What stands for fearlessness? Why?

The content of this article is taken from the satsang (spiritual discourse) of H.H. Sant Shri Asharam ji Bapu. Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in September 1893. A hundred years after him, Pujya Bapu Ji addressed the same Parliament in September 1993 and the whole parliament reverberated with the chanting of Hari Om. Both of these world-renowned spiritual leaders addressed the audience for a much longer period than the given time and the audience were absorbed in listening to them.

To save the youth who are being ruined due to the lustful festivals like valentine’s day, in 2007 Pujya Bapu ji-initiated celebrations of Matri-Pitri Pujan Diwas (Parents’ worship day) on 14th February. Pujya Bapu ji felt that, due to the blind imitation of Western culture there has been a steep rise in the incidences of alcoholism, suicide, and other immoral activities, especially among the youth during the last week of December. To rescue the youth from this debauchery and denigration, Pujya Bapu ji came up with the idea of worshipping a sacred Tulsi plant (holy basil). So, with a view to awaken the cultural pride of the India and to save the countrymen from mental slavery, in 2014, he initiated celebration of Tulsi pujan on 25th December. Pujya Bapu Ji has always emphasized the necessity to follow rich Indian culture and always said that it is only the Indian culture and Sanatana dharma which can give the world true happiness & peace. appearance is always in fear of being disfigured in old age. Learning and science have the fear of antagonistic discussions. Good qualities suffer from the fear of evilminded persons, who will do their best to lower the value of a man possessed of them, by slander etc. The body is beset with the fear of death. Thus, everything in this world pertaining to man is associated with fear. Renunciation alone is free from such associations."

Dear readers, in this article Pujya Bapu ji talks about fearlessness. Everything in this world is associated with some or other kind of fear. So, what is fearlessness? Pujya Bapu ji explains that renunciation alone stands for fearlessness.

(Vairagya

Shataka: 31)

If man enjoys sense pleasures, he has fear of disease. If cooling substances like sandalwood paste are smeared repeatedly or excessively it causes vata disorders. If a person belongs to a high family, he has the fear of downfall or having some defect. If any member of a family becomes immoral or licentious there is the fear of bringing disgrace to the family. Thus, accumulation of abundant wealth is fraught with the fear of the king, lest the wealth is seized by the king. Silence is associated with the fear of dishonour and neglect. Many people consider the person observing silence to be poor and downtrodden. In strength there is the fear of enemies (during combat). If one has a handsome appearance there is fear of disfigurement. All beauty and fairness of skin are destroyed in old age without fail. Scholars of the scriptures are always fearful of their opponents who want to disparage and humiliate them. Merits or good qualities suffer from the fear of evil-minded people who try to find faults with even the best works and misinterpret them. They will do their best to lower the value of a man possessed of them by slander, censure, etc. The body is beset with the fear of death. The death of the body is inevitable. One who is embodied, who has put on the garment of this body must leave it.

Thus, on deep thinking it is proved that everything in this world pertaining to man is associated with fear. What is fearless then?

Renunciation alone stands for fearlessness."

the meaning of renunciation, how could a married couple ever practise it? How could they renunciate?

Renunciation, as envisaged in the Hindu Scriptures, is represented through the picture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati sitting together with their family around them. Lord Shiva and his divine consort Parvati live together as a married couple carrying out their respective duties. They have been promulgated in the Hindu scriptures as epitomes of renunciation. People think that by the word Renunciation, Hindus mean retiring into the forest, living away from society, shunning everything, hating everything. However, that is not the actual meaning of the word according to the Hindu ideology. Hindus can exercise absolute renunciation even in their family life.

all his energies on a single point or word (towards spiritual progress), lie must not be disturbed by the other circumstances. And what does that mean? It means renouncing all other objects, so to say. The more of this renunciation a man has, the more successful, the more famous, the more peaceful and the greater a man he is.

Bhagavan Shri Ramachandraji says to his Guru Sage Vasishtha in Shri Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana: “All enjoyments are the great disease of samsara. Just as disease cannot be destroyed by taking unwholesome food, the disease of samsara continues by enjoyments."

(viveka): “Brother, all are so transitory and perishable. Many eminent persons left this world. Who are we to stay here forever?” my son; so, and so is mine." Only one Atman is ours, all the rest is a dream.

“In the enjoyment of pleasure, there is always the fear of disease.

Membership in a high family is accompanied by the fear of the latter’s downfall.

Wealth is ever haunted by the fear of kings. Silence is associated with the fear of neglect and dishonour. In strength there is the fear of enemies. A handsome

Without renunciation there is not the least possibility of turning your household into a veritable paradise. Renunciation does not require you to go into the dense forests of the Himalayas; renunciation does not demand of you to strip yourself of all clothing; renunciation does not require you to walk barefoot and bareheaded. That is not renunciation. If that were

If this Vedanta Philosophy or essential Truth were simply meant for a small minority of people who retire into the forest, of what use is it to society? This renunciation, as espoused by the Hindus, is useful for everyone. The kind of renunciation that Hindus propagate is the only key to success. No hero can distinguish himself unless he is a man of renunciation; no poet can give you any poetry unless he is a true renunciate.

Anyone in order to come out victorious, in order that lie may be the master of nations, in order that he may be able to sway all armies, lie has to keep himself practically above the world, above all attachments. His mind must be undisturbed, peaceful, quiet and calm; and lie ought to concentrate

Ah! How uncertain is the sensual life in this world! If you constantly think of the transitory nature of sensual pleasures and its concomitant evil viz., misery, worry, trouble, and death, you will never get attached to them and develop dispassion. The dispassion that comes momentarily is due to the loss of relation or wealth. What is really wanted is the dispassion born of constant reflection on the transitoriness of the world or self-inquiry or discrimination (viveka). It is lasting and steady.

How to develop Vairagya? Pujya shri elucidates on this topic in His satsang. There are many ways to kindle or develop vairagya. One is when a quarrel takes place in the family, or someone dies, or the desired thing could not be obtained, and one gets frustrated and thinks: “This is what the world is like. Leave it.” Or one gets the company of satsangi people and develops discrimination

Discrimination dawned in him. Vairagya dawns by doing japa and some discrimination: “There is no essence except God.” One may get sense pleasures as one chooses, but it is worthless as compared to divine joy. One enjoys sexual pleasures and then thinks what did one actually gain? The mind is so elevated and blissful after hearing satsang and doing meditation, but after sex indulgence there is nothing but utter ruin. Such discrimination also develops Vairagya. You fed your sons and daughters by earning money through hard work, bathed them; washed their clothes and when they behave impudently with you think it over. It will develop Vairagya. Kindle discrimination while looking at the body during sickness or its transitory and perishable nature or go to a crematorium and tell your mind: “This is the fate of the bodies.”

Think about birth, death, old age and sickness. “What will happen to my sons? What will become of my family?” Come out of this confusion. We have come into this world with our Prarabdha (destiny).

You were someone’s son in your past life. Neither that body nor those relatives accompanied you in this life. Even your present body is not yours. It would obey your wish if it were yours. It becomes sick against your wish. Then how can it be yours? It is nothing but attachment and mineness that makes you think “This is

“Cultivate a taste for dispassion and be established in Bhakti (devotion to God)."

To listen Vedic/knowledge stories or to listen 24X7 live divine Satsang, please search “Mangalmay live” on google, visit http://www.ashram. org/live or search “THE SBM STUDIO” on you tube. By the Divine Inspiration of Bapu Ji, the weekly sessions of Bal Sanskar and yoga are held in Brisbane, Melbourne and in Sydney. These sessions are aimed for the character, mental, intellectual and spiritual development of the kids. The kids are trained to learn yogic mudras, techniques, yogasnas and pranayamas. These yogic techniques along with jap and meditation help kids in attaining virtues like righteousness and selfrestraint. The kids learn precious keys to develop intelligence and take advantage of chanting and meditation while playing and laughing. Please read more about our Vedic culture in the next issue of “The Brisbane Indian Times.”

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