect implies a cause, then in the absence of a effect, there is no cause. If duality implies non-duality, then in the absence of duality, there is no non-duality. For anything to be seen, there is the faculty of sight. In the absence of seen, there is no sight. In the absence of any interior, there is no exterior. If there should be fullness, only then is non-fullness possible. (Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. To be continued.)
"If there should be fullness, only then is non-fullness possible. Therefore, all of this exist no where. Neither you nor I, not this nor these exist. There exist no no object of comparison in the True One. There is nothing like or unlike the Unborn. There is no mind to think. I am the Supreme Brahman. The world is Brahman only. Thou and I are Brahman only. (Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. To be continued.)
I am chinmantra simply, and there is nothing that is not the Atman. This is certain. This universe is not. This universe is not at all. It was no where produced and stays nowhere. Some say that the "chitta" is the universe. No, it does not exist. Neither the universe, nor chitta nor ahankara (ego) nor jiva (individual self) exists. Neither the creations of maya (illusion), nor maya (ignorance) itself really exists. Fear does not exist, actor, acton, hearing, thinking, the two samadhis, the measurer, the measure, ajnana (ignorance) and aviveka (confusion), none of these exist anywhere. Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. (to be continued.)
Therefore, the four moving considerations and the three kinds of relationships do not exist. There is no Ganga, no Gaya, no Setu, no elements or anything else, no earth, water, fire, wind, or akasha anywhere, no Devas, no guardians of the four quarters, no Vedas, no Guru, no distance, no proximity, no time, no middle, no non-duality, no truth no untruth, no bondage, no emancipation, no Sat nor asat, no happiness, no class, no motion, no caste, no worldly business. All is I; all is Brahman only, and nothing else. Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. (to be continued.)
There exists, thus, nothing such as "consciousness alone is," there is at that point, no saying such as "Chit is I." The statement "I am Brahman" does not exist when one is Brahman; nor does exist the statement "I am the eternally pure." Whatever is uttered by the mouth, whatever is thought by manas, what ever is determined by buddhi, whatever is cognized by chitta--all these do not exist. There is no yogi and no yoga when one is Brahman. All are and all are not. Neither day nor night, neither bathing not contemplating, neither delusion nor non-delusion--these do not exist then. (Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. (to be continued.)
O Yogi, hear that there is not an atom which thou doest not penetrate; but yet thou art without their semblance. Thou art devoid of existence and non-existence. Thou art changeless without kala or kashta (divisions of time). Thou art immersed in the bliss of Self. There is nothing that thou seekest which is not thyself. Have no doubt, thou art "I." Know there is nothing that is not-Atma. (Hinduism Today: April/May/June, 2008. page 17. One beyond duality and non duality.)
Food preparation practices, acccording to Ayur-Veda, are perhaps one of the oldest in the world, and it is still followed for healthful living by millions today.
http://www.harekrishna.com/col/books/VEG/hkvc2.html
The Science of Eating and Good Health
By Adiraja Dasa
"This is a practical cookbook, designed to help you prepare authentic Indian meals in your own home and to acquaint you with the tradition behind India's great vegetarian cuisine. It explains not only the techniques of Vedic, or classical Indian vegetarian cooking, but also the Vedic art of eating, which nourishes both the soul and the body and mind.
India is the home not only of vegetarian cooking, but also of the science of healthful living. The scripture known as the Ayur-veda, is the oldest known work on biology, hygiene, medicine, and nutrition. This branch of the Vedas was revealed thousands of years ago by Sri Bhagavan Danvantari, an incarnation of Krishna. "Old", is not the same as "primitive", however, and some of the instructions of the Ayur-veda will remind today's reader of modern nutritional teachings or just plain common sense. Other instructions may seem less familiar, but they will bear themselves out if given the chance.
We shouldn't be surprised to see bodily health discussed in spiritual writings. The Vedas consider the human body a divine gift, a chance for the imprisoned soul to escape from the cycle of birth and death. The importance of healthful living in spiritual life is also mentioned by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (6.16-17), "There is no possibility of becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. One who is temperate in his habits of eating, sleeping, working, and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system."
Proper eating has a double importance. Besides its role in bodily health-over-eating, eating in a disturbed or anxious state of mind, or eating unclean foods causes indigestion, "the parent of all diseases"-proper eating can help the aspiring transcendentalist attain mastery over his senses. "Of all the senses, the tongue is the most difficult to control," says the prasada-sevaya, a song composed by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, one of the spiritual predecessors of Srila Prabhupada, "but Krishna has kindly given us this nice prasada to help us control the tongue."
Here are a few guidelines for good eating taken from the Ayur-veda and other scriptures.
Spiritualize your eating
The Bhagavad-gita (17.8-10) divides foods into three classes: those of the quality of goodness, those of the quality of passion, and those of the quality of ignorance. The most healthful are the foods of goodness. "Foods of the quality of goodness [milk products, grains, fruits, and vegetables] increase the duration of life; purify one's existence; and give strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are sweet, juicy, fatty, and palatable."
Foods that are too bitter, sour, salty, pungent, dry or hot, are of the quality of passion and cause distress. But foods of the quality of ignorance, such as meat, fish, and fowl, described as "putrid, decomposed, and unclean," produce only pain, disease, and bad karma. In other words, what you eat affects the quality of your life. There is much needless suffering in the world today, because most people have no other criterion for choosing food than price and sensual desire.
The purpose of food, however, is not only to increase longevity and bodily strength, but also to purify the mind and consciousness. Therefore the spiritualist offers his food to the Lord before eating. Such offered food clears the way for spiritual progress. There are millions of people in India and around the world who would not consider eating unless their food was offered first to Lord Krishna........................................... ...."
If anyone observes, Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba speaks more about Vedic Advaitha (non-duality) today than ever before. It could signify the coming to a close of his teachings/mission on earth in this body.
As we understand, the full belief in Advaitha comes from a process of the movement of understanding from duality to qualified non-duality and finally non duality or Advaitha. As Jesus himself said, "I am the servant of God. I am am the son of God...I and my father are One." These are the teachings of the Vedas.
Baba says your real name is Brahman. Love is God and God is Love. The differences, conflicts, and quarrels that are prevalent in the world today are mainly due to a lack of love in the heart of man.
Baba says "know your identity. Many people talk in several ways that the world is full of sorrows, miseries and difficulties. But in fact, nothing of the sort exists. Their supposed existence is nothing but our own delusion. In reality, there is no existence of diffiiculties in this world, nor is any unrest seen anywhere. Wherever we see, there is only peace, peace and peace.
When there is peace in our hearts, we will see peace everywhere. On the contrary when we do not have peace in our hearts then we will find restlessness every where. All the restlessness, sorrows, and anxieties are our own reaction, reflection and resound. These are all of our own making. They do not have any real existence.
In fact, reaction, reflection and resound are are caused by many kinds of our own delusions......................................... .............."
Refence: Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 2.
"When you ask somebody, "what is your name?" he will tell the name given to him by parents. (Here, Swami asked one of the boys his name and he said, Vikas). Truly speaking, Vikas is not his name. Go to anybody and ask this question, everybody will reply in the same way. If you ask God the same question, He will say "Aham Brhmasmi" (I am Brahman). All of us should give the same reply, "Aham Brahmasmi, Aham Brahmasmi." We have no other name except this. Names that we bear have been given to us by our parents, we are not born with these names. Your real name is Brahman. Those who are not able to recognize this truth never experience true happiness in life."
Refence: Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 2.
Love is the other name of Brahman. Call it Love, Atma, Prema, Brahman, all have the same meaning. Nothing else is seen in the world except love. But we do not understand the true meaning of the word love. We identify it with worldly and physical relationships. But physical relationships do not connote true love. Real love is that which is ever true. Refence: Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
You are not one person, but three: the one you think you are, the one others think you are and the one you really are. What others think you are is just their imagination. Your self is your reality. What does self mean? It means this "I" is universal and is uniformly found in everybody. However, you can experience this "I" only when you cross the litlle "I" of individuality or ego. There is this inner meaning of "cross" which is worshipped by the Christians. All are one. Nobody is seperate from you or against you. You should always treasure this truth in your heart.
Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
"All that is born out of karma and sustained by it is imaginary and ephemeral. As I have told you earlier, you are the embodimnts of Brahman. You can realize truth only when you consider yourself as Brahman. So long as you don't realize this truth, you identify yourself with the name given to you by your parents as Ramana, Krishnanna. All these names have been given to you by your parents just for the sake of identification. You are not bon with these names. What is the name that you are born with? You do not know this."
Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
"...Suppose one goes to the parents of a new-born child and asks, What is the name you have given to this child?" They may say, we have not yet given a name to this child." There are billions of people in the world, but none of them seems to have realized the truth that he is essentially divine. People identify themselves by the name given to them by their parents. But they do not know their real names. They do not know the name they were born with. Therefore, they identify themselves with the names they were given at birth and lead a worldly life. The true name of man is what he was born with and that is Atma. That is Brahman. What is the meaning of Brahman? It means you only. Brahman has no birth or death. Only when you know this truth you know your reality....."
Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
"How do things come into existence? They are created by will power(Here Swami materialized a gold chain and said that he willed it.) This is born out of my will and did not exist earlier. Everything is born out of Divine Will.
God is the cause of Maya. The entire creation is the result of a combination of Maya and God. There can be no creation without Maya. Therefore, Maya follows every person like his shadow. We lead our lives under the influence of Maya. It does not leave us like our shadow. It is the cause of all our delusion.
When the sun rises, our shadow is very long. When the sun is right on our head, the shadow falls under our feet; hence it increases and decreases. Therefore we should not make shadow as the basis of our lives. Reference: "Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
.."God is the fundamental cause of everything. It is love that is important. Love is the basis of faith. Nobody knows where this love comes from. In English, the word love is spelt L,O,V,E in which L stands for Lord who is the creator of the entire universe. Right from the ant to the elephant, all beings have their origins in God. They are all created by God. Not even a blade of grass will move without Divine Will. People who do not know this truth get carrried away by their pride of intelligence and knowledge. But no one however great he may be, knows what lies ahead for him in the future.." "Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 3.
"...What is the origin of the blade of grass? It has its origin only in the Will of God. It is born out of the Divine Will in order to provide protection to small creatures. Every being is born out of Brahman Sankalpa (Divine Will) Without God there can be no creation. During the summer season, land looks bare without any vegetation. But when there is rainfall, so many plants come out. Where do these come from? They come from rain. Wherefrom does the rain come? It comes from the clouds. Wherefrom does the cloud come? They come from the sun. Wherefrom has the sun come? It has come from God. Therefore everything has its origin only in God...."
Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 4.
(Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides” (Rig Veda)
Dear Seekers of Vedic Knowledge,
Subject: Corruption as described in Holy Vedas
Finding its utility to mankind recently Rig Veda has been accorded the status of “Heritage” by UNESCO. Rig Veda has a large number of hymns/riks on the causes of corruption and how to eliminate the same in any mosaic society. In the other three Holy Vedas also a few mantras/hymns relate to Corruption.
Sama Veda 179 and 913 describes Corruption as hydra headed, having nine heads (nine kinds) and it enters the human body through ninety nine sources i.e. nine kind of corruption enters through five senses, five sense organs and etani i.e.the outward looking mind (9X11==99). Later Ramayana described this evil through nine corrupt heads of Ravana. We burn his nine corrupt heads every year on Dussehra day. Similarly later Mahabharata described 99 sources of entry of corruption through 99 corrupt sons of blind Kaurva king Dhritrashtra. 99 vritras (powers of evil) are mentioned in Rig Veda 1-84-13. It further says in 1-104-3 taking bribe for money belonging to the state is misappropriation of public funds. All bribe takers are thieves of God and they get rebirth in the foulest of the womb (confirmed even in Bhagavad-Gita). R.V 3-34-6 and Yajur Veda 30-22, the corrupt people should not be allowed by the ruler to mix with people following chatvar varnasharam (four divine professions). Y.V 30-19 and R.V 5-61-8 mention that those persons who praise and justify are also corrupt persons, keep away from them. R.V 1-42-4 even mentions keep away from Gurus (preceptors) who take donations/charity.
Causes of Corruption
1. The corruption creeps in society when the matter is considered as inert and the members of society do not find any sin in treating the benign mother earth as a quarry. In Rig Vedas spirit of God is in the shuniya (cosmic void) of each sub atomic particle of atom- the building block of matter. Hence the matter has unsuspected vitality and its use on need based living is virtue and its excessive use is a sin. Corruption creeps in a society where economics (artha) is based on inert matter and the possession of wealth/any kind of matter having predominance of tamasic guna of stupor is considered as a matter of pride.
MAYA creates a Golden dazzling Disc for such individuals and hides the truth and Supreme Reality for them. Maya also creates the greatest miracle that we search for God every where when He resides in our hearts.
2. Rig Veda further says that purpose of human birth is to assist nirguna Brahmathe (ineffable and formless God) who is also Supreme Architect (Viswakarma) in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design. For the maintenance of this Design, He has created Rta- eternal cosmic laws of necessity and wants all human beings to follow the same. Having created these eternal laws of nature “He Himself” follows them sternly lest a great harm is done to the cosmic creation. Thus He and His Laws (Rta) are the same. When the individuals in any society starts ignoring these laws available to human beings through the Book of Nature (which even blind individuals can read), corruption creeps in society.
3. R.V 10-34-13 also says that any kind of gambling particularly the game of dice is also cause of corruption. The vehement effect of this evil of the game of dice was described in Mahabharata.
Corruption destroys all the noble attributes of human beings due to pursuit of only material knowledge bereft of spiritual and divine knowledge, which in Vedas is ignorance/nescience/ajnan. (R.V 1-129-6). Only harmonized divine, spiritual and material knowledge is true knowledge (Janan) in Vedas.
Start of Corruption
Rig Veda says when even one human being dies of starvation, it is a signal that corruption has crept in society and avarnas (followers of non divine professions) who want honour, power and wealth for themselves have started multiplying. In Kaliyuga (Dark Age) their number far exceeds the followers of divine professions (varnas). Ethics and community welfare becomes the greatest casualty. Rig Veda says the thieves of God (bribe givers/takers) who consider matter as inert become insensitive to hydra headed corruption and resort to ostentatious worship and donations/gift culture to gain social recognition. Most of them drift from darkness to utter darkness through meditation (Isa Upanishad and Yajur Veda). The various virtuous concepts like iddm nan mmam –nothing for self all for society akin to enlightened liberalism of Aristotle, moderation of Vedas/middle path of Buddha and the noble concept of illusion of comfort in the vast turbulent sea of matter (Vedic Phantasmagoria-Cosmic delusion MAYA) are no longer considered as virtue in the materialistic corrupt society dominated by avarna, vritras, kimidin etc.
In India this evil of corruption is now becoming “Leviathan” and giant demon and is spreading like wild fire. The guide lines given by the wise metaphysicists (rsis of yore) and wandering sages (munnies of the Vedic period) can help in arresting this nefarious and extremely dangerous drift. Kautaliya in his socio-political treatise “Arthashastra” (partly based on Vedic metaphysics) clearly says the evil of corruption spreads faster when the state gives lip sympathy to curb corruption and promote honesty.
For more details on corruption and other main subjects of Vedas, “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” for on line reading and even taking print at no cost is available on the Internet. Website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/. Also the book can be accessed through search engines of google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com. Search for the book “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” or just “Vedic Metaphysics”.
With kind regards,
Your spiritual brother
P.K.Sabhlok
P.S
Kindly render divine social duty and forward this Vedic description of Corruption to other seekers of Vedic knowledge
Without God there can be no air, no sun, no rain and no plants. Therefore, we should not forget God. You may forget anything, but never God. When you forget God it amounts to forgetting everything. The fundamental cause of everything is God. We are forgetting this fundamental cause. Without foundation, there can be no walls. Without walls there can be no roof. Without roof there can be no house. Therefore, the foundation is most important. Pillars are built only on foundation, and pillars support the roof. Similarly, self confidence is the foundation on which man builds his life, on which the walls of self satisfaction can be raised, and which support the roof of self sacrifice. Then only we can have the life of self realization.
Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 5.
What is the use of the pillars of self satisfaction without the roof of self sacrifice? But the roof cannot stand strong without the foundation, walls, and the pillars. Therefore, all of you should realize the importance of the foundation. This is the funadamental truth. We should never forget the fundamental truth.
Reference: Sanathana Sarathi , January 2008, page 5.
Since Swami is also seen as Veda Purusha, an embodiment of the Vedas, I am also posting some of Swamis' teachings here under Vedas. It is important to understand how God understands our actions and so called devotion to Him.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26289
March 15, 2008
Today evening, as the bhajans began at 5:00 pm, Swami came out for darshan on the chair. He slowly moved from the ladies on to the gents side. He seemed a little sedate today and He gently kept looking at everyone who had gathered. Letters were collected and then Swami went into the interview room. Very shortly however, the bhajans were halted. Students from the University had written the national GATE examination for the various Sciences. The results were out and the students had performed very well. The nationwide second rank in Physics and various other ranks had been secured. Swami decided to bless these students specially.
There is a very important difference between the ways that humans judge something and the way God does the same. People judge others from the results they produce. Whether its in music or business, arts or sciences, the person is judged purely on the basis of the results he/she obtains. But with God, it's so different. God is interested only in the efforts that have been put in to achieve the esults. If the efforts are 100% and in full sincerity, He is happy irrespective of the result. And that is why it is said that all are equal for God.
We may all be different in terms of our talents and skills and thus vary in the results we produce. But we are equal in the fact that we all can put in our 100%. And that is all that God is concerned about. Has this person put in the effort? The result comes nowhere in the picture for God. Only the humans judge by result.
sapodila
03-21-2008, 09:35 AM
I heard in the news, that The State of Arizona congress, would convene this period with "Hindu Poojas...... in particular recitations from the RigVeda and The Bhagavadgita." That would be a first for the state of AZ.
CHAPTER 16
THE TWO DESTINIES :
DIVINE OR DEGENERATE
(Daiva-Asura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga)
"... the cardinal virtues and tendencies that reveal the real nature of human beings : their Divinity."
1-3. "I can see your continuing interest, old friend, and will now describe the distinctive qualities and practices of people with Divine tendencies and degenerate (sometimes called 'demonic') tendencies. First, the Divine traits :
"Fearlessness, purity (of heart and emotions), steadfast (in pursuit of Atma), charity (alms giving), and control of senses.
"Sacrifice (yajna, the spirit of giving), study of scriptures, austerity (tapas, purification, literally to 'melt' and recast), straightforwardness (integrity, sincerity), and noninjury (ahimsa, doing no mental, physical, or spiritual harm).
"Also on the list of godlike traits are : truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation (turning away from worldly attachments), equanimity, and not slandering.
"Compassion, not coveting (no desire), gentleness, modesty, not fickle (no fluctuations of mind), and vigor.
"Forgiveness, fortitude (courage, endurance, 'putting up with'), cleanliness (saucham, clean mind and body), no hatred, and no pride.
"All those, Arjuna, are the cardinal virtues and tendencies that reveal the real nature of human beings : their Divinity.
4. "On the other hand are the degenerate qualities, behaviors and moods that render a person less than human :
"Pride (ostentation, hypocrisy), pompousness (arrogance), vanity (self-conceit), anger, harshness (coarseness, sternly judgmental), and absence of discrimination (between right and wrong, Truth and not-Truth, Real and not-Real).
5. "The 'divine' behaviors on the longer list lead to liberation; the degenerate behaviors lead to more time on the wheel of death and rebirth. Do not be concerned, however, Arjuna, as your seeds are good; you have brought divine qualities into this lifetime.
6. "Look more closely at degenerate behavior - not to dwell on negativeness, but to guard against them.
7. "Degenerate beings, because they have no sense of truth or right conduct (dharma), do not know what they should or should not do. There is no purity in them.
8. "If asked why they carry on in such a detestable way they argue that the scriptures are a lie, that God is dead or never existed, that the universe is a dog-eat-dog place with no moral foundation. They contend that what exists in the world is merely the outcome of lust, or is just an accident.
9. "Holding this distorted viewpoint in their minds, they become enemies of the world and serve a negative purpose. Without thinking of the consequences of their actions, they cause destruction and suffering. If left alone to their self-indulgence they would heedlessly destroy the world.
10. "Stuffed with endless, insatiable desires, they are arrogant, vain, and prideful. They live in delusion and chase blindly after evil (those things that lead to suffering).
11. "Beset with dreads, they assume their fearfulness will cease only upon their death - which is a fallacy, as the same mind will be reborn into a like situation. They are blindly certain that gratifying their own lust is all there is to life.
12. "They are bound on all sides by scheming, greed, and anger because, being hurtful themselves, they attract hurtful people to themselves. They amass and hoard wealth for the sole purpose of indulging senses and whims. Grabbing for riches governs their every thought and move.
13-15. "They arrogantly proclaim, 'I wanted this or that and I got it! Tomorrow I will get more. These riches are mine, and I will spend my life making more and more. I have destroyed this and that enemy, and I will get rid of the rest of them. I am indeed mighty. I am ruler of my domain. I love having things of the world. I am successful, powerful, and rich. Who can compare to me? I will buy my way, making lavish contributions to the poor and weak, and revel in my own goodness.' That is how far blindness and ignorance has eaten into their soul.
16. "These degenerate, bewildered, trapped in their addiction to sense gratification, are stuck in the spider-web of delusion. They spiral downward into the filthy, painful hell of their own foul minds.
17. "Stuffed until choking with pride and conceit, drunk with their own wealth, they pay mere lip service to Divinity. They make offerings to the deities only for name and fame, outward show and self-promotion.
18. "Because they have fully given themselves to the dark forces of egoism, insolence, desire, and wrath, these cruel beings loathe Me, who dwells in their own bodies. They deny My presence in themselves and in others.
19. "Time after time, according to their karma, I cast these malicious evildoers into the wombs of like-minded parents, subjecting them to the wheel of death and rebirth.
20. "Life after life they take birth in similar degradation without ever reaching Me or even reaching toward Me. Thus they sink to the worst possible depths.
21. "The three main causes of this depravity are the so-called three gates to hell : desire, greed, and anger. Any one of them is enough to bind you to this darkness, so abandon all three.
22. "Those who finally pass by these three dark gates and turn Godward do eventually reach Me, the Supreme Goal. In fact, progress can be rapid once the degenerate person turns his or her aggressive energy toward Me and takes the divine way.
23. "The function of the scriptures is to guide people toward living a perfected life on earth and repeatedly remind them of the goal, which should be nothing short of achieving Divinity Itself. But those who spurn the teachings and guidance of the scriptures and act only on the impulses of their desires will not achieve perfection and divinity, only misery.
24. "Let the scriptures tell you what you should and should not do, Arjuna. Know what the right choices are and live up to them. It is simpler than you think. When you, or anyone, is firmly on the road to enlightenment there is no conflict at all between what you do and what the scriptures advice."
(From : The Bhagavad Gita (A Walkthrough for Westerners) by Jack Hawley)
Copyright reserved by author
Krishna speaks about the cardinal virtues and tendencies of man.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26281
Krishna explains the path of threefold faith.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26310
Chapter 17
THE PATH OF THREEFOLD FAITH
(Sraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga)
"Faith comes first... faith that contains determination, zeal, and momentum for spiritual growth."
1. "But Krishna," Arjuna asks, "some people in all good faith pursue the right path without having elaborate knowledge of the scriptures. What will be their spiritual attainment? Is the nature of their faith sattva (purity), rajas (activity), or tamas (dark)?"
2-3. Krishna answers : "People are in fact the sum total of the beliefs they hold in their hearts, Arjuna, and there are indeed various kinds of faith. One's faith corresponds to one's nature, and one's nature is equivalent to one's faith. Every individual is born with one of three kinds of faith : sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic, depending on their temperament.
4. "Those of sattvic temperament revere the gods in heaven. Rajasic people worship power and wealth, even though they may not acknowledge those as their gods. Tamasic people worship the spirits of the dead - ghosts and hurtful deities (those with negative qualities and those who do harm) - which again are in tune with their own disposition.
5-6. "Some people, due to excessive passions and desires, invent harsh ways to inflict pain on themselves. In their foolishness they hurt their bodies and senses and outrage Me, the Atma who lives within them. They may seem to be endowed with 'faith', but such practices are harmful to their spiritual growth.
7. "There are other behaviors that bear on spiritual attainment. One's eating habits play a part in it, a fact that few recognize. And the way one performs the three main spiritual disciplines - sacrifice (yajna, offering up), purification (tapas, austerities), and charity (dana, alms giving) - also influences one's spiritual development. Each of these three disciplines can also be understood in light of the three guna types."
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOOD
8. "Regarding dietary practices, know that there are subtle elements in food that significantly influence the mind, and therefore shape mental attitudes. This creates a cycle similar to the situation with one's faith : you are what you eat, and you eat based on what you are. And know, Arjuna, that due to the subtle impact of food on one's mind, sooner or later all serious spiritual aspirants have to face up to the issue of what they consume.
"Sattvic people, for example, consume pure, mild, nourishing food that strengthens them physically and brings pure thoughts and mental cheerfulness. Their foods are fresh, juicy, soothing, and agreeable to the body's digestive system. Breakfast is light; the daytime meal is as substantial as required but not more; supper is as light as possible so bodily organs can rest through the night. Only sattva knows the real taste of food.
9. "Rajasic people are drawn to spicy, hot, bitter, salty, acidic, and burning food. Like the people who eat it, this food produces pain, grief, and disease, and hinders spiritual attainment.
10. "Tamasic people eat old, overcooked, stale, tasteless, impure, empty, and dead food with no nutritional value. This food returns these qualities in kind to the eater."
TYPES AND EFFICACY OF SPIRITUAL SACRIFICE
11. "Contemplate the three spiritual practices (sacrifice, austerity, and charity) with regard to the guna qualities.
"First, consider sacrifice (yajna), the 'loving offering' and 'fundamental law of nature' I mentioned earlier. Sacrifice is sattvic when it is offered up for its own sake with no desire in it, no expectation of reward or attachment to the fruits of the offering.
12. "Sacrifice is rajasic when performed for self-glorification, for the sake of show and the benefits it will bring, or as an attempt to barter a favor from God. Selfish sacrifice is detrimental to spiritual growth.
13. "Tamasic persons offer up empty sacrifice devoid of solemnity, without any solemn earnestness, lacking even the proper mantras (chants) or rituals - with no faith whatsoever.......................................
On seeking help for spiritual purposes.
http://saidivineinspirations.blogspot.com/
"You should not collect money in devious ways even for good causes. Help should come from pious hearts, from well earned money, from persons who know and appreciate the purpose, for which they give. Let each one give out of the fullness of his heart, on his own initiative, whatever he can give gladly, after studying well the cause.
Your duty is only to inform, not persuade; begging, for the sake of work which is inherently good, is an insult, to human nature; the man who asks and the man who is asked, both are demeaned....
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"begging, for the sake of work which is inherently good, is an insult, to human nature."
LIBERATION THROUGH KNOWING, ACTING, AND LOVING
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26328
CHAPTER 18
LIBERATION THROUGH
KNOWING, ACTING, AND LOVING
(Moksha Sanyasa Yoga)
"Give Me your whole heart."
1. Arjuna asks, "Krishna, Divine One, what is the difference between sanyasa and tyaga? Since both words mean renunciation, how does the one differ from the other?"
2. Krishna answers, "The sages say that giving up selfish actions (sanyasa) is one kind of renunciation, and abandoning and relinquishing the fruits of actions (tyaga) is another kind of renunciation.
3. "Some sages assert that one should give up all actions because, being worldly actions, they all have a tinge of the impure, the not-Real in them. Others declare that one should continue certain actions, namely the three highest kinds : sacrifice, purification, and charity.
4. "Listen, Arjuna, while I give you the truth. Both terms, sanyasa and tyaga mean renunciation. Renunciation is not a negative process, but rather the positive act of giving up. We are surrounded by examples of this in nature : the sun constantly giving up its heat and light to foster life; a ripened fruit abandoning its parent tree; the mother giving birth to the baby she carried for so long; students leaving school upon graduation; and grandest of all, the individual soul abandoning worldly entanglements to join Me, the Divine.
5. "The 'renunciations' we have already considered, sacrifice, purification, and charity, are the three highest of human activities. You should never give them up. They all are methods of removing impurities for those who understand them - and purity is absolutely necessary to move Godward, which, as I have made clear so often, is the goal.
6. "Also, as I explained, you have to selflessly perform these three high activities with no attachment or desire. It is essential to know this. The cow is sacred because of her selfless gift of her milk, which becomes the strength of life in other beings. Yogis and sages contribute to the purity of the world by giving, not by amassing. This, as I said, is the essential law that governs life at the spiritual level.
7. "Indeed, the scriptures proclaim that the sacred acts of sacrifice, purification, and charity are obligatory and should be performed as long as the body lasts. Those who, through ignorance, do not perform them are tamasic.
8. "To avoid these sacred duties out of fear or aversion to physical discomfort is rajasic. No spiritual benefit will accrue to that person.
9. "But when one engages in these activities for duty's sake alone, without attachment, with no desire for any reward, then the action is sattvic. Calmness and purity are born of this attitude.
10. "Sattvic people, not plagued by doubt and aware of the True Self (Atma), are steady in their obligations. They neither shy from the disagreeable nor yearn for the pleasant. They just do.
11. "It is impossible, as I said, for a human being to fully be a renunciate (to give up all action) while still in the body. It simply cannot be done. But the person who detaches from the fruits of actions can be regarded as a genuine renunciate. True renunciation is relinquishing all desire for personal reward.
12. "Those still attached, who do things for selfish purposes, will reap their rewards in due season - either here or hereafter. Their accrued karma can be either bad, good, or mixed, depending on their actions.
"Being hurled into darkness to be reborn as a beast is an example of a reward for evil actions. Being born as a celestial being in heaven is an example of a reward for good actions. Taking birth as a human is an example of a mixed reward. But remember, Arjuna, those who renounce desire and attachment reap no consequences whatsoever of their actions, either in this world or the next....................................
Bhagawan Krishna speaks about the Divine Glories.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabane ... 3cTM5bTJuB (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26116;_ylc=X3oDMTM3cTM5bTJuB)
CHAPTER 10
THE DIVINE GLORIES
(Vibhuti Yoga)
"I am the silence of things secret, the wisdom of the wise."
1. Krishna speaks : "I notice, O Warrior, that your heart delights in My words of wisdom, so I will elaborate.
2. "Neither the gods nor the great sages really know My beginning. As I am the origin of them all, My glory remains only partially known to them. Like children who repeatedly ask about their parents' birth and childhood, they can never fully understand, no matter how much they inquire.
3. "Some wise ones intuit from glimpses and partial knowledge that I, the Supreme Godhead, am the source of all creation. Thus enlightened, they eagerly join their lives to Me and are freed from misdeeds.
4-5. "Certain godly attributes of ordinary humans are My creation. I am in all living beings as the following qualities : intellect, patience, wisdom (knowing Atma), peace of mind, self-restraint, control of ego, discrimination (distinguishing Real from not-Real), equanimity, nonharm to others, austerity (purification), self-discipline (tapas), charitable giving, and other positive traits. All these human refinements proceed from Divinity; all are aspects of God expressed in diverse ways.
6. "From My mind were born the seven great sages of antiquity, the four elders, and the fourteen officials (manus). The sages symbolize planes of consciousness; the elders stand for humanity's progenitors; the manus are symbolic of the group of administrators empowered to operate the universe. Everything issues from Me...........
Bhagawan speaks about experiencing Divinity
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabane ... nFuYnBmBF9 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26033;_ylc=X3oDMTM3dnFuYnBmBF9)
CHAPTER 7
BOTH KNOWING AND EXPERIENCING DIVINITY
(Jnana-Vijnana Yoga)
"I know every being past, present, and future,
but nobody knows Me completely."
1. Krishna says, "Let Me be very clear, Arjuna. It may seem impossible to you, but a mere human can indeed come to know God - not merely about God, but to really know God. Listen while I explain how to do that : Through devoting your whole mind to Divinity (Me), loving only Me, meditating on Me, and depending wholly on Me as your only refuge, you will, without any doubt, come to know Me in My entirety.
2. "For this, you will need both knowledge of Divinity (jnana) and wisdom of Divinity (vijnana). I will give these to you. The difference between them is this : one learns knowledge through the senses and mind - that is through sight and thinking; one gains wisdom through direct grasp, through insight and intuition. Knowledge 'knows' it at an intellectual level; wisdom 'realizes' it fully and is able to apply it in daily living. Once you combine both of these there is nothing more you need to know in this world.
3. "Only one person in many thousands seeks full God-knowledge. And of these, only one in many thousands truly gains it. Despite these odds, it is the intent of God that all beings are, in the fullness of time, destined to reach this degree of perfection. The rare ones who do attain this level of knowing become indistinguishable from Divinity (Me), and thus achieve liberation."
THE ESSENCE OF DIVINITY
4-5. "Listen closely and I will explain the essence of Divinity. First, know that I have two aspects, a lower and a higher. My lower self is the realm of nature (prakriti). According to the ancient system of knowing, this is comprised of eight basic components : earth, water, fire, air, ether (space), mind, intellect (higher mind, buddhi), and ego. Note that these basic components are arranged in ascending order from gross matter (physical and chemical elements) to the more subtle and refined : mind, intellect, and ego (which is the basic sense of being a physical self). And note that all eight of these components, even the very subtle ones, belong to prakriti, the cosmos, the world of nature.
"Beyond this world of nature I have a second higher aspect that is distinct from all of nature and yet interacts with it. This is My spiritual realm (Purusha). Purusha is the life force, the source of consciousness in all beings, and the animator of all life. This mysterious power supports and sustains the entire universe.
6. "The commingling of these two realms, nature (which is inert matter) and spirit (which is life consciousness), is the womb of all beings. Life itself originates in this union of nature and spirit. The entire universe evolves from these two aspects of Me, and will finally dissolve into Me.
7. "I am Pure Consciousness, Arjuna, the underlying essence of all elements and beings. Nothing whatsoever exists separate from My Divinity. There is no power in the cosmos that does not emanate from Me and belong to Me. The entire universe is suspended from Me as if I were the string in a necklace of jewels. The gems may differ vastly, but the force holding them all together, the central thread, is Me, Divinity.
8. "I am the innate nature of everything. In pure water I am the sweet taste. In the sun and moon I am the radiance. In the very center of human beings I live as virility and courage. I am the sacred word Om, which designates the Divine, and I am the sound of it heard throughout the universe.
9. "I am the slight, delicate scent, the sweet fragrance of the earth. I am the brilliance in both fire and sun. I am the light of Divinity in all beings. I am the subtle spirit in spiritual practices that gives them their existence - I am the love in the devotee, for example, or the austerity in the ascetic, or the sweet sense of charity in the giver.
10. "I am the primordial seed of all entities, the power of discrimination (buddhi) in those who are intelligent, the splendor within all resplendent beings and things.
11. "Of the strong, I am their might and vigor. As I am beyond all attachments, I am the power in unselfish desire. I am the subtle force in good actions that puts them........................................
Bhagawan Krishna speaks about royal knowledge.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26084
CHAPTER 9
ROYAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE KING OF SECRETS
(Rajavidya Rajaguhya Yoga)
"I accept with joy whatever I am offered in true devotion :
fruit or water, leaf or flower.
The gift is love, the dedication of your heart."
1-2. "Since you are so receptive, Arjuna, I will now reveal the most mysterious and profound secret. Having this knowledge will liberate you from the sorrows of worldly existence. This is the royal road of ultimate knowledge, the king of secrets - knowledge of both the visible and invisible Godhead. This is purifying knowledge, fully in accord with dharma (truth-based living). It is easy to practice and a joy to hold. Once you know this secret you cannot lose it.
3. "But those who lack faith in this doctrine will fail to find Me. To cynical people with trifling objections this secret is a closed book; they are compelled to return to the cycle of death and rebirth."
THE DIVINE MYSTERY UNVEILED.......................................... .........
Mr Sabhlok shares his understanding of God only in His impersonal form as described in some of the Vedas. We can find more decsription of God in other scriptures of the Vedas.
Spiritual Brothers and Sisters,
Subject: Brief Description of the Supreme Reality in Vedas.
A number of hymns in the Vedas describe God in details. A few hymns can be mentioned for proper understanding of Nirguna Brahma who is the Universal God. Rig Veda 6-15-13, 14 mentions that He is a pure illuminator, unifier, remover of all miseries, commands all to observe non-violence and other rules of righteousness, which are a-priori principles beyond any sense experiences. Rig-Veda 6-47-18 says that for each form, He is the Model. It is His Forms that are to be seen everywhere, in spiritual and material things. He exists in all animate and inanimate life/things but He is manifest in the human beings where He dwells in their hearts (Sama Veda 860). A similar description that He dwells in the human hearts is also there in Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bahgavatam and many other scriptues. Rig Veda 1-9-5, 6 mentions, “He is the Lord of knowledge, infinite wisdom and material wealth”. He pervades the matter and the whole space (A.V.19-20-2). All the four Vedas describe that He and His laws (Rta) are the same. Those who follow His laws and commandments can realise Him. He is unborn (ajo) and incarnation of God as a human being is not visualised (Y.V.34-53, 40-8 and A.V. 10-23-4). He lives within you and you live within Him as one of His tiny living cells. Baruch Spinoza also found a similar concept in his metaphysics.
The Vedic metaphysics contained in Upanishads tell us that He has no demand for rituals, ceremonies, material offerings, donations, blind, proxy and ostentatious worship but wants all the human beings to follow His laws to assist Him to maintain social, moral and physical order. Being omnipresent, temples, idols, icons are not His requirement. Our ignorance makes us to know Him through idols and not through His laws and Commandments. Thus all evils, corruption, bribery, naked selfishness and material desires are more rampant with people who do not follow His laws but try to find Him in idols/icons, places of pilgrimage etc. Majority of such persons even create pollution of all kinds, environmental hazards, social and economic tensions in society and thus knowingly or unwittingly go against His laws and tend to create social, moral and physical disorder.
To avoid worship through idols in temples, Vedas advise open discussions on religion, ethics, morality, divinity, soul, spirit and Prakrti in an assembly where all individuals are advised to participate. This august body in the Vedas is described as Vidhata. Being ineffable, He does not want the human beings to praise Him all the time about His attributes. As Sankracharya said, "even the words recoil to describe Him". Categories, quantity, quality, colour and words cannot explain Him. Thus Vedas give great importance that we should know and understand Him.
He is an impersonal God, impartial and Unmoved Mover but moves the universe in a wondrous design. There are a number of hymns relating to Rta-laws of God, which He observes and follows Himself sternly. He never breaks them and this result in equilibrium in the entire universe. There is a mention that even animals, birds, plants as well as all inanimate things follow these laws. The more you understand and love Him, the more you go away from ostentatious, blind and proxy worship of idols, icons and statues, ritualistic meditation and blind love of money. The inert matter starts disappearing and you start realising that all human beings are spiritual brothers and sisters. Vedic God has only blessings and mercy for all His creation and no curse for His creatures. If an individual is leading a miserable life of stress, it is his/her own creation as the individuals are their own greatest friends and their own enemies.
This brief description is from Chapter 8 of “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” available on Internet for on-line reading and even taking print at no-cost. "
The book is accessible through google.com or Yahoo.com or lulu.com as well as Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/. The book is also available in regular printed from through lulu.com.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
Bhagawan Krishna explains Divinity to Arjuna.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26058
CHAPTER 8
THE IMPERISHABLE GODHEAD
(Akshara Brahma Yoga)
"The point is not to hope for a good birth but to aim for a good death."
1-2. Arjuna says "Please wait a minute, Krishna. Your words raise several questions in me : Just what precisely is Brahman, the Supreme Godhead, and what is this Adhyatma you mentioned? And what is the essential nature of karma? What, really, are those other things you referred to - adhibhuta, adhidaiva, and adhiyajna? I know you alluded to them as spirits or deities who serve divine purposes, but what exactly do you mean? And how exactly are yogis united with the Godhead at the time of their death?"
3. Krishna obliges. "You have asked seven questions, Arjuna, some of them rather abstract. Time is running fast, the war faces us with open jaws, so listen closely. First, Brahman (the Godhead) is My absolute highest nature, vaster than whatever you call vast, omnipresent, immanent everywhere, the Imperishable (indestructible, undying, eternal) Divine.
"Next, the term Atma (or Adhyatma) is used to indicate the exact same vastness, the earliest Supreme Godhead existing in all individual beings. It cannot be known without great effort.
"Next, karma (here meaning action) refers in this context to My original vibrations, the initial actions that brought all creation into existence and keeps it going. (All beings are a part of this karma).
4. "The prefix adhi means the 'beginning' or 'first', the 'original'. It connects these terms directly with the all-pervasiveness of the primordial Godhead (Brahman). Adhibhuta pertains to the earliest, most initial Divinity that exists in the physical universe, and particularly in the elements and thoughts that comprise the individual. Adhidaiva refers to the primordial Divinity that dwells in the numerous lesser deities who, as My agents, operate an individual's body, mind, and senses. The eye is illumined by Surya the Sun god, the hand by Indra, and so forth. And the term adhiyajna refers to the earliest Divinity in the act of giving, the primordial spirit of selfless sacrifice that flows throughout creation.
"The point in all this is that Divinity is actually present throughout the universe, in every object, all creatures, and each individual being - and it always has been. Furthermore, this same Divinity exists within each and every activity that all these beings do in daily life - and it has been that way forever.
"Despite the fact that humanity finds numerous ways to separate God from the world, and despite the fact that everything in the world is perishable (including your body, I remind you), know that all of it is totally pervaded by the Imperishable Supreme Divine, which is Me."
HOW TO DIE...............
Bhagwan Krishna speaks with Arjuna about the path of love.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26159
CHAPTER 12
THE PATH OF LOVE
(Bhakti Yoga)
"I love the one who is beyond 'I' and 'mine',
unperturbed by pain and not elated by pleasure."
1. Arjuna speaks again : "My interest is aroused now but I have a question. You say that only by unswerving love and worship can a devotee attain oneness with God. But some worship the invisible, formless God (Nirguna Brahman) and others worship the visible God with form (Saguna Brahman). Which of these two aspects is easiest? Which will melt your heart more?"
2. Krishna answers, "I am pleased with either path, but worshiping Saguna Brahman, the one you can see, is right for you at this point, Arjuna. Setting your heart steadily on the visible aspect of Me and becoming saturated with devotion and faith will lead you quickly and surely to Me, the Godhead.
3-4. "As for those who worship Nirguna Brahman (God without form or name), if they truly subdue their senses, maintain a calm mind, and work for the good of all beings, they also come to Me. But realize, Arjuna, that Nirguna means not of nature; this Brahman is indefinable and unmanifested, invisible, not materialized. The senses therefore have no access to it, there is nothing to which it can be likened.
5. "Devotees of the nonmaterialized Godhead have steeper climb. It is extremely difficult for a person in a physical form to really understand the formless. Ordinary people identify themselves with their own physical body and cannot help but conceptualize God as also being in some sort of body. To deeply love the formless God one must be free from one's own body consciousness, and this state is not attainable by many.
"But keep in mind, Arjuna, that worshiping Divinity in a form will help for only a while. Those whose ultimate aim is full liberation must sooner or later give up attachment to the body. Without this, the Atma stage of spiritual development cannot be attained."
THE ORDER OF DEVOTION
6-7. "But know, Arjuna, that I quickly come to those who offer Me all their actions, set their minds on Me with unswerving devotion, worship Me as their dearest delight, and take Me as their one and only goal in life. Because they so dearly love Me, I save them from the sorrow of death and endless wave of rebirth.
8. "It is true that one is where one's mind is. So fix your mind on Me. Be absorbed in Me alone. Focus your devotion on Me. Still yourself in Me. Without a doubt you will then come and live within Me.
9. "If you are unable to become absorbed in Me, wean your mind away from the world and reach Me by constantly concentrating on Me. I know this may seem impossible, but as I said, the 'impossible' can be made possible through regular practice (abhyasa yoga).
10. "If you find that you are not disciplined enough to concentrate in this manner, transform all your worldly actions into worship. Do them for My sake. Turn your force of habit to your own advantage; make a habit of dedicating all your action to Divinity. In this way you become My instrument and your mind gradually becomes purified, which will lead you to Me.
11. "But if you cannot even do that, then pursue an alternative that is equally powerful. Take refuge in Me. Subdue your mind and give up desire for the fruits of your actions.
12. "Knowledge is better than mere performance of rituals. Meditation is better than knowledge. Abandoning the fruits of one's acts (tyaga), is better than meditation. Why? Because peace immediately follows the giving up of expectations."
THE MOST LOVED DEVOTEES............................
Bhagawan Krishna presence is everywhere for those who have eyes to see him. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabane ... QDMjYxNDA- (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26140;_ylc=X3oDMTM3bjhpamIyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycEl kAzEwMzM3OTgzBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA3NzA3NgRtc2dJZAMyN jE0MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyMDUxNjgyNTg EdHBjSWQDMjYxNDA-)
CHAPTER 11
THE COSMIC VISION
(Visvarupa Darsana Yoga)
"Everywhere I look, there You are."
1-2. Arjuna sighs, his eyes glistening. "Thank You, Krishna, for this wondrous revelation of Your glories; it has removed my delusion. Thank You for Your detailed account of the evolution and dissolution of beings, and for Your exquisite description of Your splendor.
3-4. "I now know that You are what You say You are, Divine One, but I would like to actually see You in Your true God form, rather than just this Krishna body. If appropriate, and if I am worthy, please show me now."
5-7. Krishna says, "You are worthy, Arjuna. I will have you behold millions of My shapes, forms, and colors, for naught exists outside Me. And I will have you see within Me the many classes of celestial beings and more marvels not previously revealed. And you will view the entire creation of animate and inanimate beings concentrated within the Cosmic Me, and witness whatever else your inner thoughts may bring."
A THOUSAND SUNS :
KRISHNA REVEALS HIS WONDROUS COSMIC FORM
8. "But you cannot perceive any of this with human eyes composed of natural elements and thus able to grasp only physical nature. I will have to grant you special eyes to see beyond that. So now, using divine vision, behold My Divine Cosmic Form.".......
Bhagawan Krishna speaks about his nature.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26255
CHAPTER 15
DEVOTION TO THE SUPREME SELF
(Purushottama Yoga)
"The one who grasps this great secret will become enlightened; all duties and missions in life and the goal of millions of years of evolution will have been achieved."
1. Krishna pauses as though carefully weighing his next words. "Arjuna, let us now briefly delve into certain profound and esoteric truths regarding My most exalted nature and the highest goal of all, reaching My dwelling place. I will approach it through an analogy.
"Prakriti, the world of matter, can be likened to the mythical Ashvatta tree, a giant, upside-down fig tree with its roots high in God and its branches stuck in the mud below. Like the aspen, its leaves are constantly shivering, always in movement; and like the banyan, it sends its branches downward toward the earth rather than upward - and those branches become firmly rooted in the earthly."
ASHVATTA, THE TREE OF WORLDLY LIFE
2. "The Ashvatta, referred to as the tree of worldly life, is comprised of higher branches, closer to God, and lower ones at the worldly level. The tree's buds and quaking leaves are likened to human senses, fed by the saplike powers of nature, the gunas. The downward branches, stuck deep, are attachments that bind the individual soul (jiva) to earthly existence. To understand the nature of this upside-down tree is to see the inverted way that humans perceive life.
3-4. "Although the origin and totality of this tree of worldly life may be beyond the ken of humanity, know that its branches stuck in the world must be cut by the ax of nonattachment. When you sever these attachments an attitude of sacred dispassion comes, which is the prerequisite for spiritual vision. Then, spiritual intuition supplants your usual seeing, and your whole spectacle of the universe undergoes a dramatic change.
"But cutting the root bonds is not enough. After the ax has done its work, you must seek the supreme goal of life, liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
5. "Nondeluded people who cleave off their ignorance (their unawareness of Atma) reach that Supreme Goal. When they are free of pride and have slashed their attachments, when they have dropped their craving for pleasure and aversion to pain, then these clear-seeing ones enter the light of the Supreme goal.
6. "That light is indeed bright beyond all light! Neither the sun, the moon, nor star, nor flash of lightning, nor fire lit on earth can shine in the self-luminescence of My realm. Once the individual soul achieves this ultimate enlightenment he or she is forever with Me and is never restored to a separate existence."
THE JIVA'S JOURNEY
The field and the knower of the field
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26199
ATTAINING LIBERATION NOW
(Part 3)
CHAPTER 13
THE FIELD AND ITS KNOWER :
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN MATTER AND SPIRIT
(Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga)
"When the body falls...
it is the spirit that remains standing."
1. Arjuna asks, "If Divinity is everything in the world, Krishna, then what is the difference between the world and Divinity? How can one distinguish between one's worldly body and godly soul? What is the difference between physical matter and the world of Spirit? And is there any benefit in learning this?"
Krishna responds, "These are important questions, Arjuna. When you know the true nature of the material world your grief is destroyed; when you understand the true nature of the Spirit, bliss is acquired.
"The term field denotes one's physical body and everything else in the material world. The Knower of the Field signifies the intelligent principle that resides in, but is not really a part of, the body and all matter. This indwelling intelligence is the mysterious entity within that is close enough to watch what goes on in the 'field' and yet stands somewhat separate from it. It is also referred to as soul, or Atma.
2. "Arjuna, I am the Knower of the Field, the Indweller in everybody and everything. I am the innermost Self, the soul, the Atma in all beings. The ability to discriminate between the field and its Knower is the utmost highest knowledge, as it requires a true understanding of both secular things and sacred knowing. So listen carefully."
THE FIELD
(PRAKRITI, THE WORLD OF NATURE)
Bhagawan Krishna speaks about beyond time and space.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26228
CHAPTER 14
GOING BEYOND THE THREE FORCES OF NATURE
(Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga)
"... beyond time, space, and circumstances to the place
where the mind is tranquil and ego disappears."
1. "Arjuna, I will now explain in more detail the very nature of nature (prakriti), and how the three gunas function within each individual's life. The term guna refers not only to the three properties of nature but also to the corresponding three underlying attitudes of mind that shape all human behavior. When you know these secrets, you possess the spiritual wisdom that can take you beyond birth and death. Through this wisdom the sages were guided to supreme perfection.
2. In fact, those who live by this wisdom definitely unite with Me and will not have to be reborn even when the cosmos is recreated at the dawn of a cycle.
3. "It is I who instills the seed of all births into the vast womb of nature (prakriti). Nature in turn gives birth to the infinitely diverse temperaments of all creatures.
4. "Everything that is born, Arjuna, comes from this subtle union of Spirit and nature. Whatever forms are produced in any of the wombs of the universe, know that My nature (prakriti) is the cosmic mother of all creation, and that I am the seed-giving father."
GUNAS, THE THREE STRANDS OF NATURE.....................
Understanding the Gita from the heart
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-06T06%3A00%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 1
THE BHAGAVAD GITA
(A Walkthrough For Westerners)
TIMELESS, PURE TRUTH
"You have to read the Gita through your heart."
To read The Bhagavad Gita is to swing back and forth smoothly between the head and heart, between the worldly and the spiritual, arching between gaining knowledge and applying it in today's real world. In this swing from humanness to godliness lies the Gita's secret penetrating power, its ability to lift and move us.
"The year is 3141 B.C.E. Arjuna, an esteemed warrior-prince at the height of his powers, the greatest man of action of his time, is readying to go into battle. It is a righteous fight to regain a kingdom rightfully his. All his life he has been a courageous, successful achiever, renowned for prowess in combat. But now, on the eve of the biggest clash of his career, an odd thing happens. His hands begin to shake. Arjuna is in his magnificent war chariot pulled by four white steeds. The chariot driver, Arjuna's best friend from boyhood, is Krishna, an Avatar, an incarnation of divinity on earth. Arjuna, who doesn't really understand Krishna's divinity, has directed him to drive the chariot into the center of the plain where the great battle is soon to begin. The opposing armies have gathered on each side. It is an epic scene : two lone figures parked between the legions of good and evil; masses of soldiers, tents, cook fires, neighing horses, banners snapping in the early afternoon breeze; the bustle, noises, and smells of pre-battle filling the air. Arjuna's eyes scan the opposing forces, pausing on former friends, revered uncles, teachers who taught him his warrior skills. All are bravely making ready for the mutual slaughter. He slumps, breathes heavily, and looks quizzically at Krishna......................................
Bhagawan Krishan speaks about knowledge and overcoming ignorance.
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A29%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
CHAPTER 2
THE PATH OF KNOWLEDGE
(Sankhya Yoga)
"... the cessation of your pain and sorrow will depend on how well you overcome your ignorance of your True Self that lives within you."
1. Arjuna's eyes were burning with tears of compassion and confusion. The blind old king was rejoicing, thinking an easy victory was at hand. Sanjaya continued his straightforward report of the distant battlefield :
2. As Krishna watches the once-brave warrior prince plunge into pitiable weakness He normally soft eyes become steely, and He speaks. "Arjuna, where does all this despair come from? This egoistic self-indulgence at a time of crisis is shameful and unworthy of you. You are a highly evolved, cultured man who is supposed to live a truth-based life, a life of dharma. And yet your confused mind is unbalanced and would not know truth if it hit you over the head.
3. "I know you are astounded at My lack of commiseration, but you must not yield to this feebleness! Truth and right can never be obtained by the weak. You are a great warrior, a proven winner. Cast off this faint-heartedness. Stand up, O scorcher of enemies!"
4-5. Arjuna interrupts : "I can't believe you're telling me to fight!" He shakes his head as though trying to clear his mind. Krishna sits quietly. Arjuna breathes deeply and blurts, "How?" The word hangs in the air between them. "How?" he repeats, "How can I not be weak, Krishna? For me to attack Bhishma, who has been like a grandfather to me, and assault my beloved former teacher Drona, would be wrong! I should revere these elders, not shoot at them. I don't want a blood-smeared victory.
6. "If I kill them, I would not care to live, Krishna. It would be better to be killed myself. Ah," he mutters ruefully, "I don't know which way to turn. Either way winning or losing this battle, I lose."
ARJUNA BECOMES THE DISCIPLE,
KRISHNA THE DIVINE TEACHER.................................
"When you clarify your intellect through either contemplation or selfless action you get to realize the Atma. Both paths lead to realization of Self."
The LAw of Karma is explained by Bhagawan Krishna
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A20%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
CHAPTER 3
THE PATH OF ACTION
(Karma Yoga)
"Do your worldly duty, but without any attachment to it or desire for its fruit. Keep your mind always on the Divine... Make it as automatic as your breath or heartbeat."
1-2. Arjuna interrupts, "O Krishna, you're adding to my confusion! You imply that knowledge is greater than action, but then you push me to fight this awful war. Well, fighting is action! Please be clearer : Which path, knowledge or action, is right for me - which one will without a doubt bring me to the supreme goal?"
3. Krishna replies, "Over the many good years that we have been as close as brothers I have not made this totally clear to you, but now I will. Know that at the very beginning it was I who laid out both spiritual paths: knowledge and action. I establish the path of knowledge for the more contemplative person and the path of action for the busy, action-oriented person.
"Remember, Arjuna, true knowledge is knowing the Atma, the True Self Within. When you clarify your intellect through either contemplation or selfless action you get to realize the Atma. Both paths lead to realization of Self.
4-5. "Those who merely shirk worldly activities, thinking they are 'renouncing' action, cannot attain the Supreme goal. You first have to act. Mere refusal to act is futile. Even the supposedly 'passive' goal of clarifying the intellect and acquiring knowledge cannot be achieved without action. Look at nature. The fruit engaged in its task of ripening does not 'renounce' its task and sever its connection to the tree until it is fully ripe. Indeed, Arjuna, inaction, for even a moment, is impossible. Eating, sleeping, breathing, the heartbeat, even subconscious mental activities - all are actions. Everyone is helplessly driven to action by their own nature and by nature itself. Action is inherent throughout nature. From the single whirling atom up to the entire universe, all is movement, action.
6. "If one sits motionless but with one's mind ever thinking of sense attractions, that too is engaging in action. If you think that merely being motionless is being actionless, you are being a hypocrite and deluding yourself.
7. "Engage in action, do your work, but with full control of your mind and senses. And be aware that the work you do should contribute in some way, directly or indirectly, to the higher good of humanity.
8. "One is obligated to work, to act, even to maintain one's body - bathing, eating, sleeping, breathing. So do your obligated duties, Arjuna. Duty-bound action is far better than inaction."
THE LAW OF SACRIFICE.....................................
All Paths lead to Bhagawan Krishan he says.
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A18%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
CHAPTER 4
INTEGRATING KNOWLEDGE, ACTION, AND RENUNCIATION
(Jnana-Karma-Sanyasa Yoga)
"Whatever path a person travels to Me is My path...
All paths lead to Me."
1. Krishna then says, "I taught these same eternal truths to Surya (the Sun God), Arjuna. He passed them on to his son Manu, the very earliest man, and he to his son Ikshvaku, who was the first king, so that he could better handle his worldly duties.
2-3. "Handed down in this way through the ages, eminent sages learned these great secrets. But through time, the right type of people became scarce, and the practice of this knowledge dwindled. I use the word secrets not because these truths are hidden but because so few people are prepared to hear them today. I'm giving these truths to you now, Arjuna, because I love you and you are worthy to receive this grace."
4. Arjuna looks puzzled, and interrupts, "But Krishna, how can a modern man instruct an ancient one? We have been close friends for many, many years, and I love you dearly, Krishna, but you are only five or six years older than I am. You were born ages, eons after Surya and those others. They are from a past so distant it is beyond imagination. Why do you say it was you who taught this in the beginning? And please don't just tell me it was you in an earlier life! That makes it even more strange."
5. Krishna laughs within Himself, knowing the right moment has come. "Arjuna," He says, "people say the sun rises and sets, but it does not 'rise' or 'set', it is merely out of their sight. I am like that. I am not born nor do I die, but ordinary mortals, seeing me 'coming' and 'going', think that I am born many times. For the sake of simplicity, let me say that you and I have both passed through many, many births. In this present lifetime you have forgotten them while I remember them all. I am aware of the continuity of My existence as Atma down through the countless ages, but you are unaware of your Atma, your lasting reality. That is the difference between us."
KRISHNA'S DECLARATION........................
"17. "Jnana-yogis, persons of wisdom (whom I previously referred to as Sthithaprajnas, Illumined Ones), cast out this ignorance of mind and thus erase past impurities. They ever fix their purified minds on Divinity and stay completely absorbed in the Divine, their one and only goal. In this way they merge into God and are freed from the birth-death cycle, never to be born again."
Krishna speaks about Jnana and Karma Yoga.
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A13%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
CHAPTER 5
CONTEMPLATING THE GOAL
(Sanyasa Yoga)
"Knowing this, you come to the place where all paths meet,
and you achieve lasting peace of mind."
1. Arjuna blurts out : "I've been listening carefully Krishna, but one moment you recommend the path of knowledge or contemplation (a sort of sanyasa yoga), and the next moment, the path of desireless action (karma yoga). These seem to conflict. Which one is definitely better for me?"
2. Krishna replies, "Both paths lead to the same goal, which is liberation (moksha). But karma yoga, the action path, is better for you, Arjuna, and for most people. Many spiritual seekers assume they should withdraw like a sanyasi (renunciate), and they may for a time be blessed with tranquility, but most often it is merely the ego masquerading as quietism.
3. "The person of selfless action (karma-yogi) who feels neither desire nor aversion and does not yearn for one thing or loathe another is the true 'renunciate'. What matters is not what you call yourself, but whether you escape your self-will (ego). With no ego you break free of karma.
4. "The uninformed think these two paths - renunciation (sanyasa yoga) and action (karma yoga) - lead to different results, but that is not true. They are essentially the same; compare them.
5. "Right knowing (jnana yoga) leads to right doing. Right doing (karma yoga) gives rise to right knowing. Take either path to the very end and they meet. At that place the contemplative seeker of knowledge greets the person of action, and they are both equally free from the cycle of birth and death. The person who knows this oneness of paths really knows the Truth."
THE ROLE OF ACTION (KARMA)
Bhagawan Krishan speaks about dyana yoga or taming of the mind in meditation.
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A10%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
CHAPTER 6
TAMING THE MIND AND SENSES
(Dhyana Yoga)
"... not simply to know God, but to literally become one with God! This is the profound plan and purpose of creation that is hidden from most people."
1. Krishna continues the dialogue : "The person who works in the world without needing or expecting a reward is both a sanyasi (true renunciate) and karma-yogi (action yogi). But the person who merely refrains from acting in the world is neither of these. You cannot just discard worldly duties, but must do them to the utmost extent of your human capacity for excellence.
2. "I repeat, Arjuna, nobody can really become one with the Godhead without leaving their desires behind and abandoning their attachment to the fruits of their actions. The paths of desireless action (karma yoga) and renunciation (sanyasa) may seem to be different from one another but they are not. All spiritual growth is based on surrendering attachments and selfish motives.
3. "The path for those who are climbing to spiritual heights in selfless action (karma yoga). For those who have made the summit (union with God), deep serenity and absence of thought is their way.
4. "God cannot be perceived in the mental ferment of the worldly. You have to blot out thoughts of the world. When you are no longer attached to performing action and have eliminated any desires for worldly things, only then will you have climbed to the highest state of yoga (which again is union with Divinity).
5-6. "I must emphasize, Arjuna, that you have to lift yourself by your own efforts! You must not allow yourself to be demeaned by your ego-self. Know that the self can be both friend and foe - a friend when used to conquer the mind, senses, and body; a foe when it drags one into the mind, senses, and body. True Self (Atma) is the ally; the ego-mind self is the enemy.
7. "The serene person who is absorbed in God, living thus in peace, is the true renunciate. Maintaining an even mind in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, honor and disgrace marks the spiritually mature. Maintaining physical, mental, and intellectual balance no matter how difficult the challenge leads to permanent cheerfulness, which is the sure sign of a yogi. (Recall, a true yogi is not a spiritual recluse, but a godly person of discipline who lives fully in the world.)
8. "The person who knows the Atma has conquered the senses and is calm under all circumstances - that person has climbed to the summit of human consciousness. That yogi considers a clod of mud, a stone, or a gold nugget with the same equal-mindedness. Worldly people pursue earthly things; godly ones pursue only the Divine.
9. "The yogi who looks with the same eye upon saints or sinners, relatives or strangers, friends or foes, well-wishers or even those wishing harm is indeed supreme."
THE METHOD OF MEDITATION..................................
This version of the eighteen chapters of the Holy Gita is presented below as laid out by Dr Jack Hawley. Dr. Hawley is also the author of Reawakening the Spirit in Work: The Power of Dharmic Management.
Chapter 1
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/2008/02 ... ita-1.html (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/2008/02/bhagavad-gita-1.html)
Chapter 2
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A29%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 3
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A20%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 4
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A18%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 5
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A13%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 6
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search? ... -results=1 (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-20T18%3A10%3A00%2B08%3A00&max-results=1)
Chapter 7
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26033
Chapter 8
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26058
Chapter 9
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26084
Chapter 10
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26116
Chapter 11
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26140
Chapter 12
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26159
Chapter 13
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26199
Chapter 14
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26228
Chapter 15
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26255
Chapter 16
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26281
Chapter 17
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26310
Chapter 18
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26328
Epilogue
http://saimessages.blogspot.com/2008/02 ... ita-1.html (http://saimessages.blogspot.com/2008/02/bhagavad-gita-1.html)
Dear Seekers of Vedic Knowledge,
What our ancient heritage and scriptures of the Vedas say about physical sciences, role of scientists (ashvinaus) and scientific temper, a brief note is given below.
To get a feel of Vedic physical sciences, reference to a few hymns are given. The Sun never sets or rises and it is the earth, which rotates (Sama Veda121). The gravitational effect of solar system makes the earth stable (R.V.1-103-2, 1-115-4 and 5-81-2). The axle of the earth does not get rusted and the earth continues to revolve on its axle (R.V. 1-164-29). The science of Time and its subtle nature is described in (R.V.1-92-12 and 1-95-8). The need to study the properties of water, air and fire for discovering and manufacturing aircrafts, ships and other vehicles capable of moving in the firmament, land and water are mentioned in Rig Veda 1-3-1,2, 1-34-1, 1-140-1 and many other hymns.
Reference to infinite number of both gross and subtle atoms and the energy principle as spirit of God in each atom is given in R.V. 5-47-2 and Sama Veda 222. Atoms and sub atomic particles are not inert and have unsuspected vitality owing to this energy principle. Physical sciences relating to agriculture, medicine, astronomy mathematics particularly algebra, toxicology etc. are described in R.V.1-71-9, 4-57-5, Sama Veda 121 and many other hymns.
In the Vedas scientists are described as men and women of absolute self-control, truthful with scientific outlook and destroyers of miseries (R.V., 1-3-4). With the help of these scientists one could travel far on the earth and also in the sky through conveyances, which run and touch the middle region (R.V. 1-3-1, 6-22-2 and 1-22-2). Such scientists from both the sexes go across to distance places quickly like the mind and electricity (R.V. 1-71-9). In this hymn aircrafts and even space ships are hinted. These ashvinaus should be well versed in Physics, agricultural sciences (R.V. 4-57-5), medical sciences (R.V. 5-74-3), astronomy (S.V. 121) and other sciences. Ashvinaus have been advised to learn thoroughly about Prakrti (divine Nature), characteristics and various qualities of water, air, fire, electricity and heat and sound energy.
Other sciences mentioned are Toxicology and use of various kinds of medicines and drugs (R.V 1-191-14), science of Time (Kala vidya) that starts with dawn (Usha). R.V. 1-95-2, and 10, refers to use of time for mathematics. There is a mention of infrared rays, study of Algebra (Rekha di ganit vidya), sound as a medium of knowledge for various sciences, diseases like bile, cough, jaundice and others and their treatment etc. The relevant hymns in this regard are in Rig-Veda 1-185-2, 1-12-1, 2, 1-22-1 to 4, 1-2-3, 1-95-1, 1-101-1 and many others.
However, the greater emphasis is on the development of Scientific Temper amongst the members of Society with a view to curb spread of blind faith, hypocrisy, miracle and ostentatious worship of God. Thus the knowledge of Vedic sciences is meant to save the human beings from falling into an utter darkness as Isa Upanishad and the last chapter of Yajur Veda caution us. The unity in diversity is the message of Vedic physical and metaphysical sciences. While matter is the cause of diversity owing to three primordial subtle particles of purity, activity and passivity present in it, the spirit (jiva) provides the necessary unity.
The Vedas combine science with metaphysics and clearly mention that it is God who is the giver of knowledge of all sciences as "Sahstra sam " (R.V. 1-10-11). The scientists are advised to study cause and effect of all material elements and also how the objects are produced and there after utilize these properly (R.V. 5-47-3). By following these guidelines they can alleviate much suffering of the people (R.V. 5-77-4). Without the knowledge and practical application of physical sciences, it is not possible to eradicate poverty and attain prosperity (R.V. 1-34-1 to 5).
For more details on Vedic science and many other divine, spiritual and material Vedic subjects kindly see “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” available on Internet for on line reading and even taking print at no cost.
The website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics. Also the book can be accessed through google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com. Search for the book or Vedic Metaphysics.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
The four Ashramas or stages of life are explained in detail by Swami. The stage of Sanyasa is particularly interesting for me and conforms to my understanding of the ideal of life of the inerrant monk or Sadhu.
http://askbaba.helloyou.ch/prasnottarav ... ara03.html (http://askbaba.helloyou.ch/prasnottaravahini/prasnottara03.html)
The Four Asramas
Q. In this cosmos which is the human body, what is the best Dharma to follow? Which Asram is most conducive for that Dharma? How many Asrams are there in all?
A. There are four Asrams in all; if you know about them, you can yourselves decide which Asram you are to fulfil, examining your own achievement, progress and aptitude. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vaanaprastha and Sanyaasa are the four Asrams.
Q. Different explanations are given by different persons for the word Brahmacharya and the stage it denotes. I wish to know from you the real significance of that stage.
A. Very well. It is believed that all who have not become Grihasthas are entitled to be called Brahmacharis. This is very wrong. Only those who keep their minds away from the delusions of the world, who are constantly engaged in the thought of God, who do not see or hear light or merely entertaining stuff, who pursue good taste, who do not yield to joy or grief, who keep their mind, intelligence and self-consciousness in good trim by unremitting contemplation of the Brahmathathwa - only such deserve the name, Brahmachari.
Q. What exactly does Grihastha mean?
A. Being married and living with the wife and children do not constitute Grihastha Asrama as most people think. Without giving up the duties assigned to one's caste and status, the person has to treat all with equal consideration - kinsmen as well as others. He must be aware of the rights of the elders and the obligations of juniors; he has to be full of sympathy and willingness to help; he should treat with loving kindness all those who are dependent on him; he must grow wiser with each new experience of the world; he should acquaint himself with the Sastras and be alert to do Dharma and avoid Adharma; he must foster and protect his wife and children with a sense of responsibility; he has to trample down the Eight Egoisms, the conceit that develops from family, wealth, character, personal beauty, youth, scholarship, native place and even accomplishments in austerity. Conscious of the four goals of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, with no pride in material possessions though he might have them in large measure; utilising a portion of the day in the service of others; with no designs against any other household; himself deserving the trust of his wife and having a trusted wife, each understanding the other and having full faith in the other; such are the ways in which the Grihastha manifests.
Q. What, then, does Vaanaprastha mean?
A. At that stage, man feels that all dualities are untrue and baseless. He gives up all desires; drops all attachment to the world; dislikes living in crowded places; is anxious to achieve victory through Manthrajapa and so leads a life of austerity, eating only uncooked food, mostly fruits and leaves, in moderation; moves in the company of sages and maharshis; listens to their teachings and moves unfalteringly on the path of realising the Lord. The Vaanaprastha must get the approval of his wife when he moves out into solitude for the life of Sadhana and he must make sufficient provision for his children also. If however, the wife is willing to accompany him, he has to take her in his spiritual journey. They must hence forward live as brother and sister and not as husband-wife. Provided this new relationship is maintained, life in the home too can be transformed into Vaanaprastha. On the other hand, if the old life is continued, life in the forest does not constitute Vaanaprastha. The Vaanaprastha must not stay in the residences of married people. He must observe the vows prescribed for each season of the year. He has to brave the rain, the sun and the cold during the seasons. He must be vigilant against being drawn towards physical pleasures by fickleness of the mind. He must seek and find pleasure only in the contemplation of the Lord and in dwelling upon his Glory.
Q. What does Sanyaasa mean?
A. Sanyaasa is above and beyond all promptings of sensual and objective pleasure. The Sanyaasi deals with the contemplation of the Lord as the very breath of his life, an essential necessity always and at all places for sheer existence itself; he derives joy only from this contemplation. He knows that wealth and kinship, affection and attachment are all momentary and liable to decline and end. He discards the external reminders of even caste-status and samskaras like Upanayanam; he wears the ochre robe of the mendicant; he does not live in populous places; he lives on whatever little food he gets; he does not decry the place where he does not get food; he does not eat twice in the same place or sleep two days in succession in the same place; he even conquers the temptation to sleep and eat; he cares little for the rigours of the seasons; he is ever joyful and happy in the company of the Lord whom he invokes by his Dhyana.
Q. Nowadays, there are many ochre-robed people moving about as Sanyaasis. Are they all equipped with the disciplines mentioned by you now?
A. There is, of course, no paucity of people who are so equipped. But it is not possible to say that all are like that.
Q. There are many who, though Sanyaasis, establish Asramas and get themselves established in worldly affairs and worldly possessions and struggle for worldly pomp and power. What is to be said of these?
A. For genuine Sanyaasa and for detachment from all mental agitations, institutions like the Asramas you mention are great handicaps. For those who should give up all purposeful effort, the effort for the upkeep and progress of the Asrama is an obstacle in the path. I need not tell you by what name such Sanyaasis are to be called. I can only say they do not deserve the name, Sanyaasi.
Q. Swami, how can the growth of the Asramas, which help people like us to know the means of Liberation, be a bondage? And how can Asramas get on without money? I hope it is not wrong to accept help, voluntarily offered.
A. My dear fellow! It is theft if the lock is broken and valuables are taken away, or if they are removed through an opening made in a wall; it is theft, if by soft words in open daylight a person persuades you to part with your valuables. If a Sanyaasi casts his eyes on wealth, whatever the motive, it is harmful for his spiritual progress. He should cast all such tasks on some trustworthy devotee and be an unconcerned witness only. His duty is to see that the persons who seek Aasraya (Succour) are assured of spiritual help, not to help the Asrama to rise and prosper. The flames of desire to make the Asrama grow will rise into the bonfire of self-seeking egoism and burn out all that is commendable in the Sanyaasi, especially his Atmaananda. The fire will destroy not merely the Sanyaasi, but also those dependent on him for guidance. The feeling "I" and "Mine" are such destruction-causing sparks. Man must attach himself to guides who are devoid of these. But once the Asrama becomes the prime factor, the so-called "guide" has to attach himself to men! It should be the other way. He must not be dependent on the world; he must be free from all dependence. That is the mark of the Sanyaasi.
Dear spiritual brothers and sisters –seekers of Vedic knowledge,
Subject: Prayers in Vedas for Social Welfare.
Vedas have many kind of prayers to 33 devas/devis (formless beings of light and forces of divine Nature) like Mother Hymn Gayatri mantra (prayer to Savitar Deva- for bestowing us knowledge), prayer for immortality (mrityu ma amritam), peace prayer (shanti raapa, shanti prithvi...) and many others. The scientific belief in One ineffable, formless and nameless God who has been given some name by learned persons, help in creating peace every where- peace in the sky, peace in the atmosphere, peace on the earth, peace in plants, animals, human beings and water (Yajur Veda 36-17).
Let the peace itself be peaceful. This is the most famous peace prayer to God as Shanti Path in the Vedas. As to ma sad gramye, tamso ma jyoti gamaye, mrityu ma amritam (lead me from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light and from death to immortality/unreal to real). Brihadarnayaka Upanishad.
However, for the seekers of Vedic knowledge, a few prayers relating to welfare of society/mankind are given below.
These prayers aim at “We should not be silent spectators to sin”. Express justifiable anger on the basis of non violence of the strong (like divine Nature-Prakrti, which is extremely strong and largely non violent) about major spiritual, social, political, economic, environmental issues.
RV 1-97-8 has a Prayer to Manyu deva and Agni deva on WRATH “give us power not to become insensitive and silent spectators to social and moral evils and bestow us necessary wrath to fight against these evils”.
"O, God give me wrath against social criminals and non divine people (avarnas) and wake me up from the deep slumber of insensitivity." Rig Veda
2. “May we look upon all beings with friendly eyes, so that there is sanjna (friendship) among people of a state and different states of the world” R.V X-91- 2 to 4, A.V 6-64-1 to 3 and Yajur Veda 36-8.
Rig Veda 1-24-15 clearly says that by following RTA (cosmic laws of necessity for social welfare), you remain away from misery and get bliss. There is also a prayer in Rig Veda 1-25-1," O, merciful God, be kind to us as we violate your laws, knowingly and unknowingly day after day." Obviously this simple prayer is a reminder to the men and women to start knowing, understanding and following these Rta (laws) for their own interest as well as for the interest of the entire man kind and other animate life.
Vedic metaphysicists have found that having created these laws, God Himself follows them sternly, lest a cosmic disorder or chaos may result in the destruction of the Universe. These metaphysical thoughts are also contained in Bhagavad-Gita where lord Krishna says, “If I (as formless and ineffable God) cease to act, these worlds will perish, I should be the author of confusion and cause of destruction of these people (B.G 3-24).
The book “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” on Internet has many other prayers mentioned in all the four Vedas. It can be accessed through google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com or directly through Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics . Kindly render a divine social service and inform this Website for online reading/taking print at no cost, to all those who are seekers of Vedic knowledge.
With kind regards,
Your spiritual bother
P.K.Sabhlok
Dear Seekers of Vedic Knowledge,
Subject- Institution of MARRIAGE in Vedas
A few relevant Mantras/Hymns/Riks in regard to marriage in the Vedas are mentioned below
Rig-Veda says, "Wife is verily a home" (1-66-5, 1-77-3 and 3-54-4). After marriage the girl can attend and address Vidhata and Sabha and should conduct as per Rta and Dharma (Rig Veda 10-85-26 to 42 and 47. AV. 14-1-20, 22. 14-2-64, 71). She is the mistress and ruler of the house. Virtuous, noble, educated wife of an unimpeachable character and conducts devoted to her husband with body mind and soul enjoy the highest bliss.
Atharva Veda 14-1-20 enjoins the wife to go to husband's place and become the mistress of the house. However, for those who do not have faith in the permanent truths and commandments of the Vedas and prefer to follow non divine vocations by resorting to bribery, magic, miracles, adulteration of food, the Vedic metaphysics is silent about the marriage institution for them.
Rig-Veda 6-64-6 says, at the time of marriage the woman should preferably choose a man who likes her most and is delighted to see her. Parents should give freedom to the young girl to choose her life partner through the institution of Svayamvara, which literally means self choosing of a husband (R.V 5-47-6 and 1-71-8).
The path- finders found highly ethical and divine principles in regard to the institution of marriage. God is present when sex is resorted to for the purposes of procreation only in socially recognised marriages. A number of socially recognised marriages have been mentioned. Love marriage is considered superior to arranged marriage.
Parents should encourage those young men and women who love each other and want to get married. This kind of Marriage is Brahma Vivah (marriage blessed by God). There is no mention anywhere that marriages should be within the same Varna. More emphasis is on the same level of intelligence, ability and the proficiency in Vedic education. Both degree holders should preferably marry each other but their children could be assigned different Varna based on merit, aptitude and capacity. There is no mention of 4 Varnas (Brahamin, Kshatriya, Vaisha and Shudra) by birth in the Vedas.
Marriages arranged by parents are also contemplated. However, the institution of svayamvara where the bridegroom has to fulfill certain conditions of expertise, strength, power, knowledge etc., is to be fulfilled as prescribed by the parents of the bride, before finally getting married. This clearly shows the great importance Vedic rsis and munnies gave to women.
No dowry system is mentioned anywhere. Vedas leave no doubt those male female relationships are more on the principle of co-equal relationship of the cosmos i.e. between Purusha (the Supreme Reality) and Prakrti (Supreme Mother) and thus provide divinity and sanctity to the institution of marriage.
For more details on Marriage, Varnas, Ideal Vedic Society, kindly refer to Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics available on Internet for online reading/taking print at no cost. Website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics. The book is also accessible through Google.com.Yahoo.com and lulu.com. Search for Vedic Metaphysics.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
Dear Spiritual brothers and sisters,
Subject Vedic Prakrti- Divine Nature- Our Supreme Mother
Rig Veda 3-55-14 describes divine Nature (Prakrti) as our Supreme Mother
being manifestation of ineffable and formless God. Prakrti is that living
power through which all subtle and gross matter like subtle primordial
matter of Satvic, Rajasic and Tamsic gunas and gross sub-atomic particles,
atoms and elements are formed. Thus Prakrti is both subtle invisible cosmos
and gross universe. Yajur Veda 18-30 describes Earth as our adorable benign
Mother. She is as soft as wool and is like a milch cow which does not kick
(Rig Veda 5-44-11, 10-5-7). Prakrti is Matar- mother element being material
cause and formless God is Pitar (A.V X1-1-23).
Prakrti is the Cosmic Energy and working of God behind which divine Reality
is hidden. Prakrti creates a dazzling Golden Disc called MAYA –Vedic
Phantasmagoria and hides the Supreme Reality. To find the Supreme Reality
She provides a Book of Nature containing cosmic laws of necessity (RTA)
which even blind persons, animals etc., can also read. Only those who follow
the laws of necessity (cosmic laws of Nature) can cross the dazzling Golden
Disc Maya and reach a stage when they can say “Aham Brhama Asi”-I am Brahma
as God lives in us and we live in God.
Prakrti has 33 forces of Nature
described as Devas (beings of light) like Indra, Agni, Varun, Savitar etc.
These 33 Devas do not have any human form. The sum total of attributes of 33
Devas is the thousands of attributes of Prakrti. Thus Brahma is ineffable
(Nirguna) and Prakrti is effable (Saguna). Being cosmic Energy of God sum
total of energy remains constant in the gross Universe and subtle/invisible
Cosmos. Prakrti brings forth the whole creation under His supervision.
The above very brief description of Vedic Prakrti is from the Book “Glimpses
of Vedic Metaphysics” available on the Internet for on-line reading and
taking print, if necessary at no cost. It is available through search Engine
of google.com and yahoo.com (search for Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics) as
well as on Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/
The other Chapters are Vedic Society, Vedic Science, Cosmic Laws of Nature
(Rta), Maya-the Vedic Phantasmagoria and others.
Based on the questions/suggestions of spiritual Brothers and Sisters the
book is updated periodically without deviating from the metaphysics
contained therein i.e. Upanishadic part of Vedas.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
How Vedic knowledge fits in with the observance of preserving our environment. Let us observe earth day with love.
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_ ... an_god.htm (http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01OCT06/veda_musings_man_god.htm)
For a reflection on earth day.
MAN, SOCIETY, NATURE AND GOD – THE VEDIC VIEW
By Prof. G Venkataraman
"Loving Sai Ram and greetings from Prashanti Nilayam. This is my ninth talk (the article below is the transcript of a talk on Radiosai) in the Veda Walkthrough series, and in my previous talks, I have attempted to give a reasonable, broad-brush overview of the Vedas. In this talk, I wish to consider some matters that highlight how important and relevant the Vedas are to modern times also. In presenting my views, I shall closely follow two important leads given by Swami.
Sacrifice Leads Us to the Goal
Many of you, I am sure, have heard Swami say from time to time that merely by chanting the Vedas, one cannot attain Immortality and that sacrifice alone can lead to that goal. This would be the first of the two leads I shall take from Swami. The second concerns the hierarchy in Creation. As Swami puts it, the hierarchy is: the Individual, Society, Nature and finally God. The words that Swami actually uses are: Vyashti, Samashti, Srishti, and Parameshti. In short, in this talk, I shall focus on (1) how man must make sacrifice an important aspect of his life, and (2) how man must, especially in today’s world, pay careful attention to the inter-linkages in Creation.
Let me start with sacrifice. No doubt I have already said something on this subject in my last talk, but I wish to add something more now. The word sacrifice as used in English has a slightly bitter flavour, because sacrifice implies giving up something that we like very much. However, there are other angles, spiritual angles to be explicit, and that is what I would like to stress.
Sacrifice Enhances Purity
Swami often says in His Discourses – and I am paraphrasing His words here –“I don’t want you to give up your job, position, wealth, family, etc., for Me. All I want you to do when you come here is to offer your bad habits to Me. If you are a smoker, just say, ‘Baba, I give up my smoking habit for You.’ That is the sacrifice I want. Now when you give up smoking, do you lose anything? Nothing; on the other hand, you gain health. What you are losing if anything is your attachment to a bad habit – that is all.”
You see how nicely Swami puts it. In the Vedic context, the word sacrifice always goes hand in hand with something good and even sublime; and sacrifice always enhances purity. Thus, as Swami says, the scriptures ask you to sacrifice so that you grow in purity.
OK, let us say that we have a person who, out of Love for Swami, gives up all his undesirable habits one by one. He grows in purity and is now a good man. Does sacrifice come to a stop? Not quite; it continues. Only, sacrifice is now made in a different spirit, so different that one no longer even thinks of it as sacrifice. This may sound a bit confusing and so let me add a few words of explanation.
The Dual Nature of Sacrifice
You see, in the Vedic world the word sacrifice is used in two distinct senses. The first is in terms of giving up something to which one is very attached, including bad habits. The other meaning given to the word sacrifice is OFFERING. Thus, when a person becomes good by giving up all bad habits to God, he now starts offering to God something good. He offers to God the food he has cooked, he offers poems he has written, he offers songs he has composed, and so on.
In short, sacrifice becomes a non-stop process in which the devotee, swept by his love for God, keeps on making offerings to God. In the beginning, he offers bad habits. When he has run out of bad habits, he makes noble offerings to God. All offerings, both the bad habits and the noble actions, please God because they are all done with the same motive, namely to please God. God is pleased when we offer our bad habits to Him, because that is a signal that we are trying to improve ourselves. He is equally pleased when we offer our creations to Him, because that is a sign that we acknowledge our creativity to Him. I hope all this is clear!
Sacrifice, the Vedic seers understood, was not an open-ended or a one-way street. Rather, it was a loop; you sacrifice for others and others then sacrifice to sustain you. Here of course, the word sacrifice is to be understood in a larger sense – not just that of giving up, but making an offering, not only in material terms but in spiritual terms.
Let us take the Sun. Everyone including atheists, would agree that if the Sun were not there we too would not exist. Whether we like it or not, it is the Sun that sustains life on earth. The Sun sustains life literally by burning itself out, that is to say, by sustaining a nuclear fire deep within and pouring out massive amounts of energy. Now one might argue,
“Listen, the Sun is an inanimate object. It burns because of the laws of Nature. That is what it is programmed to do. Thus, there can be no question of the Sun sacrificing for you and me. After all, there are billions of other stars in our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Every one of these billions of stars burns just like our Sun. Most of these stars do not have satellite planets, and therefore they do not sustain any life. So where is the question of sacrifice? And where is the question of being grateful to the Sun?”
This is precisely the way in which most atheists of today would argue and I have heard such arguments in plenty. They are high sounding and very appealing to so-called intellectual minds. Often the people who make such arguments are high-profile people, and many, especially the young, tend to imitate them. The net result is that ego runs amuck; and when ego runs amuck, you can bet there would be nothing but disaster. Returning to the question of the Sun, what do we offer in return? We can always offer gratitude. But do we do that?
Man’s Equation with Society and Nature – The Vedic View
Let me now move on to the other aspect of Vedic thought, namely man’s equation with Society and Nature. Swami says that anything that man does must not harm Society, must not disturb Nature in any way, and finally must not go against God. Since God is the Creator of both the Universe and man, it follows, that man must be in harmony with both Society and Nature, both of which are parts or components of Creation. I have already commented on this point in my previous talk, but like the subject of sacrifice, this topic too needs to be underscored further.
Earlier I pointed out that in the Purusha Sukhtam, Society is clearly and explicitly identified with God. I personally find this to be a remarkable identification, especially considering the fact that thousands of years ago not only was the population of the earth very small, but, in addition, there was really no worthwhile means of transport or communications that could bring different segments of the population together easily, as is possible these days.
If Society is God, then it automatically follows that one should not do anything that is against the interests of Society. Supposing, for the sake of argument, one had done this in Vedic times, that is, going against God; in spite of it, the impact on Society in those days would mostly have been minimal. Nevertheless, this concern for the impact of one’s actions on Society was very much there. Taking all these points into account, I feel the Vedic view in this matter was a very far-sighted approach.
Consider, for example, the remark made by Arjuna to Krishna about the futility of war. He says,
With the destruction of the family perish the age-old traditions. And virtue having been lost, vice seizes the entire race.
What Arjuna is implying is that when men are killed in tens of thousands, families would be left without heads, and this would cause all kinds of problems. Children would be fatherless and become undisciplined, while women may take to vice to sustain themselves. In other words, war would destabilise Society in a big way. Just look at the conflicts raging now in different parts of the world. It becomes immediately clear that what Arjuna feared is actually happening these days. But who is bothered?
Wherever we turn, we not only see acts that destabilise Society, but also severely disturb Nature. Let me give some examples, starting with excessive consumerism.
Excessive Consumerism - Where does it lead to?
The business world is constantly compelling us through heavy advertisement to buy all sorts of things, a good many of which we do not really need. To illustrate my point, let me take the example of video games. First and foremost, video games are a huge distraction. These days when children have to study hard, video games keep many away from studies. As a result, children score low marks and that makes many things difficult for them. Next, thanks to the keeping-up-with-the-Jones syndrome, every time there is a new videogame, the parent is obliged to shell out money to keep his kids happy. As if this is not enough, the game machines themselves keep on changing with newer and newer frills added all the time, and this means more expenditure.
Apart from the disturbance caused to children, few realise that disposing off the obsolete game machines is a problem. Let us say fifty million of these machines have to be disposed off. Are you aware how much beryllium, lead, mercury and such poisonous stuff get thrown out into the environment? And do you know how hazardous this job of dismantling discarded electronic equipment is? By the way, a lot of this dismantling is done in India, Vietnam and China because labour is so cheap here. Thus, the videogame machines used in and discarded by the First World, end up in the Third World for dismantling!
Then again, take cars. The big companies, especially in overseas countries, want to sell lots and lots of cars in countries like India. In one sense of course this looks like a good idea – it makes transport easier, creates jobs, and so on. But look at the flip side. Firstly, every car adds to pollution. Next, thanks to our congested roads, accidents increase sharply. Of course the people selling cars would say, “Oh no, it’s not our fault, people must drive more carefully.” Those things are easily said but we must learn to live with ground realities. Thirdly, in a country like India where there is such a disparity in income, does it make sense for some to go around in a Roll Royce – yes, the Rolls has entered the Indian market again – when many don’t even have enough to eat? Is it at all decent? Is not such flaunting of wealth a vulgar display?
Then there is the print media. There are so many magazines. Every magazine needs paper for printing, and paper comes from trees. They may say paper can be recycled but I don’t think we do much of recycling in countries like India.
In effect, more printing means cutting more trees. Is that a good idea, especially when much of what gets printed is pure rubbish?
And then there is television. My God, this TV is pure poison. How much money is wasted on worthless TV. And how much electricity is consumed by this monster. Television keeps children away from the playground, spoils their eyes, and makes them obese not merely due to lack of exercise but by driving them to consume soft drinks full of sugar and eat fatty food. There is a strong correlation between the advent of TV and the increase in child obesity and juvenile diabetes.......................................... ........."
Continued from above.
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_ ... an_god.htm
"From Man, to Society, to Nature, then God
"Let me now go back to the hierarchy that I referred to earlier and say something more about it. Swami says that man is a limb of Society, Society is a limb of Nature and Nature is a limb of God. This is like saying the finger is a part of the hand, the hand is a part of the forearm, the forearm is a part of the total arm which is a part of the body. Now would the finger deliberately try to harm the body? No way. That being the case, why should man, who is a limb of Society do things that harm Society, and Nature? He really should not and if he did, it would not only be an irresponsible act but also a criminal one.
Here we must appreciate an important point stated by Sri Krishna in the Gita. He says in effect that the whole Universe is heavily interconnected, and every entity in some way or the other depends on other entities. Further, all entities give and all entities also receive. I have pointed all this out in one of my earlier talks.
It so happens that in God’s scheme of things, all entities except man are programmed to do what they are supposed to do. Thus they receive and also give. But man is different – he can either do what he is supposed to do or refrain from doing so. In other words, man will certainly accept but duck from giving.
Sri Krishna says that while man may have such freedom to do or not to do, to refrain from discharging one’s duty is a sin. Once man commits a sin, he also has to pay for it – there is no getting away with it.
Few these days realise how important it is for everyone to discharge his or her duties properly. The Gita is all about doing one’s duty properly and in the right spirit. Indeed, until recently, the concept of duty was understood the world over. Thus it is that Lord Nelson famously said, “England expects every man to do his duty.”
Somehow, these days few understand how vital the discharge of one’s duty is. Railways, airlines, hospitals, schools – all such institutions would not run if the people employed there abandoned their duties. By way of stressing this, Swami said in Delhi in March of 1999 that service does not mean sweeping the village streets but doing one’s duty properly.
Today in India, it is often said that if one tax rupee is spent for public purposes, only about one tenth of it actually reaches the public – the rest of it gets wasted or swallowed on the way. This is appalling but true. People ask: “How is this happening in a land where the Avatars have repeatedly taken birth? Whatever happened to Sathya, Dharma, etc?” The answer is simple. In the name of progress, we have cleverly packaged devotion into watertight compartments. We still perform worship etc., sometimes painstakingly. We also go regularly to temples, offer token charity, and so on. We offer flowers and fruits to God. We go on pilgrimages and take dips in holy rivers. But is this what God wants? I would like you to recall a bhajan which begins with the words: Deena dukhiyon se prem karo, mera Sai prasanna hoga. Meaning, 'show love to the poor and forlorn and my Sai will be pleased'.
Yes, Sai will be pleased if we see God everywhere and offer love to Him in some manner or the other. Take the Vedic attitude toward work. The musician worshipped his instruments, the carpenter worshipped his instruments. Before starting on a task, the person said reverentially, Tasmai namaha karmane, meaning, 'I offer my obeisance to work'. Work was regarded as worship and not something to be shirked."
Portion of an interview between Baba and Dr. John Hislop. Baba is indeed Veda Purusha, an embodiment of the Vedas.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/26714
H (HISLOP): What is duty to society?
SAI: Duty is the exercise of your freedom, but in such a way that you do not deny others their freedom. For example, a teacher's freedom to leave the classroom is dependent on his duty to teach the students. A politician's freedom to run for public office is dependant on his ability to serve the people.
H: Is duty to society universal and binding on every person?
SAI: If a man is living on spirit, he has no duty or obligation to society.
H: Living on spirit must be having total faith in God and total dependence on Him?
SAI: Faith in the Divine is single and cannot be gained by reason. Either there is or there is not faith. It can arise through sadhana…Why are people unhappy?
H: Because they are not fully surrendered to God.
SAI: That is overall. But what is the immediate reason? The reason is they do not live in the present. Young people think of the future. Old people think of the past. While you are here, do not think of the world, or the Sai Organization. Be only in the present. Think only of Swami and be happy.
Transcending Humanity to Realise Our Divinity
H: If the world is unique, no other place like it in the universe, then the destiny of its inhabitants must be likewise unique. What is the man's destiny?
SAI: Man's destiny is to return to his source, and merge into that source.
H: If the world is unique, perhaps it is an accident?
SAI: No, not an accident.
H : If there are no other beings in the universe comparable to man, their destinies must be different from the destiny of man?
SAI: No. All life has the same destiny, to merge into God, just as rain drops wherever they fall eventually merge with the sea, their source.
H: How is mankind different?
SAI: Only man has intellect and conscience. By means of these he may in full consciousness realize that he is the Divine. If a God, manifest with form, should fall, he would again have to seek human birth to again realize himself.
H: If the other being of the universe are lacking in conscience and intellect (Buddhi) then how can they realize their destiny?
SAI: They each have their own means of fulfilling destiny, just as man has his means. Man measures and judges by what he knows of himself. To man it seems impossible that beings could live in circumstances unlike his own. Whereas, in fact, countless beings live within the unimaginable heat of the sun; other multitudes live in the cold of ice. At this very point (Swami jamming his thumb down on the arms of the chair) there are countless multitudes of beings. There is life in every place throughout the cosmos. Wherever God is, there is life.
H: There seems to be something about Earth, life that is different in a different way. Swami, the Lord Himself, is giving pointed attention to life here. Is there any other place in the universe where Baba needs to give such pointed attention?
SAI: There is no life apart from God's "beingness". God is everywhere at all times. Man sees Him as an all-powerful being with human form, whereas to a frog He would appear to be a giant frog, and so on.
H: I still don't see how other beings realize their destiny, when they do not have the instruments of intellect and conscience.
SAI: Other beings do not worry about achieving their destiny. They live happily within nature. For example, fish live and sport in water without anxiety to be other than they are. Throughout the universe, beings achieve their own destiny through their own unique inherent nature. Only man transcends his humanity to self-consciously realize his divinity.
H: Swami, a question I am constantly asked and which I am unable to answer - that is, about UFO's, beings from other planets visiting us here. This is a big thing in the USA. Books are published, and there is all sort of verified evidence.
SAI: It is imagination only.
H: But Swami, there is evidence -- the metal of a crashed spacecraft in the hands of the Government. People are examined by qualified specialists and they are not inventing their experiences. When I tell questioners that it is all imagination, the persons who ask are unable to accept that answer.
SAI: Nevertheless, it is imagination. Imagination can project physical evidence. There is life in every place and those societies have their own cultures. They have no interest whatsoever in the Earth or about the Earth's society. They do not visit the Earth.
H: Then, Swami, I should reply to people that despite all evidence cited to the contrary that UFO's and alien visitors, the whole thing is a product of imagination and imagination only?
SAI: There is no problem. You can enjoy the praise.
H: But I do not, Swami. There is no person there to receive the praise. There is only a void there. No person is found.
SAI: You do not have to receive the praise. Regard it as part of the impersonal stream of happenings that you see.
H: That which I observe is not me.
SAI: Exactly.
H: When Swami said he would give me strong sight, what sight did he mean?
A Healing Gift
SAI: All sight. Physical sight and wisdom too. I will see that you are dependent on no one of either physical sight, or wisdom.
H: Swamiji, is there an encouraging word for her illness that I can tell Victoria?
SAI: (Baba, moving His hand, creates a lingam) See - this has two different halves. One half is for your eyes. The other half is for your wife's illness. There is nothing wrong with the body's mechanism. It is an infection only. Put a little water on the lingam and drink the water. Place a drop of the water in each eye also.
H: Swamiji, at this very moment, now, I abandon life, concepts and individuality -- I pray there will be no need for another birth.
SAI: Another birth is best for you.
H: No freedom yet!
SAI: Yes, another birth is best. In that you will get total, final Liberation.
H: But, Swami, I don't want to go through Youth again. Youth is not a good experience - it is dangerous and difficult.
SAI: It will be better life than this one. Don't waste time thinking of the future. Where is the lingam?
H: Here, Swami.
SAI: (Swami took the lingam and showed it to the others in the room: Then the lingam disappeared from Swami's hand and a Shakti-Siva symbol was there). Baba said, "This is the beginning and the end, very sacred. The base is Shakti and the remainder is Siva. Would you like the lingam or this?"
H: Swami, how can I choose? I don't know enough. (Then the Shakti-Siva symbol was gone, the lingam reappeared and Baba handed it back to me.)
SAI: You did not make up your mind. You waited too long.
H: Just before bringing forth the Shakti-Siva symbol, Baba asked me if I would prefer a large lingam. I replied, ‘I don't know, Swami, Swami knows what I need. He must decide.’ Then, after the Shakti-Siva was taken away from me, and after some further conversation with the other men present, there was a moment of silence. Then I said,
Swami, cannot I have both the lingam and the Shakti-Siva?
SAI: (Laughing and poking me on the forehead, Swami then said:) Both! You are greedy! (Then he settled back in his chair, smiling, then moved His hand and there again was the Shakti-Siva symbol. He held it out to me, smiling, and said): See, this is the wish-fulfilling tree - whatever you wish for you may have.
H: Swamiji, even though one finds himself much devoted, the intelligence still wants to understand.
SAI: When devotion grows intense, the wish to understand does not continue. There is no further wish to understand. There is only devotion. Body lasts for only a few days and there is only bliss, bliss on all sides, bliss only. One only, the Ocean of Bliss.
H: When, I turn attention inwards, a state is found where there is no God and no "I" can be found, no focus, no point. I see that this state exists from the earliest childhood memories and nothing has been learned or changed. What should be my next step?
SAI: That is very good. Just continue with that. No Hislop and no God. That state is called Samadhi. It is correct.
H: When I look at myself inside, just beyond the surface of consciousness, it seems to me that it is Swami there, not me.
Finding the Right Level
SAI: That is not permanent. It comes and goes. It will become steady. Then there is Swami only. In your talk to the foreigners yesterday, you confused people.
H: How is that, Swami?
SAI: You said ideas above their understanding. Then they would ask questions based on what you said, thus creating further confusion. Your understanding is very high; theirs is very low. They need to know Swami's teaching, not concepts above their understanding. Your replies have great value, but it is beyond them. You should evaluate the level of a group and tell Swami's teachings at their level.
H: But Swami, if I do not say what I understand, I feel that I am cheating them.
SAI: It is not the medicine they need. It is your medicine. They have need of Swami's teachings said in terms of their level.
H: Very well, Swami. I will do better next-time. But Swami, you are in this small room and the lecture hall is far away. In this room only these walls can be seen.
SAI: Yes, these walls only. But don't you know that Swami has a thousand ears, a thousand eyes? He hears and sees everything.
H: But in what aspect of Himself does Baba see all and hear all? Is it His aspect as Iswara?
SAI: Swami sees all and hears all as Universal Consciousness. (Note: The question-answer session which Swami was fully aware of as Universal Consciousness, hearing all questions and answers and knowing the reactions in the various minds, was some 300 yards away from the interview room in the Mandir).
H: (The following day) Swami, did I do any better with the Italians yesterday?
SAI: Yes, better. You spoke of Swami's teachings. One person was confused about what was said about Jesus, and there was a language problem.
H: Yes, Swami. Only the interpreter spoke English.
SAI: How many there?
H: I think about 60 people.
Note: Shed #25 where I met with the Italian group is a long distance from Swami’s room in the Mandir. There are multi-story residence buildings in between.
Pure Untainted Witnessing
H: Swami, liberation does not make much sense to me. What can be the value of that idea? There is always manifestation. If not the Hislop form, then some other form.
SAI: There is a conscious being; then consciousness- awareness universal. That is liberation.
H: Swami, as I watch, I see what it is to be conscious of experience moving across the field of being conscious of things - fear, pleasure, anger, events observed and events happening to me, but at the same time there is the watching of that, not affected by what is watched. But I wonder if all that is not just a division in the state of being conscious?
SAI: Yes, there can be a mixture. Watching mixed with consciousness, back and forth, mixed up. But there is also the pure untainted witnessing, and that itself is liberation.
H: Swami, the witnessing is by itself, not involved with the happening. Is it correct, then, to continue watching and seeing the witnessing as separate from experiencing?
SAI: Yes, that is good. That is the correct way. We will talk further about your sadhana.
(Sunday, Feb. 18, 1990, before Bhajans, about 8.10 a.m., Swami called me in with a new interpreter. As soon as we were seated I handed Swami three notes. The first was to ask about departure on the night plane to Bombay on Feb. 23. Flights were being cancelled and I wondered if I should leave a day early. Baba studied the note for a moment or so and then said that I should continue as originally planned. Next note said the Central office asked me to give a talk. Swami said to do so. Final note was to ask something in connection with Sri P.K. Suri, Convenor, Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, to which Swami replied, "Yes".
Balancing Discipline with Love
SAI: How are the American Sai Centres?
H: Slow, Swami. We should have 300 or 400 instead of just over 100.
SAI: One reason for the slow growth is that Hislop's discipline is too harsh. The Sai Organization works through softness, kindness, love and harmony. In America the people are outspoken with strong and often harsh ideas and opinions, and when they are confronted with an equally harsh ruling there is a confrontation and cessation of advancement and progress. Persuasion should be applied softly and with kindness. Before long the people will accept that and they will change and do as they should.
H: Swamiji, I do months of soft persuasion without effect; then I have to act with firmness.
SAI: That is because people see you in the disciplinary role and not as a spiritual leader. In America, the women are like the men. They face life with the same strong and harsh opinions as do the men. You have considerable spiritual power, long and broad experience in spiritual matters and you are a perfectionist in your devotion to Sai. This perfectionism is viewed as harshness by the devotees. You must modify so that people will see you as a spiritual man and as a spiritual leader, then they will agree to do the things that are essential for the Sai Organization.
When you apply discipline and are met with resistance it affects you. You feel depressed and your mind is agitated and worried. You are advancing in age and the depressed feeling and worried mind affect the body. The body suffers from this and gets older. Swami tells you the plain truth for your own good.
The identical situation arises in your house. Your wife is a spiritual lady with long and deep spiritual experience. She has a short temper and this temper and worry affect her health. You react to this and this adds to the factors which diminish your own health. All this does not affect your spiritual power which exists undiminished. You must resolve to be happy and not accept or tolerate worry and depression.
Because of your spiritual power, your long experience and your devotion to Sai, you are the senior devotee in America. Sai has absolute confidence in Hislop. There are some organizational matters?
H: Yes, Swami. Since I am held responsible, it is necessary that I have the authority to veto when needed, and act when needed.
SAI: You have the authority to say what is needed. Then use gentle, patient persuasion. In all matters concerning America, you can consult with responsible people there and see if general agreement can be reached. But you have the authority to say what you see to be correct.
Feb. 21, 1990 , Swami called me in with a group of devotees. When it became my turn for a few private words with Baba, He said:
SAI: You are a good devotee. Swami knows it, and so do you. Swami will take care of everything for you. Be happy. When are you leaving?
H: On the 23rd, at 11 a.m. Swami.
SAI: I will see you before then and give you special prasad for your wife.
- END OF THE BOOK -
Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides
Dear seekers of Vedic knowledge,
Finding the extreme utility of Vedic metaphysics I have drafted an article (Relevance of VEDAS to the present Age). Kindly peruse the following and add/delete/modify or even redraft so that we jointly improve the same and
Spread this message to mankind in the world through Internet, media, satsang/spiritual gatherings, talk on Vedas and other means. Message of Vedas is very clear Unite or Perish.
With kind regards,
Yours spiritual brother,
Prem Sabhlok.
Draft Article
Subject: Relevance of Vedas to the present Age
“Let noble thoughts come to from all sides” (Rig Veda)
With the spread of dreaded materialism based on sensate knowledge in many areas including, physical sciences, industry and even spirituality, a large number of people are running hither and thither to seek peace of mind. Taking full advantage of this wilderness, there is mushroom growth of dealers of hope and even cults throughout the world.
To help forging chaos into unity, there is a simpler and effective route to follow the Vedic metaphysic with its total perspectives. Vedas survey life in its entirety and their metaphysics is not other worldly but most suited for the present Kaliyuga (Dark Age) of the Celestial period. Being omni form (viswarupa) Vedas are the most relevant today even though the most ancient scriptures.
The various Vedic models relating to society, science and scientific temper, governance, economics and even spirituality can stop the drift toward chaos, social upheaval and all kind of pollution in thoughts, ideas and actions created by spiritual, political and other leaders due to their vested interest. Vedas may be the most ancient scriptures of the world but their metaphysics, thoughts and guiding principles are the most suitable for the present age.
What Vedas say about society in the form of “WE” feeling can guide the existing societies in the world toward the divine model and society’s shock absorbers which are getting weaker under the vehement effect of materialism and organised hierarchical religion can be strengthened.
UNSECO has recently accorded Heritage status to Rig Veda. The focal point in Rig Veda is the individual and his/her integrated spiritual, social and material welfare. Their metaphysics (Upanishadic part of Vedas) aim at spreading social, moral ethical and divine precepts. A few of these precepts are duties are more important than rights, strive all material activities on the path of virtue and righteousness, having created cosmic laws (Rta), even God follows sternly and we should also follow the same to assist the Supreme Reality in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design. A few such noble and divine precepts are mentioned below.
Atharva Veda tells us “when soul was provided to human beings Vedas were revealed”. As such human soul contains all the knowledge of Vedic metaphysics.” Atharva Veda further says, when soul administers the gross body human beings develop positive nature of nobility, love, cooperation, harmony and when senses and sense organs administer the body, negative human nature overtakes i.e. human beings become ungrateful, fickle, deceitful, cowardly and avaricious.
The Vedic Ishta theory describes paths can be many and different so worship God in any manner so long you are aware of the purpose of Human life.
For social justice Vedas refer to Panch Kshatinam/panch krashtey vasu i.e. five classes (varna)- four varnas based on divine professions of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaish and Shudra allotted through Vedic education system on aptitude, merit and ability. Fifth non divine profession followed by avarnas, vritras, kimidin who are eye sore of the society. In Golden Age (Krita Yuga) this non divine class is almost non existent and in Kali yuga it is the predominant class.
R.V 6-75-14 enjoins “human beings are under obligation to preserve, protect and to aid and comfort mankind every where.
RV 1-142-5, 1-102-5 AV 1-152-5 purpose of human birth is social welfare and assist God in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design.
AV 6-117-2 Wealth is means and not an end, avoid all kind of loans/debts and live within means. Those who live on debts are born again and again to pay back loan to individuals, society and mother earth.
Those who give lip sympathy to these a-priori principles, religious scriptures and are bereft of the knowledge of soul, spirit, gross body with three subtle guna of purity, activity and passivity, they are extremely vulnerable to nine kinds of hydra headed corruption which enter human body through ninety nine sources. Sam Veda 719 and 913
R.V 10-191-2 Y.V 7-14 Vedic education lays the first and foremost foundation of the edifice of universal values, unity in diversity, global family and universal brotherhood.
The work that does not benefit the human beings and positively harms the society is not work in the Vedic metaphysics. Perform your role selflessly in the society in the same manner as performed by your supreme Mother Prakrti (divine Nature) and benign mother Earth (Prithvi devi)
Thus, there is not only harmony of soul and body, spirit and matter but also God, soul; spirit and Prakrti live in harmony. In Prakrti 33 devas and devis live in harmony. Therefore, harmony is Vedic Rta- a cosmic law of physical, social and moral order, Vedic devas/devis are beings of light and forces of Nature and they have no human form.
The vedic metaphysics is meant to awaken the entire mankind to truth with a clear message Unite or Perish. Their cosmic laws (rta) and other guidelines are meant to create unity in diversity.
The Supreme Reality as described in Vedas
In the Vedas the Universal God (Brahman) is formless, ineffable (nirguna) and Unmoved Mover. As Sankracharya says “ To describe Brahman even the words recoil.”
However, based on the Vedic metaphysics whatever description of God is given, it can at best be a glimpse of His omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence. He makes Himself felt whether as Adrsta - unseen cosmic power or the Supreme Reality as impersonal God. It is mainly because human senses and reason cannot analyze Him.
Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”; wise men call Brahman by different names. The souls in all human beings are the subtle particles of the same God.
Since the entire cosmos and universe both visible and invisible continues to expand and is described as Brahamand so the Vedic metaphysicists found an appropriate epithet for the nameless God as Brahman. In the Rig Veda He is also mentioned as Vishnu- one who spread in Viswa. In Yajur and Atharva Vedas epithets for God are mentioned as Shiva, Shankar Brahma and Shambhu..
Upanishads describe Nirguna Brahma- the ineffable God as, “Whole is that, whole too is this and from the whole, whole cometh and take whole, yet whole remains."
A few Vedic hymns can be mentioned for proper understanding of Nirguna Brahma who is the Universal God. Rig Veda 6-15-13, 14 mentions that He is a pure illuminator, unifier, remover of all miseries, commands all to observe non-violence and other rules of righteousness, which are a-priori principles beyond any sense experiences. Rig-Veda 6-47-18 says that for each form, He is the Model. It is His Forms that are to be seen everywhere, in spiritual and material things. Thy spirit exists in all animate and inanimate life/things but is manifest in the human beings where God dwells in their hearts (Sama Veda 860).
A similar description that He dwells in the human hearts is also there in Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bahgavatam. Rig Veda 1-9-5 and 6 mentions that God is the Lord of knowledge, infinite wisdom and material wealth. He pervades the matter and the whole space (A.V.19-20-2). All the four Vedas describe that He and His laws (Rta) are the same. Those who follow His laws and commandments can realise Him in one birth. He is unborn (ajo) and incarnation of God as a human being is not visualised (Y.V.34-53, 40-8 and A.V. 10-23-4). He lives within you and you live within Him as one of His tiny living cells.
Nevertheless, the highest concept of divine mercy is reached that HE permits His children all things to be said about Him even if you do not believe in Him. Thus, toleration is an important teaching of Vedic metaphysics. Vedic hymns clearly mention that He is at your disposal but on His terms and not your terms. He expects you not to disturb violently His Design of the earth and the universe.
Every thing belongs to Him, we use it only temporarily, whether it is food, air, water and He expects all of us not to over use these (Sama Veda 274). We should keep wealth and all material possessions only for our preservation lest we become exploiters by taking away some one else’s share. Sama Veda 274 clearly advises need-based living.
According to Rig Veda 10-90-13 to 17, the entire universe is His body. Sun and Moon are His eyes, Earth is His feet and Heaven is His head. Our eyes can see 1/4th of Brahamand (entire cosmos within and beyond visual range). He acts by the necessity of His nature. His decrees are eternal truths and with dedicated and transcendental research, all these truths can be found out for the welfare of self, society and mankind
Yajur Veda 40-5 tells us that He is within the entire universe and surrounds it externally. For those who want to realise Him, they have to follow the path of moderation, righteousness and cosmic laws of necessity (Rta), which are permanent truths and His Commandments. Kena Upanishad 2-5 mentions that God can be realised in one life. If you do not realise in one life, you are a great loser.
The most beautiful description of Brahma is given in the Vedantic School of Indian philosophy, based on Upanishads. There was neither being nor not being, neither vayu (air) nor akash (ether) which is beyond...neither death nor immortality existed, no distinction was yet between day and night, darkness was first concealed in darkness and all this was indiscriminate chaos. In that stage of shuniya (void), apart from that nothing was whatsoever. It was when desire as the perennial germ of the mind arose for the first time and the entire cosmos was born out of Hiranya garbha. The One, which was covered by cosmic Void (shuniya), was manifested through the light of Tapas (spiritual fire) (R.V X-129-1 to 3).
Thus the One Lord of all that moves and that is fixed, of what walks, what flies became the Lord of all this multiform creation (R.V.III-54-8).
The cosmic Word OM becomes the raft of knowledge. According to Yajur Veda XL-17, this word OM is Brahma Itself. "OM Khamma Brahma"- OM Thy name is Brahma. Through this Word, He not only created Prakrti and Universe but also protects the same with the divine energy coming out of Shabad Brahma. This cosmic word OM is from the root Ava (to protect).
His all Forms are supreme in design and beauty. As He pervades every where and all material objects are His manifestations, so in this phenomenal world, we can see Him through many forms like the Sun, Moon, mountains, sea and even human beings etc., but He remains Formless. Thus His forms are His creative art Maya (R.V. VI-45-16, VI-47-18. S.V. 1710 and A.V. VI- 36-3). As God’s attributes are infinite being ineffable, the hymns at best only give glimpses of His attributes.
Those who believe in one formless and ineffable God, invariably follow the philosophy of Vedic Iddm Nan Mmam- nothing for self all for society.
The believers of One God are invariably transparent and follow the path of truth and non-violence in thought and action.
It is thus quite apparent for the entire mankind that movement is generally towards pluralism, animism, fanaticism, fundamentalism, gurudom, kingdom of priests and extreme materialism. It is for the mankind to decide to live without His divine guidance owing to the vehement effect of Maya- a huge cosmic saw with sharp teeth OR to pass through the gap between these teeth and seek the only One Supreme Realty and remain under His divine guidance by following His commandments and laws. All the main scriptures of major religions have confirmed based on transcendental research that He is pure love, merciful, benevolent and perfect knowledge. Knowing Him is bliss and not knowing Him is ignorance and misery.
For more details about Vedic God kindly read chapter 8 of “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” for on line reading/taking print at no cost on Website
http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics. The book can also be accessed through google.com, yahoo.com and lulu.com. Kindly render divine social service and forward this e-mail to the seekers of Vedic knowledge.
With kind regard,
Prem Sabhlok
Dear Seekers of Vedic knowledge,
Subject: MAYA (Cosmic Delusion)
For appreciating the divine concept of Vedic Maya, a few references are given below.
Rig Veda 1-131-1 and 6-47-18 describe the universe as His Creative Art (mayabhi) and for every form He is the Model. All the riches, matter, clouds, Sun and other objects belong to Him. Svetasvatra Upanishad (4 -9 and10) describes Brahma as the Illusion Maker and Prakrti as Maya. Being Shakti energy (cosmic power) of God, Maya hinders the truth to the human senses, which tend to even misrepresent the reality.
According to Mundakya Upanishad III-2-9, after the illusory effect of Maya vanishes, you become Brahma. "so ye ha vaitatparaman Brahma Veda, Brahmaiva Bhavati" (when you start knowing Brahma, you become Brahma.
The human form of Indra Deva is an illusion R.V 6-47-18 says, "Indra Mayabhi"- the illusory Indra. According to Sama Veda 1710, HE shines as supreme Lord in all the worlds as part of his cosmic Lila (Play) described as Maya. He is the first cause of all these worlds visible to senses and beyond.
The effect of Maya in our sense perception of truth is given in Yajur Veda 40-15 to 17 where it says," the face of truth is covered by golden lid." Unless the golden lid of Maya, which forms its veil, is removed, one cannot find the truth of Reality. Maya creates this golden disc and hides the God.
Rig- Veda 7-33-3 also attributes Maya in Prakrti. Bhagavad-Gita has some verses relating to Maya, particularly (7- 4 , 5, 13,14, 25, 27),( 4- 9, 10 ), (3- 27, 39, 40).
It is thus apparent that “Maya” creates attachment to children, matter, money, gold etc. Vedic metaphysics clearly mentions that all material things belong to God and these are given to us for minimum use as need based and not greed based. One of the greatest delusions which Maya creates that you start believing due to your egoism that you are the doer, even though all actions are performed due to modes of Prakrti with primordial matter in the form of three gunas (B.G. 3-27). It is Maya that is the cause of insatiable desire and thus deludes the human beings (B.G.3-39, 40). It is through its cosmic illusion we are chained to Destiny.
The knowledge of the doctrine of Maya can save this beautiful globe and world of senses.
Thus for bringing the Golden Age or the "Kingdom of Heaven" nearer to the earth, the knowledge of Maya would greatly help. The firm belief in its vehement effect can reverse the present trends based on abject materialism.
Those individuals who understand the effect of Maya all these modern gods, gurus, cults disappear and firm belief in One God and One life becomes dominant. They all find we are part of he same life of formless God who is our supreme Father. We live in Him as cells of His life, which take birth, grow and die and are reborn. It is more like our gross body that has trillions of living cells that are always there but live only for a few hours to a few days and are reborn.
Vedas thus advise that the highest and ideal living is by avoiding illusory smartness i.e. false ego, snobbishness, artificial life of glamour and ostentation. The blind pursuit of money, matter and prestige, power and status are not the requirements of your real extended self (Jivatma) but illusory requirements of your senses that run after even tiny matter.
Lately a large number of people throughout the world are getting dissatisfied and even disillusioned with the world of diversity, flux and change. Most of them are searching for the Grand Designer owing to miseries, diseases, and evil effect of the prevalent dreaded materialism apart from vulgarisation of culture and religion. Many people are in search for peace and bliss and getting trapped in the clutches of fake gurus and babas.
Our intellectual arguments, empirical knowledge and sense experience have created a strange world of contrasts and confusion, one God to multiplicity of gods, extreme idealism to dreaded materialism. Today we find people have hardly any common views on any subject and this has become cause of conflict between nations, societies, families and even friends.
Vedic Metaphysics tell us it is due to the mystic power (shakti) of the divine Nature described in Vedas as MAYA, it acts as a huge Cosmic Saw. Multiplicity, lust, greed, pride, hatred, jealousy, egoism and self-interest are its sharp teeth. Below and between its teeth are love, cooperation, humility, purity and truth. Those in pursuit of money, matter in any of its form and other mundane activities are very often caught in the teeth of Saw. They first start losing the divine instruments like buddhi (intellect) of their inner world and finally the instruments of their outer world like sense organs and finally their gross bodies as well.
According to Bhagavad-Gita God being merciful and benevolent gives long rope to individuals to develop the divine qualities hidden in them and known to their immortal soul. Otherwise, the individuals being their own greatest enemies grow in wickedness and sink deeper into sin and finally get shameful punishment. Those individuals who start developing divine qualities known to their immortal extended "self” with selfless service to weaker members of society and resist from aimless pursuit of money and matter, smoothly pass through or below the cosmic saw of Maya. Such persons tend to merge with Brahma -the formless and ineffable God through right knowledge contained in Vedas. Those who acquire this knowledge and put into practice get beyond the effect of the Saw of Maya. Since Brahma is beyond this veil of cosmic illusion, the true seekers of Him tear off this veil with para jnan (higher knowledge) and also get beyond the illusory effect of Maya. These individuals come to know that nothing is produced out of nothing. So, God being eternal is Himself the universe and universe is God." A sateh saj jayete kutos" i.e. how can entity be produced out of non-entity?
Maya is a practical philosophy of ending human sufferings. In any society when Knowledge of Maya starts disappearing diversity a in thoughts actions increases…Human mind becomes devils workshop, even rudderless, and can lead to spread of atheism, materialism, anti social elements increase. All actions to make world free from pollution and Unity in Diversity become an act of hypocrisy to collect more funds,
HUMAN Nature of believers in Maya is Positive (Plato, Sankracharya etc) and non believers is negative (Hobbes, Machiavelli). Knowledge of Maya leads to Kingdom of Heaven near the earth, Universal brother hood, global family, Ramarajya, One God etc
For more details in regard to Vedic Maya, kindly read chapter 6 (six) of Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics for on line reading and even taking print at no cost. Website is http://wwww.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/ The book is also accessible through Search Engines of Google.com, yahoo.com and Lulu.com. Please render divine and noble service and forward it other seekers of Vedic knowledge known to you.
With regards,
Prem Sabhlok
The Vedas in the present form of Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba speaks the ancient truth again about the human body.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/27290
Babygirl
06-04-2008, 09:47 PM
Parents should give freedom to the young girl to choose her life partner through the institution of Svayamvara, which literally means self choosing of a husband (R.V 5-47-6 and 1-71-8).
Considering this, it is so confusing as to why arranged marriages are so commonly practised in India, even up to this day. :?
It is reported that our scriptures, the Vedas, do specifically say that choosing a marriage partner should be based on compatibility and free choice. Fifteen hundred years of foreign rule destroyed many Hindu scriptural values and brought many new rules. But it is also said that in about thirty more years or so, the world will see a return to Sanathana Dharma.
An email from Ram Chugani.
PART-TWO *** PROF ANIL KUMAR'S SATSANG: BABA'S CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Ramayana has a message to convey”
Now we come to the next episode for the month of August 2002. Swami, most unusually that evening, sat in His chair after interviews. He was in a relaxed mood and, while looking at me said nicely, “Ask Me some questions.”
We didn’t know what to ask or what not to ask, what type of questions He wanted, what His mood was. (Laughter)
“Swami?”
“Yes! Ask some questions.”
Then I thought the convenient thing to do would be to ask a question on the Ramayana -- that would be less risky. (Laughter) If I asked some questions on deep philosophy, He might say, “You selfish fellow, so many students are here. Ask questions that will be useful to them.“ If I said, “Swami, grant me an interview tomorrow” He might say, “That’s not a question. You are a selfish fellow! Fish is better than selfish.”
So I thought it would be convenient and safe to ask a question on the Ramayana. I said, “Swami, there are so many epics in Hindu Vedanta. The story of Krishna is ‘Bhagavatha’. The story of Rama is ‘Ramayana’. The story of the Pandavas and the Kauravas and their battle at Kurukshetra is ‘Mahabharatha’. These three are important epics. There is so much mythology, yet these three are prominent. I have one question. “
“What is it? Ask.”
“We have so many versions of the Ramayana: A great saint named Tulsidas wrote his own version of Ramayana called ‘Ramacharitamanas’. Valmiki composed the original Ramayana. A woman by the name of Molla wrote another Ramayana -- the ‘Molla Ramayana’. There’s a gentleman named Kamban who wrote yet another Ramayana, the ‘Kamban Ramayana’. Sage Vyasa wrote still another spiritual Ramayana, the ‘Adhyatma Ramayana’. What are all these? Which one is true? (Laughter) Why so many? Why isn’t it so with the other epics? Why aren’t there a lot of Mahabharatha’s? Why are there only a lot of Ramayana’s? Isn’t it confusing? Of all the versions, which one is correct? Which one should I follow? Which one is authentic?”
Then Bhagavan laughed. He was so compassionate. He said, “There are so many versions of the Ramayana because it has a message to convey on how one should behave -- at the individual level, in one’s social conduct and ethical nature as a householder, as a brother, as a ruler, as a husband, as a friend and as an ideal man. All these aspects are dealt with very well in the Ramayana. The social, ethical, moral, individual and political roles -- all these roles are put together and rolled into one, dealt with in detail in that holy epic, the Ramayana.
Each author focused on one of these aspects. Thus we have so many Ramayana’s. Some have dealt in depth with the devotional aspect. Some have dealt with the social aspect or the individual aspect. The perfected, multi-dimensional aspects of the Ramayana have been dealt with by many people on different occasions in different periods of time. Therefore, we have many versions of Ramayana.”
“If you have total faith in God, you will never question His actions”
Then I realised that it would be all right for me to take a risk, as His mood seemed good. Hence, He would be lenient. I took the risk and said, “Swami, if Krishna is God, how can He afford to be partial to the Pandavas? Can God be partial? The Kauravas are also His children. He should be impartial. The whole Mahabharatha shows Krishna’s total partiality toward the Pandavas. So, how can He be God? I can’t reconcile it. I know fully well that You are going to support Krishna because You are that same Krishna. But still I am not able to understand it. Please explain.”
Bhagavan said, “All your misnomers, all your misconceptions, all your misapprehensions are signs of your total, utter and complete ignorance. (Laughter) Your ignorance is responsible for this confusion, for this sorry state of affairs. Secondly, you do not have total faith in Krishna as God. If you had total faith in God, you would never question His actions. If you say Krishna was partial, and if He was partial, can He be God? It means that you have no faith in Krishna as God. So, absence of faith, lack of devotion and ignorance are responsible for such a lopsided view or wrong impression.”
“Oh, I see.” Now it is my turn to respond. “OK, Swami, but how do You justify that? How do You justify Krishna being partial to the Pandavas? That is my question. I am ignorant; I lack faith; I am sufficiently foolish -- I accept that. But what is Your answer to my question about Krishna being partial to the Pandavas? Can He do that?”
Then Swami said, “All right, I’ll give you a straight answer. The Pandavas followed Krishna completely. The Pandavas followed Krishna’s command totally, fully and unconditionally and, because they followed Krishna totally, He supported them. They were completely devoted to Him. It wasn’t partial, conditional or part-time devotion. Theirs was total devotion. In times of humiliation, in times of pleasure and pain, in challenging situations and in war, they followed Krishna totally. So Krishna supported them. How can you say He was partial?”
“Oh Swami! My case is lost. (Laughter) Now I understand. God cannot be partial. He may look partial, but only because of our ignorance. So, if God is to support us, if God is to stand by us, we have got to follow His command totally. We must develop trust in Him unconditionally.”
Swami said, “Had you known this earlier, you would not have asked this question!” (Laughter)
Then I said, “Swami, You said Yourself that I am a man of ignorance. So naturally I asked this question. (Laughter) My question is justifiable, while Your answer made me free from ignorance. I am no longer ignorant of the facts.” (Laughter)
Everyone joined in the laughter. With that, the evening session concluded.
Ram Chugani
Kobe, Japan
rgcjp@yahoo.com
Babygirl
06-07-2008, 12:50 PM
It is reported that our scriptures, the Vedas, do specifically say that choosing a marriage partner should be based on compatibility and free choice. Fifteen hundred years of foreign rule destroyed many Hindu scriptural values and brought many new rules. But it is also said that in about thirty more years or so, the world will see a return to Sanathana Dharma.
I think most Hindus...well, for sure Trini Hindus are more focused on Smriti texts. I love some of the Smriti texts like the Ramayan and Bhagavad Gita...but ultimately the Vedas are the authoritative texts. They are the Shruti texts (what was heard.)
EDIT: Coincidentally your previous post made reference to the Ramayan and Shri Krishna...I just read it...LOL. :mrgreen:
The title Brahmin is not an inherited one.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/27419
"Man has four births. His first birth takes place from his mother's womb. He gets a second life when he is initiated into the Gayathri Manthra. His third birth occurs when he studies the Vedas. He becomes a Brahmin when he recognizes the principle of Brahman. This is his fourth birth. One becomes a Brahmin not merely by birth, but by knowing the nature of Brahman. For this chanting of Gayathri Manthra is every essential."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
GAyathri is the essence of the Vedas
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/27432
Gayathri is the mother of the Vedas. There is no need to chant any other manthra if you chant the Gayathri manthra.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
When your back is towards the Sun, your shadow will be in front of you. It will fall behind you, only when you stand facing the Sun. Similarly, Maya (illusion) which is like your shadow, will overpower you when you turn your mind away from God. It can be overcome only when you turn your mind towards God.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
First and foremost, man has to purify his speech. Only then will his life be safe and secure. If you slip and fall, the injury can be cured, but the injury caused by the slip of the tongue is incurable. It will make your life miserable. So, you should have control over your speech. Excessive talk will lead to untruth and unpleasantness. That is why the ancient Saints and Seers used to observe silence.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
First and foremost, man has to purify his speech. Only then will his life be safe and secure. If you slip and fall, the injury can be cured, but the injury caused by the slip of the tongue is incurable. It will make your life miserable. So, you should have control over your speech. Excessive talk will lead to untruth and unpleasantness. That is why the ancient Saints and Seers used to observe silence.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The Importance of Namasmarana, repetition of the name of God.
DEAREST BOYS,
Through the awareness of the Divine alone can we really bring true peace to the world. There is no doubt that considerable effort is being made by great leaders of the world in the material plane to bring about peace and harmony. But Sai does not see any sign of their success.
The only way left is for us to turn our mind within ourselves and find out the true and everlasting basis, the supreme source, from which alone can we get true happiness and peace in the world. The basis is GOD, who is in fact dwelling in the hearts of everyone of us. He is the Universal Spirit.
Every one of us is the very embodiment of Divinity. Your true being is Sath-Chit-Ananda, representing Existence-Consciousness-Bliss. You have forgotten this truth. Remember it now, and take the holy and powerful name of the Reality until your mind disappears and you stand revealed as Truth itself, and enjoy, as Sai has been enjoying, the Eternal Bliss which never exhausts itself.
With Blessings,
Baba
19.07.1977
Life is a long journey and your desires are the luggage. “Less luggage more comfort make travel a pleasure.” The journey of life will become enjoyable only when you reduce the luggage of desires. The lesser the desires are, the happier you will be.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Today people are crazy to go to foreign countries, where as the foreigners themselves are coming to Bharat in search of peace of mind. They have all the material comforts, but lack of peace of mind. They have money in abundance. Excessive money gives rise to arrogance, which in turn leads to all wicked qualities. So, one should not go abroad in search of wealth.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Why do you repeat the word “Santhi” (Peace) thrice? You pray that you may have peace at all the three levels – physical, mental and spiritual – for you are not the one individual, but three – the one you think you are (Physical body), the one others think you are (Mental body) and the one you really are (Atma). All three aspects of your being must be in a state of peace.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Some people may argue that it is foolish to believe in the existence of God whom you cannot see. But, in fact, you are seeing God all the time, because the entire universe is the form of God. Right from microcosm to macrocosm, all forms are his. You are unable to see him because you see nature from the physical point of view. Give up the worldly feeling and see nature with divine feelings. Then God will certainly manifest before you.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
I have been offering you advice and directions about Seva for some years but I am not satisfied with the extent to which you have been putting them into practice. Your aim should be to please Me, to satisfy Me, to follow My directions. I have come with certain tasks as My Mission. I too have certain vows to fulfill! They have been mentioned in the Bhagavath Geetha also. I have to establish the supremacy of Righteousness, I have to bear the burden of welfare of those who are immersed in thoughts of Me alone. So, the best way to please Me is to see Me in all beings and serve them just as you would like to serve Me. That is the best form of worship, which will reach Me.
(SSS Vol VIII, Chap 22)
Man and God as per Hinduism.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/27621
We were all expecting Swami to emerge from the doorway at any moment.
Appearing suddenly, Swami walked into the garden among us. (Those were the days!) He stopped not far from where I was standing. A young Indian, probably in his early twenties, stepped boldly in front of Sai Baba, and even more boldly asked the question, "Are you God?"
The hush that fell over the group of men seemed expectant, and yet somehow fearful. But Swami was his calm, normal self. He pointed his finger at the young man and replied, "You are God!!!"
He then gave a simple revealing yet profound talk that God incarnates in every man and woman born on earth but we are not aware of this wonderful truth, although perhaps sometimes dimly aware.
SWAMI told us that, "Our very purpose in being born as a human being, is to work towards the realization of the great truth of our Divinity. The ones who are called Avatars are those who are born with the knowledge of this great truth of their identity with God."
And so SWAMI said, "The only difference between you and me is that while you are Avatars and you do not know it, I knew it from the time of my childhood. When I tell you that you are God, that God is within you all, you may or may not believe it, but you have to do more than believe it.
You must by the life you live, and through your Sadhana (Spiritual practice) reach the point where you experience your own Godhood."
Someone had narrated the story of a man who, sitting on the roof of his house during a rising flood, refused all help from men in boats and helicopters who tried to rescue him, saying, "Don't bother, I have prayed to God to save me!!!"
When in due course, he was drowned, and his soul stood in the presence of God, he said to the Almighty, "I prayed to you to save me, but you did not."
God replied "I sent rescuing boats and a helicopter to take you off your roof and save your life but you had forgotten that all helping hands are my hands!!! It was 'ME' in those rescue boats!!!"
Man's life is like a garland, with birth at one end and death at the other. Between the two ends are strung together flowers of all kinds - troubles, worries, joys, sorrows and dreams. Few are aware of the string that runs through all the flowers. Without the string there can be no garland. Your sole objective is to recognize this Divine string!!! Whatever GOD or FORM you worship, see 'THAT GOD or FORM' in everyone & everything – BABA
Courtesy: Howard Murphet
The man whispered, "God, speak to me." And a Cuckoo bird sang.
But, the man did not hear.
Then the man yelled "God, speak to me." Thunder rolled across the sky.
But, the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And the stars lit up the sky. But the man did not notice.
And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle."
And, a life was born. But the man did not know.
So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know
you are here." Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on!!!
You may have immense knowledge, wealth and valor, but you are bound to suffer if you become a slave to anger, desire and greed. Do not take pride in your wealth, physical strength and education. Develop the strength of love. Love can transform even a foe into a friend. Only through love can your life be redeemed.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
God has created you not to lead a selfish life. Uphold Dharma for the welfare of humanity, even at the cost of your life. After all death occurs only once in a life time. Everything happens according to God's will. Man who has been created by the Divine will should sanctify his life by following the Divine command.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Where can a fish find the greatest happiness? In water, in a full flooded river or the sea. If you place it in a golden plate set with gems, can it derive any joy from that good fortune? So too, man can be happy only when he is merged in thoughts of the God from whom he has come, by whom he lives and into whom he merges.
Divine Discourse, March 30, 1973.
There is nothing bad in this world. Even that which appears to be bad is also good. So, never consider anything bad. How can evil enter God's creation? Every thing happens according to God's will. There is no scope for bad events when the Divine WILL is always good and pure. How can you point out something as bad when Divinity pervades everything? Good and bad lies in your vision, not in creation.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Devotion does not mean performing puja or undertaking rituals. Devotion stands for steady love for God. It also means implicit obedience and subservience to the Will of God.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Happiness and sorrow are like passing clouds. One should not be elated in times of pleasure or depressed in times of pain. One should remain equal-minded, unaffected by happiness or sorrow. This is the sign of true devotion.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
When your heart is filled with negative thoughts, how can you expect God to fill it with his love and grace? First of all, cleanse your heart of all evil qualities. Only then can God fill your heart with his love and grace.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Surrender implies that the individual WILL should become one with the Divine Will. Obey the Divine command implicitly without questioning.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Do not blame God for your suffering. You have to reap the consequences of your actions. God is the eternal witness. It is a great mistake to criticize God.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
If you get caught in the web of worldly life, even God may not come to your rescue. Once you get carried away by the sleep of attachment, you will certainly get dreams of bad thoughts. If you have chosen the worldly path, enter the family life and be happy. Gradually develop detachment and devotion. Having chosen family life on your own, it is sheer ignorance on your part to blame God for your suffering.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Vedas Briefly described.
Vedas are derived from the root Vid- i.e. knowledge. Vedas thus means, "Store house of knowledge" and Vedic dharma is the spiritual science based on knowledge described in a large number of hymns (about 18,000) in four Vedas. In book X1X section 22 and 23 of Atharva Veda, Jnan (knowledge) is described as study and complete understanding of bhutas (elements), matter, society and social organizations physical and social sciences, primordial subtle matter (three gunas), divine Nature "Prakrti", Soul, Spirit, Time, Space and the formless and ineffable Supreme Reality (nirguna Brahma).
The study of Vedas would reveal that the Vedic religion is a spiritual science and it contains all the major material, spiritual and divine thoughts/guidelines conveyed in all the other scriptures of major religions of the world. However, Vedas contain some additional knowledge not available in other scriptures like, certain permanent truths/findings about physical sciences, mathematics, state and society, medicine, role of a ruler, bureaucrats, scientists, industrialists, economics and many others. Being scriptures for the welfare of mankind, no specific religion is mentioned in Vedas. At best Vedic religion can be mentioned as Vedic Sanatan Dharma (eternal religion). Following the teachings and guidelines contained in Vedas the mankind can expedite the journey towards universal love and peace.
Ishta theory of Vedas describes paths could be different so long as these paths aim at the welfare of mankind and other animate and inanimate life. Vedas do not consider matter as inert and explain in a large number of hymns that matter has unsuspected vitality. All religions should aim at unity in diversity i.e. (should lead to universal brotherhood-viswa bandhutva), global family of the same One God (vasudhaivan kutumbkam), global trade and global market for the material and spiritual welfare of mankind. God being formless, ineffable and self-created, avoid explaining God through categories, substance, activity, quality and relationship. He is beyond cognition, perception of human senses, logic of mind and intellect. Words recoil to explain the Supreme Reality. Only true and harmonised material, spiritual and divine knowledge (para jnan) can unite all religions to compete with each other for the welfare of mankind.
Vedas as a whole are Karma Marga i.e. path of selfless action - nothing for self all for society. The Vedic metaphysics is Jana marga i.e. the path of knowledge. This knowledge brings out clearly the ultimate significance of all material and spiritual things. The Vedic Rsis and Munnies (metaphysicists and wandering sages) had found the substantial essence of all these things in the scheme of Reality, thereby unifying the absolute Truth. Vedas have a concept of absolute and perfect truth based on a-priori knowledge against material and imperfect truth influenced by our outward looking mind and physical senses/sense organs. Material truths being imperfect are never permanent and vary considerably amongst individuals.
The Vedic science of Axiology (trivarga) covering idealistic, ideational and sensate values is entirely based on permanent truths in the form of Rta, which are the cosmic laws of social and moral order. Yajur-Veda 7-14 clearly brings out that the noble thoughts made the culture of the Vedas the first and foremost foundations of the edifice of universal values. Through the Vedic mantras (poetical hymns which liberate the mind) homage is paid to the Rsis of the yore, path makers and pioneers (R.V 10-14-15 and A.V 18-2-2). Mantra is man (mind) and tra (freedom, liberation). Mundaka Upanishads 1-1-3 mentions that having known Vedanta, all other knowledge will stand revealed to us. Vedas are thus the acme of human thought and the metaphysics reaches its summit in the Vedantic philosophy contained in the fourth and last part of the Vedas in the form of pure idealism and absolute monism. Vedas are also known as Shruti - the heard. Most of the modern Hindus believe that the Vedas were directly revealed by God and were not fabricated as later the ancient dreaded materialists Charvakas found and criticized these divine revelations. Adi Grantha says, "Omkar Ved nirmaye." It literally means Omkar (God) revealed the Vedas.
Vedic wisdom covers the cosmic working at all levels, from microcosm to macrocosm. It covers material, temporal, secular, spiritual, and divine knowledge by blending both the inner and outer worlds. In the concept of Brahman as the “only Reality”, the highest metaphysical ethics is reached, as all else is Maya (appearance or phenomenon but not exactly mirage). Maya is His Creative Art (R.V 6-45-16 and 6-47-18). Isvaraya Upanishad explains this as the illusory but dazzlingly brilliant golden disc, which appears real to human senses.
For more details kindly see “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” for on line reading and even taking print at no cost on Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics OR access the book through google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com. Kindly render divine social service and forward this e-mail to other seekers of Vedic knowledge known to you.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
One cannot realize the indwelling Divinity until and unless one gives up body attachment. Body attachment is an obstacle on the path of spirituality. Attachment to the body is the main cause for man's unhappiness, anxiety, misery and lack of peace. One should consider the body as an instrument and lead a life of truth, keeping in view the indwelling Divinity.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Spirituality does not mean a life of solitude. True spirituality lies in understanding the unity of the entire humanity, and giving up the sense of attachment and hatred. The principle of Atma is the same in every one.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Fill your heart with love and chant the divine name. Only then can you attain Divinity. Perform all your activities with love. Love should originate from the source, i.e., the heart and not by force. Today people chant the Divine name, not from source, but out of force. No benefit accrues from chanting the Divine name unless it is done wholeheartedly.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The conscience that exists in every one is one and the same, just as the current that flows through different bulbs is the same. All are one. So, do not hate, harm or criticize anybody. He is a noble one, who conducts himself without hurting others and not being troubled in the process himself.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
God is both the Giver and the Receiver. He seperated Himself from Himself in order to love Himself. The sooner we understand that there is no you or I, but only God, the sooner we will learn to love all as God, and stop worrying.
Man is bound to face the consequences of his actions, be they good or bad, small or big. It is most essential for man to understand this truth and act accordingly. Before undertaking any action, enquire whether it is good or bad, right or wrong.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Once a Person asked Swami the Difference between Namakam and Chamakam in the Rudram.
The Answer was :
"The chamakam part of chanting of Veda helps in the fulfillment of your desires. So all mantras of this chamakam part end with these two letters: chame..chame...chamechame. Chame means 'I want that'. Therefore chamakam is the submission of desires. And you get them fulfilled. The other part is namakam. What is namakam? The namakam part of this rudram is surrender to God. Here there are two letters: na + ma: ma - mine, na -- not; so, 'not mine -- everything is Yours.' So, it means submission to God, surrender to God. "Nothing is mine and everything is Yours" is nama-namakam. I hope I am clear. Therefore, that is namakam and chamakam. The interesting thing is that in namakam, the first letter is na, while in chamakam, the second letter is ma. Nama meaning 'egolessness, not mine'."
The Above answer was given by a 8th Class Primary School Student.
Swami then said " Learning has no age and No Bar, when you are sincere, you can learn anything and everything "
Source : http://www.saiwisdom.com
Om Sai Ram
In order to have sacred thoughts, give up vices like smoking, consumption of non-vegetarian food and intoxicants. Do not waste food, money, time and energy.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Man is bound to face the consequences of his actions, be they good or bad, small or big. It is most essential for man to understand this truth and act accordingly. Before undertaking any action, enquire whether it is good or bad, right or wrong.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Understand the pristine purity of Bharat. Himachala (The Himalayan mountains) forms its northern boundary. 'Hima' is that which is pure, 'Achala' is that which is steady. So, Himachala stands for purity and steadiness. Bharat's three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati symbolize the paths of action, devotion and wisdom respectively. The sacred scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads make the hearts of Bharatiyas blossom with their teachings. 'Bha' means light and effulgence. So, Bharat is the country which radiates light to the rest of the world. The sacredness of Bharat is not found anywhere.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Man is born with three types of debts - debt to God, debt to sages and debt to parents. God is present in each and every cell of human body in the form of 'Angeerasa' and it is he who protects and sustains human life. Man is therefore deeply indebted to God, who vibrates in every limb of his body in the form of Divine energy. The only way man clear his debt to God is by undertaking sacred actions and by working for the welfare of fellow human beings.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The second debt that man has to repay is the debt to saints and sages. The ancient sages and seers knew the past, present and future of man. They knew the secrets of Dharma. They, therefore, prescribed various codes of conduct and spiritual paths to man so that he may find fulfillment in this life and hereafter. Man can repay his debt to the sages by following and practicing their teachings in letter and spirit.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
Surrender implies that the individual WILL should become one with the Divine will. Obey the Divine command implicitly without questioning.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Respect and Revere your parents as God. Offer salutations to them when you wake up in the morning, before you go to school and when you go to bed at night. Never argue with them. Try to convince them with love. Remember that as you sow, so shall you reap. Whatever you do to your parents, your children will do the same to you. Never talk to them rudely. Be obedient.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Remember the truth that you are born to serve the society. Make no distinctions whatsoever in rendering service. Serve your parents, brothers, friends, relatives and even beggars alike. Divine grace will flow in abundance only when you serve with the spirit of humility and equality. Service is the easiest path to attain Divine grace.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The prestige of an individual does not depend on education alone. Along with education, culture is also very essential. One will be respected and honored only when one possesses both education and culture.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The word 'education' is derived from the root word 'Educare'. Education refers to acquiring information from outside, while 'Educare' means to bring out or to elicit that which is inside. Man should bring out the sacred qualities latent in his heart and put them into practice. The worldly education that you pursue and the jobs that you undertake are related to the head. They are subject to change. But the human values like compassion, forbearance, Truth,, which originate from the heart are changeless.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
With whatever education you get, is it not possible to sustain yourself? God has given you two hands and one stomach. Are two hands not sufficient to fill one stomach? Are you born as a human being just to fill the stomach? Don't you find the birds and beasts also doing the same? Instead of worrying all the time about filling your stomach, fill your mind with pure and sacred thoughts.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
First of all, one should develop right vision. If the vision is good and pure, the thoughts will also be pure. If you throw a pebble in a lake, it will create ripples. How far will the ripples spread? They will go up to the edge of the lake. In the same way, cast the pebble of good thoughts in the lake of your heart. The ripples of good thoughts will then express themselves through all parts of your body, viz., eyes, ears, hands, legs, etc. When these ripples of good thoughts go to the eyes, you will see only good, when they go to the ears, you will hear only good, when they go to the tongue, you will speak only good, when they go to the legs, the legs will go only to good places. Thus, the lake of the human body becomes full of ripples of pure thoughts, purifying the body from top to toe.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
God has given so much time to man. But man wastes it. Time is God. Don't waste time. Time waste is life waste. Man wastes 3/4th of his time in mundane activities. He spends the remaining spare time in idle pursuits like watching TV and other petty amusements. Why does he not sanctify his time by engaging himself in good deeds and righteous activities?
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Strange is the nature of modern man today. He thinks something and speaks something else. He laughs outwardly to conceal his inner wickedness. He appears to be weeping outwardly but inside he really laughs. His outward appearance is that of human being but his mind is that of monkey. Such hypocrites and wicked people can never find God. God expects that human beings should live like human beings devoid of such animal qualities.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Many people assert that they were very good in the beginning but bad company spoiled them. This is not true. Do not plead that you have become bad due to the influence of others. If only you had held on to your goodness, nothing would have degraded you. Hence it is imperative that man should make earnest efforts to remain steadfast in his goodness.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
It is wrong to find faults with others. There may be faults in them. But do not see their faults, see their good qualities. Then the entire universe becomes one family. This is the spirit of the brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Compiled by Prem Sabhlok
“Rtam, Satyam, Dharmam” (Rig Veda)- Cosmic laws of social, moral and physical order are eternal truths and following these laws (Rta) is Vedic Dharma. All human beings can discover these laws (Rta) by developing Scientific temper.
Subject: Vedic Science and Scientific Temper
Dear Seekers of Vedic Knowledge,
What our ancient heritage scriptures Vedas say about physical sciences, role of scientists (ashvinaus) and scientific temper, a brief note is given below.
To get a feel of Vedic physical sciences, reference to a few hymns are given.
The Sun never sets or rises and it is the earth, which rotates (Sama-Ved 121). The gravitational effect of solar system makes the earth stable (R.V.1-103-2, 1-115-4 and 5-81-2). The axle of the earth does not get rusted and the earth continues to revolve on its axle (R.V. 1-164-29). The science of Time and its subtle nature is described in (R.V.1-92-12 and 1-95-8). The need to study the properties of water, air and fire for discovering and manufacturing aircrafts, ships and other vehicles capable of moving in the firmament, land and water are mentioned in Rig Veda 1-3-1,2, 1-34-1, 1-140-1 and many other hymns. Reference to infinite number of both gross and subtle atoms and the energy principle as spirit of God in each atom is given in R.V. 5-47-2 and Sama Veda 222. Atoms and sub atomic particles are not inert and have unsuspected vitality owing to this energy principle. Physical sciences relating to agriculture, medicine, astronomy mathematics particularly algebra, toxicology etc. are described in R.V.1-71-9, 4-57-5, Sama Veda 121 and many other hymns.
In the Vedas scientists are described as men and women of absolute self-control, truthful with scientific outlook and destroyers of miseries (R.V., 1-3-4). With the help of these scientists one could travel far on the earth and also in the sky through conveyances, which run and touch the middle region (R.V. 1-3-1, 6-22-2 and 1-22-2). Such scientists from both the sexes go across to distance places quickly like the mind and electricity (R.V. 1-71-9). In this hymn aircrafts and even space ships are hinted. These ashvinaus should be well versed in Physics, agricultural sciences (R.V. 4-57-5), medical sciences (R.V. 5-74-3), astronomy (S.V. 121) and other sciences. Ashvinaus have been advised to learn thoroughly about Prakrti (divine Nature), characteristics and various qualities of water, air, fire, electricity and heat and sound energy. Other sciences mentioned are Toxicology and use of various kinds of medicines and drugs (R.V 1-191-14), science of Time (Kala vidya) that starts with dawn (Usha). R.V. 1-95-2, and 10, refers to use of time for mathematics. There is a mention of infra red rays, study of Algebra (Rekha di ganit vidya), sound as a medium of knowledge for various sciences, diseases like bile, cough, jaundice and others and their treatment etc. The relevant hymns in this regard are in Rig-Veda 1-185-2, 1-12-1, 2, 1-22-1 to 4, 1-2-3, 1-95-1, 1-101-1 and many others.
However, the greater emphasis is on the development of Scientific Temper amongst the members of Society with a view to curb spread of blind faith, hypocrisy, miracle and ostentatious worship of God. Thus the knowledge of Vedic sciences is meant to save the human beings from falling into an utter darkness as Isa Upanishad and the last chapter of Yajur Veda caution us. The unity in diversity is the message of Vedic physical and metaphysical sciences. While matter is the cause of diversity owing to three primordial subtle particles of purity, activity and passivity present in it, the spirit (jiva) provides the necessary unity.
The Vedas combine science with metaphysics and clearly mention that it is God who is the giver of knowledge of all sciences as 'Sahstra sam ' (R.V. 1-10-11). The scientists are advised to study cause and effect of all material elements and also how the objects are produced and there after utilize these properly (R.V. 5-47-3). By following these guidelines they can alleviate much suffering of the people (R.V. 5-77-4). Without the knowledge and practical application of physical sciences, it is not possible to eradicate poverty and attain prosperity (R.V. 1-34-1 to 5).
For more details on Vedic science and many other divine, spiritual and material Vedic subjects kindly see “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” available on Internet for on line reading and even taking print at no cost. The website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics. Also the book can be accessed through google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com. Search for the book or Vedic Metaphysics.
Kindly render divine social service and forward to other seekers of Vedic knowledge.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are not embodied beings; they are symbolic of Gunas (Attributes). They exist in the form of attributes in the human body and impel it to perform various functions. But man, who is unable to understand his humanness, is not capable of recognizing the Divinity within him.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
You should not be ever entangled in the meshes of this world and its problems. Try to escape into the purer air of the spirit as often as you can, taking the name of the Lord on your tongue. Of the 24 hours of the day, have 6 hours for your individual needs, 6 hours for the service of the others, 6 hours for sleep and 6 hours for dwelling in the Presence of the Lord. Those six hours will endow you with the strength of steel.
Divine Discourse, May 23 2002.
Today man is always preoccupied with the past and future and blatantly ignores the present. The present is most important, for the present is the consequence of the past and contains the seed of the future. It is the present that shapes the future. Hence, all your attention should be on the present so that you can have a bright future. The present is the seed that comes from the tree of the past. It is also the seed that comes from the tree of the past. It is also the seed for the tree of the future. Your future lies in your present. One who realizes this should not harbor evil thoughts and evil feelings. Man's conduct should therefore be according to the attributes of Eswara.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
The four brothers Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna are not ordinary mortals. Looking from the worldly point of view, Dasaratha was the king of Ayodhya. It is a mistake to think that Ayodhya is a city where lord Rama was born. Rama is all-pervasive. What is Ayodhya? It is an impregnable place where enemies can not enter, i.e., Hridaya (Spiritual heart). Dasaratha signifies the chariot of the human body consisting of ten senses. He has three wives, viz., Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra who represent Sathwic, Rajasic and Tamasic qualities respectively. These three wives had four children, viz., Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna who represent the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana Veda respectively. True devotion and surrender lies in understanding the inner significance of the Ramayana.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Brahma symbolizes speech. What kind of speech is being referred to here? The speech which is symbolic of Brahma has auspiciousness, purity, splendor and sweetness. You should see that your speech is pure, soft and sweet. Brahma pervades the entire universe as primordial sound. You should therefore preserve the purity and sanctity of speech by observing silence and truthfulness. The words you speak should contain the magnificence, sanctity and purity of Brahma.
Since mind represents Vishnu, it is your duty to keep the mind pure and untarnished. Vishnu is depicted as always smiling blissfully and remaining ever peaceful. So too, your mind should possess the serenity, sanctity and bliss of Vishnu.
Eswara is symbolic of the heart. Shiva is depicted as the one with the third eye. The third eye does not refer to the physical eye. It is symbolic of wisdom and foresight. Man has only two eyes as he can visualize only past or present. But God knows the future also. That is why he is depicted as having the third eye.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The Hindu Trinity is symbolized by thought, word and deed with purity of intentions. In other words, we say what we think and we do what we say with puritry of purpose. The Shiva principle within rewards and punishes all actions in accord with the coordination of thought, word and deed. That is the only God needed for a well functioning and noble society.
When we accept God as infinity and intemporality, there can be no mistake about who we are.
Never be under the mistaken notion that Dharma is the same for all people irrespective of their stage of life. The cause of Adharma today is that man is trying to follow Dharma that is not appropriate to his age or stage of life. Each should strictly adhere to the Dharma corresponding to his or her age and stage of life.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The dualities of righteousness and un-righteousness, truth and falsehood, merit and sin, heat and cold, etc., co-exist in this creation of God. People want Adharma (un-righteousness) to be eradicated completely from this world. They want only Dharma to exist, but it is not possible. In this world, Dharma cannot exist without Adharma and vice-versa. The world itself is a combination of Dharma and Adharma. It cannot exist if one of them is absent. Man should use his power of discrimination and lead a life dedicated to Dharma. There lies the secret of man's happiness.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
People do Bhajans without understanding their significance. Instead of focusing their attention on God, they are bothered too much about the tune and rhythm. No doubt, the tune and rhythm are also essential in Bhajans. But once you fill your heart with Divine love, the tune and rhythm will automatically be taken care of. If you concentrate too much on tune and rhythm, you will not be able to think of God.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Love is the essence of education. Bereft of love, education is artificial. Therefore, develop love in the first instance. Understand that the indweller is the same though bodies are different. Hold on to this fundamental principle and experience ananda (bliss).
- August 18, 2005 Divine Discourse
Some people go to the temple of lord Venkateswara and pray, "Swami, if you fulfil my desires, I will perform Brahmotsavam for you." Some others pray, "Swami, if my daughter gets married, I will conduct your Kalyanam (marriage)." Can there be a marriage for God? Does God fulfil your wish so that you may perform his marriage? With such prayers, people are trying to cheat even God. One should pray to God out of love, not with expectation of any favors from him. Prayer born out of selfishness is no prayer at all.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
God has given so much time to man. But man wastes it. Time is God. Don't waste time. Time waste is life waste. Man wastes 3/4th of his time in mundane activities. He spends the remaining spare time in idle pursuits like watching TV and other petty amusements. Why does he not sanctify his time by engaging himself in good deeds and righteous activities?
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The five elements that make this universe are: Ether/Sky, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Of them all, the earth is the grossest of the elements, water is subtler and pervasive than earth. Fire is subtler than water and more pervasive. Air is even more subtler and Ether (Sky) is the subtlest and pervades the most. In the reverse process, when subtlety diminishes, the density increases and the pervasiveness contracts. Let us take this example: A jasmine flower is placed on a table in the room. The flower, which is gross is very small in size. But its fragrance, which is subtle, pervades the whole room. Likewise, steam which is generated from water, occupies a much larger space than the volume of water from which it is produced. Similarly, the mind of man, because of its extreme subtlety, is capable of immense expansion. You bind yourself to Nature and the family by your attachment and desires. To withdraw yourselves from these attachments and to reduce your subjection to the external world, you have to practice control over your eyes, ears and tongue.
-Divine Discourse, March 1988.
You must always remember the two great principles - work and worship, and follow them every minute of your lives. Whatever job you take up, do it to the best of your ability. Do your duty to the best and to the utmost satisfaction of everyone concerned. Even in your home, you must discharge all your obligations and responsibilities. If you are able to satisfy your parents today by discharging your duty in the proper spirit, tomorrow your children will offer you similar satisfaction. If you aspire for a happy and secure life in future, you must lead your present life in a conducive way by discharging all your obligations in the right spirit. If you discharge your responsibility in the right spirit, that will give you real power from the well-deserved authority.
-Divine Discourse, Summer Showers 22, 1972.
The significanceof the milk maids of Lord Krishna.
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=849&p=68209#p68209 (http://www.ttonline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=849&p=68209#p68209)
"One hundred and eight 'gopikas'(milkmaids), as told by our holy scriptures, danced to the mesmerist tune of Lord Krsna's flute. The oft posed question is - why 108 milkmaids? Why not one?
The answer lies in the description of the 'milkmaids' as given by Bhagawan Baba.
Baba says 'The milkmaids are ideal examples for those living in the Kaliyuga. They had complete faith in Lord Krsna. They had unwavering belief in His Divinity. Their devotion was pure, selfless and sacred. We may think that the play of Krsna and the milkmaids was a game involving human enjoyment but this was not so. Indeed this is symbolic of the sacred union between the individual self (the milkmaid) and Over-self (Lord Krsna). The milkmaids were formless in the aspect of divinity. Their heart was the temple of the Lord. Their thoughts were sacred streams. The reason for this is that in their previous births, in the Krita Yuga, they were sages. Then, they only had the 'darshan' of the Lord. They prayed to have conversation with the Lord. Hence, in the Treta Yuga, they became the monkeys and were able to converse with Lord Rama. In the Dwarpa Yuga, the same sages/ monkeys became the 'gopikas' and they danced to the captivating music of the flute player, Murali Krsna'.
Baba adds that 'the milkmaids are the three forms of qualities, namely, dull, passionate and pure. Those who have the dull quality will get only the darshan of the Lord. Those who are passionate will have conversation with Him plus darshan. Those who have pure qualities will not only have darshan and conversation but will also have touch."
For further reading on the topic, please refer to 'Baba- The Breath of Sai' by Grace J. Mc Martin.
"Assign your mind to the task of serving the Lord and it will grow tame. You do not hand over to the goldsmith, an ornament that is quite nice -do you? You will give him jewels for repair or reshaping, the ornaments you feel have been broken or dented or gone out of fashion. So too, give the Lord your mind that certainly needs repair, if not complete reconstruction. Entrust to the Lord your mind and let Him shape it as He likes."
- Divine Discourse, Jan 1, 1964.
"The soul is the motive force of all the senses. The eye is but a window through which the soul peeps out at the external world. You must have Samadrishti. "Samam" means Brahman, the Absolute Reality. Samadhristi means seeing only Brahman, the Only One, in all things, at all times. This Ekathwam (Oneness) is the basic truth. All other experiences are partial, distorted, false. Dwell on that in your meditation and fix it in your inner consciousness. Meditate, fix your urge on the Nithya (Eternal), the Sathya (Truth), the Nirmala (Pure) and the Nischala (Immovable)..at all times."
Divine Discourse, Jan 1 1964.
"The only blemish that affects the mind is illusion. It is like a fierce dog that prevents anyone from approaching the Master. One can manage to by pass it by assuming the roopam or the Form of the Master or by calling out loudly His Name so that He comes down and accompanies you inside His house. For the Master to do so, you must win His Grace. Illusion is His pet, if the Master orders it to desist from harming you, it will not harm you. The Master comes to save not one good man from illusion, but the whole of mankind. The Lord manifests Himself only to shower Grace."
-Divine Discourse, Jan 1, 1964.
"Bhakthi (Devotion) and Shraddha (sincerity) are the two oars with which you can take the boat across the sea of Samsara (worldly life). A child told its mother when it went to bed at night, "Mother, wake me up when I get hungry." The mother answered, "There is no need for me to wake you up, your hunger will itself wake you." So too, when you are hungry for God, that hunger will activate you and make you seek the food you need. God has endowed you with hunger and He supplies the food too. He has endowed you with illness and He gives the specifics you need too. Your duty is to see that you use the appropriate food or drug!"
-Divine Discourse, Mahashivarathri, 1955.
"You might wonder and even doubt how it is possible for the Lord to dwell in every being. Have you not seen one single mango seed, grow into a tree which gives thousands of fruits? In each of the fruit, there is to be found a seed, very identical to the one which was first planted. So too, the One Lord, can be found in every being created by His Will."
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 1 Ch 8, Mar 24, 1958.
"Practice moderation in speech. That will help you in many ways. It will develop Prema (Love), for most misunderstandings and factions arise out of carelessly spoken words. When the foot slips, the wound can be healed. But when the tongue slips, the wound it causes in the heart of another will fester for life. The tongue is liable to four big errors - uttering falsehood, scandalising, finding fault with others, and excessive articulation. These have to be avoided if there has to be Shanthi (Peace) for the individual as well as for the society. The bond of brotherhood will be tightened if people speak less and speak sweet. You are all spiritual aspirants at various stages of the road and mounam (Silence) as a discipline will be valuable for you."
-Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 1 Ch 10, July 22, 1958.
Be like a bee, drinking the nectar of every flower; not the mosquito drinking blood and distributing disease in return. First, consider all as children of the Lord, as your own brothers and sisters. Develop the quality of love, always seek the welfare of humanity. Love, and you will be loved in return. Hate will never be your lot, if you promote love and look upon all with love.
- Sathya Sai Speaks, Ch 5, Vol I, Feb 23, 1958.
"You must be wary of one impurity - intolerance of another's success, prosperity or progress. If you cannot help another, at least avoid doing him harm or causing him pain. That itself is a great service. What right have you to find fault with another or to talk evil of another? When you say that nothing can ever happen on earth without His will, why get annoyed or angry? Your duty is to cleanse yourself and engage in your own inner purification. That endeavor will bring you the co-operation of all good men and you will find strength and joy welling up within you."
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol I, Ch 12, Aug 2, 1958.
"Every person has Divinity embedded in him, as well as truth and sweetness. Only he/she does not know how to manifest that Divinity and how to realize that Truth or taste that sweetness. Courage is the tonic for acquiring both physical as well as mental health and their strength. Give up doubt, hesitation and fear. Do not give any chance for these to strike root in your mind. Keep the name of the Lord always on your tongue and dwell on the endless forms of the Lord. Attach yourself to Him, the temporary objects will themselves fall off!"
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, , Vol I, Ch 14, Sep 2, 1958
Bhava Advaitham is the condition of always being one with God in feelings, hence one behaves like God in any moment of need. It is also referred to as our guardian angel, but God can take or enter any form in a flash of a split second and become God's Grace.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/29195
"Many times, we recall the incidents where we had mislaid something valuable or where we had found ourselves in an awkward situation. When all seemed to have been completely lost, Baba had, in the guise of another person, turned up to help us. On meeting Baba, He would then tell us-'Yes, I came to your rescue on such and such day!'
I always thought, wrongly of course, that Baba would, on these occasions, come physically but disguised as another person. Until one day, I grasped the meaning of 'Bhava Advaitham'. The person who comes to rescue another in a moment of distress is God Himself! He has become One with God…hence he behaves like God."
The following discussion about the Vedic philosophy was prepared by P k Psabhlok. More of his expalanations can be found in his book on the internet.
Human Soul (Atma) contains all a-priori knowledge of Vedas (Rig Veda). When Soul was provided to human beings Vedas were revealed (Atharva Veda). Hence Vedas are Shruti. Later even sacred Adi Grantha confirmed “Omkar Ved nirnmayi” i.e. Vedas were revealed by God.
Dear followers of Vedic Sanatan Dharma,
Subject: Universality of Rig Veda- directly revealed by God
Most of the followers of Vedic Sanatan Dharma are aware that Rig Veda was last year accorded a high status amongst various scriptures of the world and accepted by UNESCO as part of the world Heritage. Also a meeting of the US Senate (though under controversy by some fanatic elements) commenced with a recitation of Vedic hymns.
Rig Veda is a part of world heritage as it is the only scripture which refers to all possible divine (eternal), spiritual (withdraw able) and material (perishable) subjects on this earth rather the entire universe. It refers to ideal mosaic society of four divine Varnas and fifth non divine avarnas/vritras. An education system extending up to 44/48 years of age to decide “chatvar varna ashram” of four divine “Varnas” Shudra, Vaish, Kshatriyas and Brahmins with allotted duties based on merit, ability and aptitude and not on Birth. The non- divine Avanas/Vritras are those having ambivalent personality, hypocrites, and followers of blind pursuit of matter, magicians, marplots, bribe takers etc who are eye sore of any society
Rig Veda as Shruti, refers to a large number of cosmic Laws of necessity (Rta), having created even the God follows these laws sternly. Nine kinds of Corruption entering human body through ninety nine (99) sources is a major subject of Rig Veda. Since our two main didactic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are Vedas retold, 9 kinds of corruption was depicted through nine corrupt heads of Ravana and 99 sources through 99 corrupt sons of Kaurva’s blind king Dhritrashtra.
The other major subjects covered comprehensively are social, physical and military sciences and scientific temper is even higher than material sciences. The difference between soul (atma) manifested soul (jivatma) and spirit (jiva) and their respective roles in tri-ani-pada (human three bodies as one) is clearly explained in Rig Veda. The Supreme Father is the ineffable and formless Brahman and Supreme Mother is divine Nature Prakrti. The golden lid as cosmic delusion (not illusion) in this vast sea of matter i.e. Vedic Phantasmagoria (MAYA) is also a very major subject of Rig Veda. Other important subjects are Universal Brotherhood, One Global Family of our Supreme Father and Supreme Mother, harmony of spirit and matter in Artha (meta-economics), para and apar Jnan (higher and lower knowledge) and many others.
Lately Sanatan Dharma is getting deviated from Vedic teachings and guidelines and getting diluted owing to universal radicalism of our Gurus, Swamis, guru Ammas, Babas etc who go abroad to get donations/charities from NRIs and even foreigners but never declare they are Hindus. Our children are getting confused on Hindu Dharma as many parents are not able to explain what Hindu Dharma is?
On my retirement as an ordinary common follower of Vedic Hindu Dharma, I made an earnest effort to study four Vedas and based on my limited knowledge and capacity wrote a book on Vedic Metaphysics for the seekers of Vedic knowledge put it on the Internet for on line reading and even taking print at no cost.
The Book “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” is available on Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics. Through the Search Engines of <google .com>, <yahoo.com>, and <lulu.com> the book is also accessible.
Kindly feel free to let me know if I have deviated from the original Vedic metaphysics in my above mentioned book, so that I can study that part of Vedas again and rectify/modify that portion of the book. My sole aim is to present Vedic metaphysics for the seekers of Vedic knowledge truthfully within my limited knowledge and capacity.
I shall be anxiously awaiting your response.
With kind regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
P.S
Metaphysics contained in Rig Veda is also largely found in Plato’s metaphysics. Plato spent a number of years in the company of Vedic Rsis and Munnies during his about one decade visit to Eastern parts of Greece up to North West India. Through St Aquinas and St. Augustine part of Plato’s metaphysics got included in Christianity. If we revive Vedas, directly revealed by God, Hindu Sanatan Dharma gets strengthened.
2. I have tried to explain Vedic metaphysics in simple English, Hindi/Hindustani during my talk in Los Angles (State University of California- Fullerton (Orange County), Hong Kong to a small group of Chinese, French and Indians, Chennai in Tattvaloka, Pune in Aikya Bharti and few places in and around Delhi. With a view to spread Vedic metaphysics and strengthen Vedic Sanatan Dharma, I am always available for talk on Vedas along with Q/A session. Normally this talk lasts for about 2 hours and about one hour for Q/A on Vedic metaphysics. There is an urgent need to spread Vedic knowledge at the grass root level in local languages.
MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now!
Dear Spiritual Brothers and Sisters,
Subject: Brief Description of the Supreme Reality in Vedas.
A number of hymns in the Vedas describe God in details. A few hymns can be mentioned for proper understanding of Nirguna Brahma who is the Universal God. Rig Veda 6-15-13 and 14 mentions that He is a pure illuminator, unifier and remover of all miseries, commands all to observe non-violence and other rules of righteousness, which are a-priori principles beyond any sense experience.
Rig-Veda 6-47-18 says that for each form, He is the Model. It is His Forms that are to be seen everywhere, in spiritual and material things. He exists in all animate and inanimate life/things but He is manifest in the human beings where He dwells in their hearts (Sama Veda 860). A similar description that He dwells in the human hearts is also there in Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bahgavatam and many other scriptures.
Rig Veda 1-9-5, 6 mentions, “He is the Lord of knowledge, infinite wisdom and material wealth”. He pervades the matter and the whole space (A.V.19-20-2). All the four Vedas describe that He and His laws (Rta) are the same. Those who follow His laws and commandments can realize Him in one birth. He is unborn (ajo) and incarnation of God as a human being is not visualized (Y.V.34-53, 40-8 and A.V. 10-23-4). He lives within you and you live within Him as one of His tiny living cells. .
The Vedic metaphysics contained in Upanishads tell us that He has no demand for material offerings, donations, blind, proxy and ostentatious worship but wants all the human beings to follow His laws (Rta) of social, moral and physical order and assist him in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design. Vedas tell us that all evils, corruption, bribery, naked selfishness and material desires are more rampant with people who do not follow His laws (Rta). Majority of such persons even create pollution of all kinds, environmental hazards, social and economic tensions in society and thus knowingly or unwittingly go against His laws and tend to create social, moral and physical disorder.
Vedas advise open discussions on religion, ethics, morality, divinity, soul, spirit and Prakrti in an assembly where all individuals are advised to participate. This august body in the Vedas is described as Vidhta. Being ineffable, He does not want the human beings to praise Him all the time about His attributes. As Sankracharya said, "even the words recoil to describe Him". Categories, quantity, quality, colour and words cannot explain Him. Thus Vedas give great importance that we should know and understand Him.
He is an impersonal God, impartial and Unmoved Mover but moves the universe in a wondrous design. There are a number of hymns relating to Rta-laws of God, which He observes and follows Himself sternly. He never breaks them and this result in equilibrium in the entire universe. There is a mention that even animals, birds, plants as well as all inanimate things follow these laws. The more you understand and love Him, the more you go away from ostentatious, blind and proxy worship of gods. The inert matter starts disappearing and you start realising that all human beings are spiritual brothers and sisters. Vedic God has only blessings and mercy for all His creation and no curse for His creatures. If an individual is leading a miserable life of stress, it is his/her own creation as the individuals are their own greatest friends and their own enemies.
This brief description is from Chapter 8 of “Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics” available on Internet for on-line reading and even taking print at no-cost. The book is accessible through google.com or Yahoo.com or lulu.com as well as Website http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/.
To strengthen Vedic Sanatan Dharma (eternal religion) kindly render divine social service and forward this e-mail to the seekers of Vedic knowledge.
With kind regards,
Yours Spiritual Brother
Prem .Sabhlok
Revival of Vedas will strengthen Hinduism.. It will facilitate Hindus to explain Sanatan Dharma logically and scientifically to our young children who are getting influenced by Western materialistic thoughts. I have seen during my past over 35 years of experience as a college lecturer and later as a senior government official that many Hindu children while filling application form/giving their bio-data write “Religion” as Atheism/Humanism.
If Hindu children write so in India, I am sure similar problem exists with Hindu parents abroad..
Earlier we revive Vedas we strengthen Hindu religion/Dharma and avoid Hinduism from further shrinkage when two fast long distance runners i.e. Islam and Christianity are competing with each other to convert followers of other religions.
Vedas are relevant to day more than in the past. As Vedas (directly revealed from God hence Shruti) contain Ocean of knowledge their revival can even make many scriptures of other religions as Redundant.
Regards,
Prem Sabhlok
The indhriyas (sense organs) may be used for the purpose of increasing spiritual joy (bliss) in this very life. When a fruit juice is poured into a cup, the cup does not know its taste. If you hold it in the palm, you do not get the taste. You have to drink it with the straw, the senses; then buddhi (the intellect) using the tongue can experience the sweetness. The fruit juice is prakrithi (Nature). To drink is to taste the sweetness, which is to experience Divinity that is immanent in it. This is the purpose and the rationale. Prakrithi (Nature) is just a Leela (Creation) of the Lord set before you, so that you may become aware of His Glory, His splendor.
- Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 3, Ch 17, 2-8-1963
"Divinity is the basis of human life. You can Divinise your life by your Karma (action). Offer salutions to Karma before undertaking it. A driver, before taking his seat, offers salutations to the steering wheel. A dancer pays obeisance to her anklets before she wears them and starts her dance performance. A devotee pays his respects to the Gita before reading it. The purpose of offering prayer to Karma is to see that you perform only good actions which yield good results. This is the teaching of our ancient culture."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Do not distinguish between your work and God's work. Your work is God's work as you and God are one. It is a mistake to think that all that you do in the prayer hall is God's work and outside it is your work. You should not entertain such feelings of separateness. Consider your heart as the altar of God and turn your vision inward. One who understands this truth and acts accordingly is a true human being."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Before undertaking any task, enquire whether it is pleasing to God. You are bound to attain success if God is pleased with your actions. Do not go by your own likes and dislikes. Conduct yourself in accodance with God's wish. Eschew selfishness and self-interest. Cultivate sacredness and steadfastness."
Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi.
"Matru Devo bhava, pitru Devo bhava, acharya Devo bhava, atithi Devo bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor and guest as God) is one of the main teachings of the Vedas. Sathyam vada, dharmam chara (speak truth, practise righteousness) is also the principal teaching of the Vedas. But these teachings of the Vedas are not seen or heard anywhere today. Wherever we look in the world these days, greed and desire are on the rise. Even the people of other countries feel the need to control the senses. People today are accumulating sin due to the misuse of their senses. It is alright to have desires, but they should be within certain limits. People today have limitless desires."
1.5.2008 - Divine Discourse
"There are many people who consider worship as important. They disregard work in the process. This is the big mistake. Worship is important, of course. But, what is worship? Offering of various kinds of flowers to the image of God is not worship in the real sense. You should offer the flower of your heart to God. That is why I told you earlier, offer to God the flowers of non-violence and sense control, compassion on all creatures, forbearance and peace, penance, meditation and truth above all. These flowers are dear to the Lord."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Today, the rich and the educated are neglecting spirituality. They consider money as the be-all and end-all of life. Money can never give peace and bliss. Devotion is most essential. The country is facing hardships because people lack devotion to God."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"One may be wealthy but wealth is useless if one lacks character. After death, are you able to carry your bank balance with you? No. It will remain in the bank only. You can not carry even a fistful of sand with you. So, character is most essential."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Om Sai Jai Sai Jai Jai Sai
The Essence of the Spiritual Life
by Sri Swami Atmaswarupananda
Scriptures tell us that in the beginning, One alone was; and then that One said, "Let there be many." But even then, One alone was; and even now, One alone is. What is the nature of that One alone? Scriptures tell us that it is unknowable, unthinkable, but to try to help us, they say, "It is That which was the same in the beginning, is the same now and will ever be the same." And they say that it is of the nature of existence, consciousness, bliss; or if you want a simple description, it is "I".
That "I" is everywhere, manifesting Itself as everything. But in the
human being there is a peculiarity. That "I" manifests as self-
awareness. Unfortunately that self-awareness is not an awareness of
the grandeur, the unknowableness of the "I", but rather, that self-
awareness identifies with a body and mind. This we call ego. It means
we feel separate.
The word hell comes from an old English word meaning to be walled off
from. So hell means to be separate. On the other hand, the word
heaven comes from the same root as the word harmony. So hell means
separation and heaven means harmony. Thus, when the principle of self-
awareness in the human being identifies with the body, it feels
separate, and that is hell. When it identifies with the true "I"--I am That--it is in harmony, it is in heaven.
The whole purpose of the spiritual life is to convert this self-
awareness in the human being from a mistaken awareness that "I am the
body" to a true awareness that "I am That." How is this done? It is
not just enough to discover this truth intellectually, nor even to
feel this truth, we must actually become this truth. That means we
can no longer assert the separate "I". The separate "I" has to
surrender to the true "I"; it has to take refuge in the true "I"; it
has to follow the true "I". There is nothing else to the spiritual
life, in the final analysis, except this.
Following the ego keeps us in hell and compounds the hell. When we
repent, which means to turn around and go in the other direction, we
surrender our individuality, our separateness, and exchange it for
harmony with the Whole. This is spiritual life. And if our spiritual
life doesn't contain this element of surrender, if it doesn't contain
this movement from separation to harmony, it perhaps explains why we
don't feel that we're making the progress we had hoped for.
Therefore, the essence of the spiritual life is moving from being
separate to being in harmony. The ego doesn't usually want to do it
until it has suffered so much that it sees that there is no other
way. Thus, often suffering can be a great blessing. But we needn't
suffer if we have the humility to see that the essence of the
spiritual life is in surrendering our individuality and taking refuge
in God, that it is in surrendering our sense of separation, so that
we are in harmony.
Source: http://www.dlshq.org/messages/essence.htm
Baba Said....
"Other kinds of charities are imperfect without this Annadana
(donation of food)"
Jai Sai Ram
Swamy Mahadevan
Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all
Baba Bless you ever!!!
"Many of you may be wealthy. Many of you are scholars. Your greatness will not be judged merely by your possessions. To what extent you are spending your wealth in a good way, to what extent you are using your learning to good purpose, to what extent you are using your intellect for the good of the community, that is what counts with Bhagavan."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Today, the world is losing it's ecological balance as man, out of utter selfishness, is robbing mother earth of her resources like coal, petroleum, iron, etc. As a result, we find earthquakes, floods and such other devastating natural calamities. Human life will find fulfillment only when ecological balance is maintained. Balance in human life and balance in nature, both are equally important."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"The human body has been referred to as 'Tungabhadra'. Tunga means infinite and Bhadra means auspiciousness. Thus, when one uses the word Tungabhadra for the human body, it means that the body is the reservoir of infinite auspiciousness. Every one must therefore carefully introspect to check whether this sacred gift called the body is being properly used or misused and mishandled."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Since ancient times, the Bharatiyas have been worshipping trees, anthills and even stones. Many people do not understand the real meaning of these practices and consider the Bharatiyas as foolish and superstitious. But this is not true, for there is nothing in this world which is not Divine. This being the case, what is wrong in worshipping a tree or a stone? This demonstrates that God is ONE. But this principle of unity is not understood by men today."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Light and Love
Sister Sarah has sent the Special III part of Sai Vedam of the Spiritual Wing, Shrewsbury Sai Group, Region 4, SSSSO, UK.
Vedas underline that we should place God (Cosmic Consciousness, Swami's Cosmic Form) as our ultimate goal in everything we do. Our feelings are the forms of different frequencies of the Universe's Divine play. Through Vedas you suddenly can find that God's will is your own true wil, l alias God's will and the will of your Spirit are the same. All things form a whole, and nothing can ever subtract from or add to it. So the Reality is the holographic fractal's reflection of the Divine play. "Play it," Swami advices.
Namaste - Reet
"Traditional and ritualistic practices are certainly needed to start with. It is like learning the alphabet first when one learns a language. Once you have the alphabet a, b, c, d, etc., you can learn words like God. After learning words, one can form sentences. Once one can read sentences, one can then read an entire book. In the same way, wise men of the past initiated people to the concept of Divinity by advising them to visit temples, holy places, etc. This is rather like learning the alphabet. All such practices were recommended as spiritual drill for the ordinary people and beginners on the spiritual path. But practicising rituals without understanding their real meaning becomes an obstacle in spiritual growth."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"What is the point of offering to God what has been provided by God himself? You should pray, "O God, everything is yours, this whole body is yours, all the limbs and organs are yours. I am yours and you are mine." When this kind of identity is established, there is no further need for any external form of worship. But, for those who have not reached this exalted state, these various physical forms of Sadhana such as Japa, Tapa and Dhyana are suitable."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Divinity is immanent in equal measure in every thing - good or bad, righteous or un-righteous, sacred or un-sacred. If you expect others to respect and love you, you should first respect and love them. Without respecting or loving others, you can not expect any reciprocal feeling from them. In the same way, if you love God, God loves you. Life consists of reaction, resound and reflection. You get back exactly what you do to others."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Every one has to face the consequences of his actions. None can predict when and how, but you are bound to face them. However, when you constantly think of God, you will never be put to suffering. God will protect you from all suffering. He will always be with you, in you, around you, safeguarding you."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Be fearless. Do not be afraid even if a thunderbolt were to land on your head. Death comes only once and not twice. It is bound to come on one day or the other. So, do not be afraid of death. Be ready for any thing. Do not be afraid to follow Truth. Fill your life with love. Only then will your life be sanctified."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"The Vedas demonstrate and emphasize the existence of God. The Hindu Sidhapurushas (those who attained the highest goal of spiritual exercises or sadhana) have all traveled the Vedic path and carried out their investigations according to Vedic teachings.
The Sastras contain authentic versions of their experiences and the bliss they won. In the Sastras, and in the Upanishads, they assert, "We had the awareness of the Atma.
Hindus do not aim at confronting a dogma or a theory and scoring a victory over it. They aim at testing that dogma or theory in actual practice. Their goal is not merely faith. It is the Stithi (the stage reached) the Sidhi (the wisdom won).
The life-aim of the Bharathiyas/Hindus is to reach fulfillment through constant sadhana, the fulfillment that comes from the awareness of one's divinity.
Mergence with the Divine is the attainment of fullness. Emergence with the Divine is the attainment of fullness. This is the Supreme Victory for the Hindu, the Bharathiya."
-Baba
Source: Sathya Sai Vahini, Page 7-8
"The body is inert and perishable. Then, why should you have attachment to it? The body is necessary to perform your duties. You have to utilize it as an instrument. But do not identify yourself with this instrument. If you do so, it will affect your power to identify yourself with the self or the Atma."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"The gross body is made up of food. The mind, the intellect, the chitta and the Ahamkara constitute the subtle body. It is the subtle body that experiences pain and pleasure. The illumination mind comprises the causal body. It transcends worldly thoughts and feelings. There is no trace of desire, anger, greed, ego, pride and jealousy in it. The level of illumination mind is reached only when all the worldly thoughts are subdued."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"At the time of birth, man has no desires. But as he grows up, he acquires many desires which lead to bondage. Man should fill his mind with love for God. He should forget all his worries and contemplate on Him. This is possible only through practice."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Contentment and Surrender
BABA Says
"God is great. He is the Supreme Master.
Allah Malik: How great is God! No one can compare with him.
He creates, supports and destroys. His sport (Lila) is inscrutable.
Let us be content to remain as He makes us, to submit our wills to His. Allah Rakega Vahisa Rahena. Take what comes. Be contented and cheerful. Never worry. Not a leaf moves, but by His consent and will.
We should be honest, upright and virtuous.
We must distinguish right from wrong.
We must each attend to his own duty.
But we must not be obsessed by egotism and fancy that we are the independent causes of action. God is that Actor. We must recognise His independence and our dependence on Him and see all acts as His. if we do so, we shall be unattached and free from Karmic bondage."
(Source Sai Baba Charters and Sayings)
http://www.saileelas.org/books/babasayings.htm
"Never think that society can not progress if you do not render service. Society does not depend on you. If not you, some one else will do the needful. God governs everything."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"When you serve others, your power will also increase. The power of attraction is present in every body. The purer you become, the greater will be your power of attraction and so, you will absorb more power. All the powers that are present in the earth are latent in man. Man, in fact, is the reservoir of all powers - electrical, magnetic and laser. Thus, man is very powerful."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"One should not become egoistic, thinking that one is doing great service. Actually, service is meant to kill ego. You can not call it service if it is rendered with ego. First of all, ego has to be subdued. Body attachment is the root cause of ego. Ego will vanish once the body attachment is given up. The spirit of oneness will develop once the ego is annihilated."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Fire is seen if you blow the ash away from live ambers. You can see clear water only after removing the moss from its surface. A person's vision is clouded when he has cataract in his eyes, but when the cataract is operated upon, he gets back his normal vision. Similarly, as long as a person is under the influence of the mind, he identifies himself with the body and experiences pleasure and pain. Once he transcends the mind, the dualities of the world do not exist for him. He visualizes Divinity every where.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
Today man tries to know Divinity with his mind. In order to visualize Divinity, you should understand the principle of the Atma or 'I'. The Atma is formless. So long as you are attached to your form, you will not understand what Atma means.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Some people give money to the priest and ask him to perform worship on their behalf. Will your hunger be appeased if some one else eats on your behalf? Likewise, how can you get the benefit of worship performed by the priest? Any good activity should be undertaken by the concerned person himself in order to derive the benefit from it."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Today the scientists are interested in new inventions. The advancement in science and technology has also led to imbalance in nature. As a result, there are earthquakes and no timely rains. Science should be utilized only to the extent needed. It should observe its limits. When it crosses these limits, it leads to danger.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"You are proud of your youth. But how long does youth last? Soon you will become an old man. Do not put your faith in your youthful prowess, place your firm faith in God. Realize your self confidence. Self confidence leads to self satisfaction and self-satisfaction leads to self-sacrifice which in turns leads to self-realization."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Man today aspires for a long life but not for a Divine life. It is a common practice among elders to bless younger people with long life when they offer their salutations to them. Of what use is such a long life if it is bereft of virtues? It is virtues that give meaning to a long life."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Food is God. Do not waste food. Do not waste money. Money makes many wrongs. Misuse of money is evil. The rich squander their wealth in drinking and gambling. Money should be put to proper use. One should not spend as one pleases. Do not waste energy and do not waste time. These are the four important principles which a man should adhere to. Time wasted is life wasted. Instead of wasting time in vain gossip, utilize it to serve society. Help everybody to the extent possible."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Having been born from the Atma, man should always contemplate on the Atma. He will become restless and face hardships if he forgets the Atma. So, never forget the Atma, the source of your origin. Treat the Atma as the basis of your life. This is the Dharma that man should adhere to. You may occupy positions of authority, you may have wealth and prosperity, but none of them can protect you. Only faith in the self can protect you."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"A paper has no smell of its own. If it is used for wrapping pakodas or dry fish or jasmine flowers, it acquires the smell of the item wrapped in it. The heart may be compared to paper. If good feelings are packed in it, you will certainly develop good tendencies. See good, hear good, talk good and do good."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"There are 84 lakh species in God's creation. These 84 lakh species are subjected to three types of afflictions, viz., Adhibhouthika, Adhidaivika and Adhyatmika. Adhibbhouthika refers to the diseases that are caused by insects like mosquitoes, flies, etc., Adhidaivika relates to the sufferings caused by natural calamities like earthquakes, floods and epidemics, e.g., cholera, plague, etc. Adhyatmika refers to the sufferings that result from wrong food and bad habits. It also includes the sufferings caused by cruel animals and wicked people. What is the remedy for these types of afflictions man has to undergo. Man should have strong faith in the Self."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"A poet may compose grand verses in praise of God and also pray for his protection. The feeling is important and not the manner in which the verses are composed. One may extol God according to one's own capacity but one should do so with pure, steady and sacred feelings. One may be doing Bhajans, offering worship and undertaking service activities for a number of years. But all this will prove futile if there is no transformation of the heart. The heart should be filled with compassion. Only then can it be called a temple of God. Otherwise, it becomes verily a devil's den."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Never think that society can not progress if you do not render service. Society does not depend on you. If not you, some one else will do the needful. God governs everything."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"The tongue observes the ideal sacrifice. When it tastes sweet delicacies, it sends them the stomach. But if the item is bitter, the tongue at once spits it out. Not merely that, the tongue conducts itself in the most respectful manner. It does not step out of its house (mouth) under any circumstances. It does all its work without crossing its limits. While all other senses do only one work each, the tongue alone has the capacity to do two types of work, namely, to taste and to speak. That is why one has to exercise proper control over the tongue lest it should indulge in sinful activities like talking ill of others."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"You should always speak what is good and listen to good words. If you happen to hear something evil, do not tell it to others. What is the purpose of making others restless by telling them something which has robbed you of your peace? Today there are people who not only lend their ear to evil talk but also spread the same to the rest of the society causing a great deal of unrest."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Don't associate with any one who is afflicted with jealousy even at the cost of your life. Jealousy is the worst of all evil qualities. Three-fourths of the world is ruined because of jealousy. It is very dangerous to cultivate association with people of evil traits. Even a little contact with them can pollute you with their evil qualities."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Suppose some one comes to your doorstep with his baggage. If you receive him and start exchanging pleasantries, he will immediately enter your house and settle down in it. On the other hand, if you ignore him completely, he will go to a hotel or a lodge. Likewise, when evil qualities try to enter your mind, just ignore them. Then you entertain them, they will rule over you. When you come across something evil, do not look at it, talk about it or listen to it. Just ignore it. That is the true human quality."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Today there is no love and sympathy among the members of a family though they live in the same house. However it was not so in olden days. Five or six families lived together in harmony in a small dwelling unit and it became a home for all the inmates. There is a lot of difference between a house and a home. When there is tolerance and sympathy among the members of the family, it is a home. Absence of tolerance and sympathy reduces Palace to a Forest."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
A discussion about the Vedas from a scientific perspective. Click on the Youtube link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B7PgHa4 ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B7PgHa4sSs&feature=related)
India - vedic secret
"Since no one had ever explained the nature of Divinity in this manner, people have fallen into dogmatic theories. God is immanent in every human being, nay, all living beings. There is no place where God is not present. Wherever you see, God is present there. In fact, you need not come over here to see God. He is very much present in the place where you reside.
Remind yourself, "I am the Embodiment of Divine Atma; the Atma is immanent in me."
1.1.2009 - Divine Discourse
Vedic Message about Dharma- path of righteousness
(Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides" (Rig Veda)
"Rtam, Satyam, Dharmam," -Cosmic laws of social, moral and physical orders (Rtam) are eternal truths (Satyam) and following these Rta (cosmic laws) is Vedic Dharma (Rig Veda)
Dear Seekers of Vedic Knowledge and those who are keen to end corrupt practices in the world,
Subject: Corruption as described in Vedas
Rig Veda contains a large number of hymns/riks on the causes of corruption and how to eliminate the same in any mosaic society. In the other three Vedas also a few mantras/hymns relate to Corruption.
Sama Veda 179 and 913 describes Corruption as hydra headed, having nine heads (nine kinds) and it enters the human body through ninety nine sources i.e. nine kind of corruption enters through five senses, five sense organs and etani i.e.the outward looking mind (9X11==99). Later Ramayana described this evil through nine corrupt heads of Ravana. We burn his nine corrupt heads every year on Dussehra day.
Similarly later Mahabharata described 99 sources of entry of corruption through 99 corrupt sons of blind Kaurva king Dhritrashtra. 99 vritras (powers of evil) are mentioned in Rig Veda 1-84-13. It further says in 1-104-3 taking bribe for money belonging to the state is misappropriation of public funds. All bribe takers are thieves of the Supreme Reality and they get rebirth in the foulest of the womb (confirmed even in Bhagavad-Gita). R.V 3-34-6 and Yajur Veda 30-22 ordain the corrupt people should not be allowed by the ruler to mix with people following chatvar varnasharam (four divine professions). Y.V 30-19 and R.V 5-61-8 mention that those persons who praise and justify are also corrupt persons, keep away from them. R.V 1-42-4 even mentions keep away from Gurus (preceptors) who take donations/charity. Incidentally In the Vedas Guru is Gu- darkness and Ru- means to dispel. Thus Guru is dispeller of inner and outer darkness.
Causes of Corruption
1. The corruption creeps in society when the matter is considered as inert and the members of society do not find any sin in treating the benign mother earth as a quarry. In Rig Vedas spirit of God is in the shuniya (cosmic void) of each sub atomic particle of atom- the building block of matter. Hence the matter has unsuspected vitality and its use on need based living is virtue and its excessive use is a sin. Corruption creeps in a society where economics (artha) is based on inert matter and the possession of wealth/any kind of matter having predominance of tamasic guna of stupor is considered as a matter of pride.
MAYA creates a Golden dazzling Disc for such individuals and hides the truth and Supreme Reality for them.
Maya also creates the greatest miracle of an illusion of comfort in this vast turbulent sea of matter that we search for the Supreme Reality Vedic Brahman every where when He resides in our hearts.
2. Rig Veda further says that purpose of human birth is to assist nirguna (ineffable and formless) Brahman who is also the Supreme Architect (Viswakarma) in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design.
For the maintenance of this Design, He has created Rta- eternal cosmic laws of necessity and wants all human beings to follow the same. Having created these eternal laws of nature "He Himself" follows them sternly lest a great harm is done to the cosmic creation. Thus He and His Laws (Rta) are the same. When the individuals in any society starts ignoring these laws available to human beings through the Book of Nature (which even blind individuals can read), corruption creeps in society.
3. R.V 10-34-13 also says that any kind of gambling particularly the game of dice is also cause of corruption.
The vehement effect of this evil of the game of dice was described in Mahabharata.
Corruption destroys all the noble attributes of human beings due to pursuit of only material knowledge bereft of spiritual and divine knowledge, which in Vedas is ignorance/nescience/ajnan. (R.V 1-129-6).
Only harmonized divine, spiritual and material knowledge is true knowledge (Janan) in Vedas.
Start of Corruption
Rig Veda says when even one human being dies of starvation, it is a signal that corruption has crept in society and avarnas (followers of non-divine professions) who want honour, power and wealth for themselves have started multiplying.
In Kaliyuga (Dark Age) their number far exceeds the followers of four divine professions (varnas).
Ethics and community welfare becomes the greatest casualty. Rig Veda says the thieves (bribe givers/takers) who consider matter as inert become insensitive to hydra headed corruption and resort to ostentatious worship and donations/gift culture to gain social recognition. Most of them drift from darkness to utter darkness through meditation (Isa Upanishad and Yajur Veda).
The various virtuous concepts like iddm nan mmam –nothing for self all for society, moderation of Vedas/middle path of Buddha and the noble concept of illusion of comfort in the vast turbulent sea of matter (Vedic Phantasmagoria-Cosmic delusion MAYA) are no longer considered as virtue in the materialistic corrupt society dominated by non divine avarna, vritras, kimidin etc.
In India this evil of corruption is now becoming "Leviathan" and giant demon and is spreading like wild fire. The guide lines given by the wise metaphysicists (rsis of yore) and wandering sages (munnies of the Vedic period) can help in arresting this nefarious and extremely dangerous drift. Kautaliya in his socio-political treatise "Arthashastra" (partly based on Vedic metaphysics) clearly says the evil of corruption spreads faster when the state gives lip sympathy to curb corruption and promote honesty.
For more details on corruption and other main subjects of Vedas, "Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics" for on line reading and even taking print at no cost is available on the Internet. Website is http://www.sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/.
Also the book can be accessed through search engines of google.com, yahoo.com, lulu.com. Search for the book
"Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics" or just "Vedic Metaphysics".
With kind regards,
Your spiritual brother
P.K.Sabhlok
Camp Melbourne
I humbly pray please take action fast before great damage is done to our Freedom and Independence.
Time is running out very fast. "It is Now or Never"
P.S
1. Revival of Vedas (Shruti –directly revealed by Nirguna Brahma for the entire mankind, can strengthen Sanatan Dharma (Vedic Eternal Dharma)- the path of righteousness.
2. Why Shruti? Atharva Veda explains it clearly. It tells us when soul was provided to human beings Vedas were revealed. Human soul contains all the knowledge of Vedas as well as Purpose of Human Birth. It is a separate matter that human beings do not communicate with their souls. Soul being vachispatiah- it can communicate when the vehement effect of cosmic delusion Maya disappears.
3. Vedas are the most secular yet divine guidelines for Universal Brotherhood
Swami Dayananda Saraswati says "It is the duty of all Aryas to study Vedas, listen to Vedic discourses and spread Vedic Knowledge" Revival of Vedas will save mankind from self destruction.
Dear seekers of Vedic Knowledge,
Subject: Atma (Soul), Jivatma (manifested Soul) and Jiva (Spirit) as described in Vedas
Atharva Veda tells us when Soul (Atma) was provided to human being Vedic knowledge was revealed. Thus human soul contains all the knowledge of VEDAS. Rig Veda says that PURPOSE of Human Birth as already known to human soul is to assist the Grand Designer (Vishwa Karma) in the maintenance of His Grand wondrous Design. Rig Veda further enlightens us when soul administer the gross body a person moves towards self realization and he/she starts following cosmic laws of necessity (Vedic Rta) relating to iddm nan mmam (nothing for self all for society), path of moderation, humility, love for the entire animate and inanimate life/things and many other such cosmic laws. However, Vedas categorically say “Atma can not be cognized by any of the senses and sense organs.”
It is the Soul which makes a person separate and distinct individual. The Spirit is the cause of his/her social being and along with mahabhuta- five main elements and three gunas of purity, activity and stupor, is the cause of good or bad actions of the individuals. The right and virtuous path is only known to the manifested soul (jivatma), which is nearest on self-realization and farthest when phenomenal and the material worlds become the closest (A.V. X-8-8). The individuals who know and understand the Spirit as the powerhouse of creativity in them create subtle waves of nobility, love, and harmony even if they sit silently in any gathering or assembly.
Chhandogya Upanishad describes Spirit as the Creative force, which hides behind all animate and inmate life/things, moves us, moves the planets and moves the universe.
Yajur Veda 34-43 refers to human beings as tri-ani pada i.e. having three bodies in one- divine (causal body where soul resides near the heart), spiritual (subtle body energized by Spirit residing in shuniya (cosmic void ) and gross body where senses and sense organs reside). The soul makes a person divine animal, spirit makes a person social animal and senses and sense organs make a person material, political and economic man. Hence in the Vedas a man is divine, social and material animal. Many hymns in Rig-Veda 1-70-2, 1-65-1 and others mention that God lives in our souls as a true preceptor (Guru).
The term Guru in Vedas is from "Gu"-darkness and "Ru"- to dispel. Thus Guru is dispeller of both inner and outer darkeness.
The souls of human beings remain immortal. Based on accumulation of past and present karma - thoughts, deeds and actions, it becomes fierce, calm, terrible, fearless, ignorant and enlightened, trembling and steadfast, forbearing and nonbearing, passionate and ascetic and a prey to bewilderment (Y.V. 39-7). Thus the quality of manifested soul is different for each individual. The purity of the manifested soul and keeping it free from the effect of bad, corrupt and evil deeds, thoughts and desires make it as our philosopher, guide and friend.
The soul has been addressed by various names and epithets in the Vedas. Samrat (the ruler of the body), Vaishva Deva, Teja, Vak, Agneye, Prajapati in chapter 39 of Yajur Veda. Each name or epithet indicates its attributes, like the controlling lord, the nourisher of human beings, the just ruler etc., It is also called Twashta - subtle soul. In Bhagavad-Gita apart from atma, jivatma, words like sah (self), dehin, deha, sharirin, shariri are used (B.G.3-42, 14-11 and 12, 2-18). All these later epithets generally mean lord of the body.
The Spirit which is the life force has also its intermediaries, mind, will, intellect and ego, which are much higher and powerful than the body self i.e. gross body consisting of senses, sense organs etc. However, the Spirit becomes more or less effective in the gross body, not so much with age but kind of activities towards perfection or otherwise. With evil activities, thoughts and desires the gross body can start degenerating even at young age and the spirit gets weaker. Many of the physical sicknesses are related to your activities and thoughts and get further aggravated with idleness that Bhagavad-Gita describes as sin. Since God is perfect, the spirit always aims at perfection and in this movement towards perfection; it helps the gross body to remain healthy.
R.V 6-47-9 mentions soul as twashta- the subtle soul shines when senses are under control and sattavic guna of purity and truthfulness is predominant. According to Atharva Veda XI-8-30, the manifested soul (jiva atma) in the body administers it. The gross body of human beings is the soul holding body. Those individuals, who do not allow the soul to administer the body, normally are devoted to the letters of the scriptures and not the spirit behind their teachings. They camouflage their materialistic outlook in the form of fake spiritualism. According to Bhagavad-Gita, such persons cannot attain Vivek (determinate intellect B.G.2-42 to 44). However, where the body is administered by the manifested soul, even the human beings become Brahma and can say “Aham Brhaman Asi”- I am Brahman. This stage of perfect control of the body by manifested soul is described as "Chhavo" or "Shava". According to Atharva Veda XI-8-34, at this stage the soul in the human body becomes the highest force and vigour.
For more details on the subject along with the relevant Vedic hymn/mantra/rik about soul (atma), manifested soul (jivatma) and spirit (jiva) kindly see chapter 7 of Glimpses of Vedic Metaphysics on Website http://www,sabhlokcity.com/metaphysics/
The book is also available through search engines of <google.com> <Yahoo.com> and <lulu.com>.
Kindly render divine and noble social service and forward this e-mail to other seekers of Vedic knowledge and get the blessings of rsis and munnies of yore who found the Vedic permanent truths for the benefit of mankind of all ages..
With regards,
P.K.Sabhlok
Camp Melbourne
P.S
If any seeker of Vedic knowledge wants to know what Vedas say on any other particular subject, (Physica Sciences, Prakrti, Marriages, Maya, What happens after death, Vedic Education System etc, I can make an effort for the benefit of seekers of Vedic knowledge to study and convey the same along with the relevant mantra/hymn/rik. Revival of divine teachings and guidelines contained in Vedas is the only viable solution to escape from self destruction.
So, first and foremost, make your heart pure. It is only purity that attracts Divinity. If the iron filings are rusted, even the most powerful magnet will not attract them. In the same manner, how do you expect God to attract your mind, which is rusted with evil thoughts? See good, hear good, speak good and pleasant words, undertake sacred activities. If you act in this manner, God will certainly bestow his grace on you without your asking for it.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Golla
"Do not ask, O mind, do not ask. The more you ask, the more you will be neglected. God will certainly grant you what you deserve without your asking. Did He not grant the wish of Sabari, who never asked? Did He not redeem Jatayu, who never asked but sacrificed his life for His cause?"
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
God offers Himself to His devotees in exactly the same manner in which the devotees offer themselves to Him. If you constantly cry out, "O God, O most loving God," He responds by saying, "O My devotee, My dearest devotee." God has no thought other than that of His devotee. If the devotee always think of God, then God too will always be thinking of the devotee. No one can come between the two.
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
"Today cities have become centers of pollution and unrest. There is pollution everywhere, as man's mind has become polluted. If mind becomes pure, everything else will become pure. So, cleanse your mind. Drive out all your worries. What is the use of brooding over the past? Past is past, forget it. Future is uncertain. What is the guarantee that you will be alive tomorrow? Don't worry about your future. Present is very important. This is omni present, not ordinary present. So, make the best use of present and be happy."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
"The heart of a woman is highly sacred as it is filled with nectarine love and compassion. So, it melts easily. At times, women may also get angry, but they immediately repent and reconcile. Due to the impact of the Kali age, modern women are sometimes found lacking in the spirit of love. But even today, there are many women of virtues and character. It is because of such noble women that Bharat is what it is today. The progress of a nation depends on its women. So, never look down upon them."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"It is impossible to describe the love that exists between the mother and her child. The Bharatiyas consider the love of a mother as true love. But, unfortunately, modern youth do not realize the sacredness of mother's love. They keep their self-interest above their parents. They do not try to understand the love their parents have for them. He / she alone is true son / daughter who gives happiness to his / her parents."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"God is the manager of the bank of love. You have deposited your money in His bank. In order to withdraw money from this bank, you have to submit the cheque of sacrifice with the signature of love. Love is God; live in love. Any thing may happen, your love for God should not change. Only through such love can you follow the path of sacrifice and withdraw 'money' from the Divine bank. Here 'money' does not mean currency notes. It is the 'money' of grace, wisdom and righteousness."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Today man aspires to attain Mukthi (liberation). What is Mukthi? It is not the attainment of a heavenly abode. Mukthi means freedom from suffering. You need to have Mukthi at three levels - body, mind and soul. For example, you are hungry. When you eat food, your hunger is satiated. This is also a kind of Mukthi. You are suffering from a disease. You take a medicine and get cured. This is also Mukthi. All this is released to the body. At the mental level, Mukthi means controlling the vagaries of the mind. But true liberation lies in understanding the principle of the Atma which neither comes nor goes."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"When you have one pointed devotion towards the Lord, you see Him everywhere. When your thoughts, vision and words are sacred, you are verily God yourself. Then, you don't need to search for God. God Himself will come searching for you. God is every where; one need not search for Him. In fact, God Himself is in search of a good man. One who is a recipient of God's love is a good man. Such good man is Godman."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Though you are committing many sins, you do not consider them as sins. You think that they are quite natural to human beings. You keep committing mistakes, yet you pray for pardon. Actually, one should never seek pardon for the mistake committed. One should be prepared to undergo the punishment. Only then can one be free from defects. When a person commits a serious offence, he is put in a jail. He is released only after he undergoes the punishment for the required period. Likewise, if you want redemption, you should atone for your sins and be prepared to face punishment for your mistakes. You should exercise control over the senses and see that you do not repeat your mistakes."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Who is responsible for the erosion of values in man? He himself is responsible for his devaluation. Today we don't find any trace of human values in human beings. Human values do not come from outside. They are already there in every person. But man is not able to recognize this. He speaks untruth, undertakes wrong activities, looks at forbidden things and entertains wrong thoughts. He has lost his purity. How can we call a person a human being if he lacks human values?"
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"There is no question which is not answered in the Vedas. The Vedas contain the solutions to all the problems of man. For example, you can identify the day and date of referring to the almanac prepared by an expert. Similarly, the Vedas provide knowledge of prakriti, Paramatma and Jivatma. Only on delving deep into the Vedic teachings can one comprehend such profound truths."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi
"If you dig a well by the side of the sea, you will get only brine water. If you dig a well near the Ganga, you will get pure water of the Ganga itself. When you have got the pure water of the Ganga flowing nearby, why do you waste your energy, time and money by digging wells here and there? There is no need for any other well anywhere. God is like the Ganga. Be near God and be dear to Him and enjoy Bliss."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Worship any form, any name of God. In fact, God has thousands of names and forms. You worship God with thousands of names, but you should be fully aware that it is one Divinity you are addressing. Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Allah, Jesus, etc., all these names denote the same Divinity. Hold this faith firmly in your heart and lead a worthwhile and blissful life."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Install the Lord in your heart and offer Him the fruits of your actions and the flowers of your inner thoughts and feelings. That is the worship I like most, the Devotion I appreciate most. Implicit faith is the secret of spiritual success."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
"Having resolved, what ought to be resolved, hold on to it till you have succeeded. Having desired what ought to be desired, hold on to it till your desire is fulfilled. Having asked what ought to be asked, do not leave the hold till you get it. Having thought what ought to be thought, hold on to it till you have succeeded. With heart mellowed, the Lord must yield to your wishes or forgetting yourself, you should ask Him with all your heart. Persevere, be tenacious and never give up, for it is the quality of a Devotee never to retreat, abandoning his resolve."
(From : Sai Veda, The Word of God by Ramadas Gollapudi)
The Veda is Truth, not merely for Bharath (India) but for all people on earth for all time.
The Vedas are Eternal Truths. They existed even before the people of this land discovered, practised and experienced them. Just as Western physicists announced the existence of gravitation after their experiments, the ancients of this land demonstrated the innate authenticity of the Vedas through their own experience. Here too, the Veda existed long before it was discovered and put into practice. Newton’s Laws of Gravitation benefited the whole world. They express universal truths applicable to all places and times. They are not confined to Western countries only. So too, the Veda is Truth, not merely for Bharath but for all people on earth.
Source: Sathya Sai Vahini, P-210.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.10 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.