Year 13
Pdu!311:
Issue 4
In This Issue
1.
Vedanta Section:
Atma Bodha - Shloka-11
2.
Letter Section:
Handling Sorrow
3.
Traditions Section:
Diwali
4.
Story Section:
Chandrashekhara
5.
VM Programs:
Mission / Ashram Progs
From Poojya Guruji
Vedanta Sandesh Spreading Love & Light
Hari om! Monthly eMagazine of Vedanta Mission Sharing the message of Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma
Oct 2009 On the Net since 1995
Started by:
Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji
Editor:
Swamini Samatananda Saraswati
Published from:
Vedanta Ashram E/2948-50, Sudama Nagar Indore-452 009, India
Web:
www.vmission.org.in Email:
vmission@gmail.com
Every situation presents to us the possibility of responding to it in two ways. We can either have Sreya or Preya as our motivation. If we respond to a situation with Sreya as our drive, then irrespective of the kind of situation or its consequence, we shall tread the path of righteousness and be blessed; while if we choose the Preya option then this opens the door for our entanglement with the world outside, and personal problems in the form of stress, anxieties, weakness and fears. Kathopanishad declares that a person treading the Sreyas Marg shall soon become a good & virtuous person, who is recipient of God's blessings and finally all this leads to enlightenment, while a person opting for Preya Marg falls down & down. Sreya can be roughly translated as Righteous & Wise, which incorporates the well-being of all. Whether there is personal inconvenience to us or not, it is immaterial. All those who live & work for the well-being of their kith & kins, or for the whole country & world do go through various personal inconveniences, but they still opt for this option, simply because it is right & good for all. While the people driven more by their personal conveniences, success or pleaures tread the path of Preya. These people are self-centered, insensitive and even violent to others who either come in their way or are unconnected to them. They are very short-sighted people and do not see any harmony and connectivity in the things & beings of the world. They live in a very small world, of I and mine. They may go to temples or Guru's but there also they are more bothered about their personal problems or successes, rather than discovering the eternal impersonal truths of life. These people live in a cocoon, and not only live a lonely, stressed & painful life, but they alone are responsible for all volence & pain in the society at large. So the scriptures invoke us to recognize both these options in every situation and always choose the nobler & righteous Sreya path. Sreya alone is true Dharma. The capacity to serve others affirms your well-being and fullness. Love & om,
Swami Atmananda Saraswati
Atma Bodha - Shloka 11 Vedanta Section
Differences are Superficial So far in the last couple of slokas the subject matter of discussion has been that basically Parmatma is the only factor of Truth and everything else is an imaginary superimposition on it. Not only this but it re mains untouched and unmaligned even as it adorns the seemingly endless variety of names and forms. Infact the main idea reflected in these slokas has been to help the student of Vedanta see the illusionary nature of all forms that are experienced, and discover the transcendental factor which exists beyond all limitations of time, space and objects. Most importantly this essential factor being my very own ‘Self’. This point is discussed further, strengthening the thought under discussion, that Brahman as though appears to be disguised by the differences of various castes and roles etc and yet remains absolutely detached.
11 Nanopadhivashadeva Jativarnasramadayah Atmanyaropitastoye rasavarnadibhedavat Nanopadhivashateva: On account of the diverse limiting adjuncts, Jativarnashramadayah: the distinctions of caste, name, stage of life and the like; Atmani Aaropita : are merely superimposed on the Self; Stoye: Just like, on water; Rasa-varnadi bhedavat:: the differences of taste, colour and the like are superimposed. Like the differences of taste, colour and the like are superimposed on water (on account of various external factors), so also the distinctions of caste, name, stage of life and the like are merely those superimposed on the Self, on account of the diverse limiting adjuncts or conditionings. Nanopadhivashadeva : This fact has often been discussed that the Supreme Brahman itself has manifested as this big colourful world of animals, plants, human beings and in the huge variety of objects too. Yet inspite of this manifestation, the fact remains that basically Parmatma is formless. Although he adorns the entire creation but yet he remains untouched. The nature of this adornment is acually that which is worth kowing and this message when driven home with right understanding and conviction, it becomes the door to liberation. Just as water appears as waves, bubbles and foam yet a discriminative person can well see that all these forms are basically water and inspite of water appearing in such variable forms yet essentially it remains unaffected. There may be Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2009
huge waves, there may be little ones, bubbles will come and go, a wise person wheather he stays at the shores or goes for a swim in the seas, for him it is a grand play of water. Likewise in this world too we see millions of living beings and inert objects. All these are nothing but a blissful expression of the one non-dual power of pure existence, effulging in its own light. One non-dual substratum adorns the entire variety of creation. Hence here the Acharya says Nanopadhivashadeva .i.e. adorning the various forms Parmatma basically being one without a second as though appears to be many. As it is further explained in this sloka that Parmatma being the substratum and the ignorant human being unware of his own real nature as Brahman, he superimposes the attributes and differences of the
body, mind, intellect, caste, creed, sex, varna and ashrama on Brahman. Jativarnashramadayah: Society is charecterised by different realms of caste, intrinsic aptitudes as his varna i.e. Brahman, kshatriya etc and his roles as per his ashrama like Brahmacharya, grihastha etc. We see all human beings playing their social, family and proffessional roles through these distinctions but the truth that one has to see and undertsand is that these are attires that one adorns to fulfill our responsibilities and offer our services to God, to our families, our proffessions and society. Infact the concept of Varna and ashram is a blessing of an indepth study of the great Rishis of yore, who came to see the truth that basically every human being is blessed by an intrinsic aptitude in a particular field of performance and hence classified these aptitudes in four varnas. It is a tested fact that anywhere and at anytime in the world the human race is classified under these four intrinsic aptitudes. So at the level of bodily existence the role of the Varna system blesses a person to dedicate himself selflessly and give his best, hence contributing to the world as his services to God. and bringing about harmony in God’s creation. So also when one performs his actions as per his ashrama i.e. being a householder or a student or a renunciate one plays his role at his own level paving the path of his evolution and at the same time lives in mutual harmony supporting the other. So all in all these classifications are undoubtedly a blessing for all mankind, but one has to see that these are attributes only belonging to the human being adorning the body, mind and intellect. Basically the real nature of each one of us is beyond these attributes and forms. Brahman has no caste or varna. This is the kind of discrimination one has to do, which one fails to and imposes the conditionings and limitations of these forms and attributes on the Real Self. And the price one pays is constant condemnation of the Self as being small,
conditioned, limited, struggling between happiness and sorrow. And as long as the jiva continues to be veiled by this ignorance he continues to suffer. This is what is said in the next part of the sloka. Atmanyaropitastoye: All the limitations and conditionings are superimposed on the ‘Atma’ the real Self. Brahman is misunderstood to be born, undergoing death and change and hence we see ourself as constant sufferer’s. When due to ignorance we superimpose a snake on a rope, then all kinds of fears are inevitable. To end this suffering the only path of liberation is to see the Atma as Atma and Anatma as anatma, i.e. that which the ‘atma is not’. This discrimination ultimately is the state of liberation which helps to establish a healthy relationship of the Self with the objective world, giving us the taste of freedom here and now. As we see in our Scriptures great people like King Janaka were born and lived as a Kshatriya, but because of the insight of the knowledge of the self they played their roles as a kshatriya and yet remained untouched by their activities. The lord himself incarnated in various names and forms and played a variety of roles to establish Dharma and yet revelled in the supreme glory of Brahman. Infact this is the true message of God’s incarnation, the formless adorning a form and yet being untouched. In this sloka this principle has been explained with the example of water. Rasavarnadibhedavat: Water essentially has no colour shape or taste. But when different tastes, colour are added to water, it as though becomes sweet, salty or bitter. It also appears to have a particular shape when put in a glass or a cup etc. these are qualities of external things superimposed on water. So also the scriptures thunder that I am basically pure, eternal and blissful and untouched by the impurities of worly objects, and limitations of time and space. To discover this transcendental and blissful nature of the Self alone is the goal of a human being.
Sanyas Deeksha Day of Poojya Guruji - 10th Oct Pujya Guruji Sri Swami Atmananda Saraswatiji was given Sanyas on 10th of Oct 1988 at Sidhbari by Param Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji. Special Programs will be organized on that day at the Vedanta Ashram, Indore.
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Quotes "An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come."
- Victor Hugo
"One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything." - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg "One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered." - Michael J. Fox "There are two main strategies we can adopt to improve the quality of life. The first is to try making external conditions match our goals. The second is to change how we experience external conditions to make them fit our goals better." - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi "The man who has nothing to boast of but his illustrious ancestry is like the potato - the best part under ground." - Thomas Overbury
Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2009
Handling Sorrow Hari om ! Blessings to you and your daughter M...
Pl remember that sorrow is not because something negative has come to us, but because of our continued conscious or
unconscious
expectations
that
something
may
change for the better. It is the shattering of our
individual
expectations
&
dreams which brings sorrow & grief, and not the situations per se. - Poojya Guruji
It is indeed unfortunate what both of you have gone through. Neither you got the husband of your dreams nor has M.. got her father, even though the person is very much around. Well, such relationships have to be obviously mutual, and you cannot beg for his attention and love. If the person concerned has no feelings in his heart either for you or his own daughter, then just accept the situation and try to forget the whole gamble. Fretting, fuming and cursing, either yourself or someone else will not take you anywhere. See that God has helped you to know his truth earlier itself, what if you came to know about such a person still later. Please remember that sorrow is not because something negative has come to us, but because of our continued conscious or unconscious expectations that something may change for the better. It is the shattering of our individual expectations & dreams which brings sorrow & grief, and not the situations per se. We all have dreams and live as per them, but we all need to have the discretion & wisdom to know as to when we should stop a particular expectation with a particular person. I see that you have given enough chance to the person to change, but this has not happened, so now the best thing is that you should 'Accept' the situation, with your heart, as your destiny or challenge. Once you really accept the whole situation as wish of god, then at least the baseless expectations shall drop and subsequently the sorrow shall stop too. Then with a cool mind think about ways & means of handling the challenges and believe me you shall find a way, not to mend the old relationship, but a new chapter in positive & happy living. If God thinks that you are capable of handling the challenges then why think otherwise, have confidence in yourself that you can and will. Resolve to be both a father & mother to Mehr, as best as you can. Let this be a challenge of your life. Once you handle your mind, then slowly go about getting the divorce too. Remember, that if you continue to expect & greive, then you will not find any solutions, so handle first things first. With love & om, Swami Atmananda Page # 9
17th Oct 2009
Diwali
Traditionally Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a part of a Five Days Festival Package. Each of these five days is celebrated for a specific purpose, and in a specific way. This starts two days before Diwali and continue till two days after Diwali. As per the Hindu Calendar this is from the teras of Kartika Krishna Paksha, and continues till the Dwitiya of Kartika Shukla Paksha. The thirteenth day of the month of Kartika in its Krishna Paksha is today famous as 'Dhan Teras'. Today this Teras is mostly known for buying new utensils, ornaments or some new equipment etc. but this day had lots of different significances. The thirteenth day (in Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika, had a special significance right from Vedic times. In that era, this day was celebrated as the day when our Pitra's (forefathers), who come to visit their progeny in this Loka during Mahalaya (Sraadha time), are taken back to their Pitra Loka by Lord Yama, who is also the king of Pitra Loka. As a respect for Lord Yama, a lamp is lit and kept in front of our houses, on this day. On this day Sage Dhanvantari manifested and gave the humanity the wisdom of Ayurveda. Thus this day is also celebrated as the Dhanvantari Jayanti. The fourteenth day (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika is today better known as 'Narak-Chaudas' or even 'Rupa Chaudas'. 1.On this day too there was tradition of the worship of Lord Yama, and farewell rituals for our forefathers.On this day too a lamp is lit and kept in front of our door for Lord Yama. 2.It is also said that on this day, early in the morning, Goddess Laxmi comes and resides in oil, and Gangaji comes and resides in water. So one should get up early in the morning and have a good oil massage, and then have a royal hot water bath. Whoever does this is blessed with the grace of Laxmiji and Gangaji by financial prosperity and good knowledge. 3.On this day Lord Krishna killed a great terrorist of his times, Narakasura, the King of Pragjyotish (Kamarupa). So this day is celebrated as the one which epitomisis the victory of goodness over evil. The Amavasya day of the month of Kartika is the Diwali or Deepavali day - the famous Festival of Lights. 1.As a continuity of the worship of Lord Yama and farewell ritual for one's forefathers, this day was celebrated as the final day for the above purpose. VedantaSandesh Sandesh- -Oct April 2009 Vedanta 2009
Page # 10
2.This day came to be known for a special Laxmi Puja. After the monsoon and the lush crops the predominantly agrarian society celebrated this day for the grace of the Goddess of Wealth. 3.On this day alone Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after the fourteen years of Vanavasa. So the embodiment of Dharma, who had shown to the world so explicitly that the real strength was in living a righteous life (Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah), was welcomed by the people of Ayodhya in a grand way. However strong the evil is, it will finally be defeated and righteousness shall prevail. 4.There is another important event associated with this day. The great Maharaja Bali, who was a great & righteous king of his times, and for whom Lord Vishnu himself descended in the form of Vaman. When the young brahmachari asked for three steps of land from the king, and which he finally could not give, then Lord manifested in his true form and sent the king to Patala for three days. He was in fact made the King of Patala for 3 days, and it was during this time that he went to Patala to become its King. So all people who revered that righteous king do 'Deepa Dana' for these three days, from Chaudas to Pratipada. Note : Please remember that we always revere Nature or Prakriti, as Lords manifestation, so there should always be necessary sensitivity to avoid bringing about pollution, and desist making the decoration of your house and exploding of crackers etc an exercise in one-up-manship. Dharma should never be used for egotrips. Such lack of viveka will take away all the beauty of any celebration, and will ultimately make these festivals an instrument to harm & spoil the nature. Let us always keep the nature clean & beautiful, and pass on a worthy world to our children. On Pratipada & Dwitiya lamps are lit and festivities continue. On the last day sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers.
Smile :) A smile costs nothing, but gives muchIt takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever. None are so rich that can get along without itAnd none are so poor but that can be made rich by it. It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who giveIt creates sunshine in the home, Fosters good will in business, And is the best antidote for troubleAnd yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no value Unless it is given away. Some people are too busy to give you a smileGive them one of yoursFor the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badly As he or she who has no more smiles left to give.
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It couldn’t be done.. Edgar Guest Somebody said that it couldn't be done, But, he with a chuckle replied That "maybe it couldn't" but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, as he did it. Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that; At least no one we know has done it"; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he'd begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle right in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That cannot be done, and you'll do it
Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2009
Stories from Shiv Purana n o p e u .. c n . O e m a ti
Chandrashekhara Parvati once asked Shiva, Lord, tell me, why do you wear a crescent moon on your forehead? What is the story behind this? Shiva told her the story. Earlier, Parvati had been born as Sati, the daughter of Daksha. As Sati, she had been married to Shiva. Since Daksha insulted her husband Shiva, Sati gave up her life. When Sati died, Shiva no longer found pleasure in anything. He began to live in the forest and started to perform tapasya. Such was the power of the tapasya that any trees or mountains that were near the place where Shiva was meditating used to be burnt into ashes. As Shiva moved from place to place, the earth started to burn and wither away . The gods were greatly alarmed at these developments. They went to Brahma to seek advice as to how the earth might be saved. Brahma, said, Let us take the moon god Chandra with us and make a present of him to Shiva. Chandra’s visage is so pleasing that Shiva may feel happy and pacified. The gods placed Chandra in a pot of amrita (a life-giving drink). They also had another pot that was full of poison. With these two pots they went to Shiva and offered him the pots. Brahma said, The gods have brought you two pots. Please accept them. Shiva first accepted the pot that contained the amrita. As soon as he did this, the crescent moon came out and got fixed to Shiva’s forehead. Next Shiva accept the pot of poison and touched it with his middle finger. He touched his throat with the finger and the throat became blue. That is the reason why Shiva is known as Nilakantha, blue of throat. And because the moon is like a crown to Shiva. Shiva is called Chandrashekhara. At the sight of the moon, Shiva was pacified.
Vedanta Sandesh - April 2009
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Sept’09 VM / VA Programs
Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs
Gita Gyana Yagna, Lucknow:
Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2009
A Gita Gyana Yagna was organized at the Hariom Mandir, Lalbag Lucknow from 7th to 13th of Sept. The discourse seres wwas conducted by Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji. The texts of the discourse series were Gita Chapter 13 and IshwarSiddhi Section of the Vakya Bhashya of Kena Upanishad. Lucknow had late rains and thus some inconvenience was felt by the devotees, yet a good number of devotees attended the Gyana Yagna.On the last day of the Gyana Yagna the Mandir authorities offered Bhiksha to all devotees. Vedanta Mission, Lucknow lost one of its oldest members and a guiding light in the form of Sh NP Tripathiji, who died in coma after a long protracted illness. We offer our condolences to the bereaved family.
Sarva-Pitr Amavasya Pujan: On the occasion of Sarva-Pitr Amavasya Smt Suman Dikshitji conducted the Rudrabhisheka of Bhagwan Sri Gangeshwar Mahadevji and then later offered Bhiksha to all the Mahatmas of the Asshram. The whole fortnight was dedicated to the offering of prayers and gratitude to ones forefathers. It is a very old and a highly respected tradition. The ritual of Pinda-Daan is done for ones ancestors. Poojya Guruji earlier explained its significance and said that a tree without roots cannot stand any storms, so also a person who is not reverentially connected to ones own forefathers is a weak and also a negative person. They lack self-respect and gratitude and thus become egoistic and assure their fall even in their spiritual journey.
Gita Gyana Yagna, Jodhpur: A week long Gita Gyana Yagna was organized at Defence Colony, Jodhpur from 19th to 25th Sept. The subject matter of discourse series were Gita Chapter 12 and first chapter of Kathopanishad. Inspite of being Navratris, the program was well-attended. This time the Gyana Yagna was in a new locality. An imposing picture of Bhagwan Sri Ram was put behind the Vyasa Peeth, and on the first day condolences were offered to the devotees of Mehrangarh who died last year in a stampede. Some devotees were from the locality too. Swaminiji taught the chanting of Bhaja-Govendam to various children there. There is good enthusiasm for more Gyana Yagnas in the city.
Sept’09 VM / VA Programs
Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs
Saraswati Pujan, Indore: On 27th Sept, the ashtami of Navratras, Saraswati Pujan is performed in all ashrams. Blessings of the Goddess of Knowledge is invoked, by keeping the books which we study at the feet of Goddess. The objective of such traditions is that the scriptural studies should always be done with profound humility. Knowledge should never bring about a new kind of ego and self-importance. Poojya Guruji and all the Ashram Mahatmas kept their books at the feet of Saraswatiji. The Gita Class students came for the puja too. They had just completed the study of Tattva Bodha, which was taken by Poojya Swamini Samatanandaji. Gita Classes are being condducted by Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji.
Dashera & Ashram Day, Indore: on 28th Sept was the Vijaya Dashami or the Dashera day. This is a very well-known festival of Hindus. Lot of buying is done on this day. This also happens to be the Ashram Day. This year was the 14th anniversary of Vedanta Ashram. On this day Poojya Guruji conducted the special weekly Rudrabhisheka. Various devotees too attended the puja. Later everyone went up on the terrace and did the puja of giant Shiv Linga there. This is an annual feature of the ashram. Bhandara followed. Dashera is celebrated as a symbolic day when goodness conquered the evil. Bhagwan Ram killed Ravana, the great rakshasha. This motivates people to stick on to the path of goodness.
Kathopanishad Discourses at Ashram, Indore: The Kena Upanishad discourses which were being conducted by Poojya Guruji at the ashram from last year. Elaborate discourses were conducted on the great text for about 11 months. Now the study of Katha Upanishad has been started. All such classes are done with Shankara Bhashya. Apart from the daily morning discourses of Poojya Guruji, there are classes of Bhagwad Gita by P.Swamini Amitanandaji for a special group of retired devotees. Whenever P.Swaminiji si out of station, then P.Swamini Samatanandaji conducts classes for the group. She has conducted classes on Atma-Bodha and Tattva Bodha till now. Balvihar classes are also scheduled every week. Check out the detailed Photo Albums of the various functions on VM News Blog at : http://vmissionews.blogspot.com/ Page # 15
Quotes "If you don't run your own life, somebody else will." - John Atkinson
"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth." - Evan Esar
"Some think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go." - Sylvia Robinson
"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." - Chinese Proverb
"Anger at lies lasts forever. Anger at truth can't last." - Greg Evans
"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard
Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2009
Forthcoming Programs
Gita Gyana Yagna, Ahmedabad: Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji will conduct a week long Gita Gyana Yagna at Sri Ramkrishna Kendra, Ahmedabad from 23rd to 29th Oct. Shashthi to Dev-Uthani Gyaras. The texts of the discourses will be announced later.
Gita Gyana Yagna, Bhavnagar: Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct a Gita Gyana Yagna at Sri Ramdas Ashram in Bhavnagar from 23rd to 29th October 2009. The texts for the morning & evening discourses will be announced shortly.
Gita Jayanti Celebrations, Indore: This year the Gita Jayanti is on 28th Nov. As usual special programs will be organized at the Vedanta Ashram on that day. These will include chonting of the entire Bhagwad Gita, and special discourses by Poojya Guruji and other ashram Mahatmas in the evening at the nearby Footi-Kothi.
Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai: Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji will conduct a week long Gita Gyana Yagna at Bandra Hindu Association Hall in Mumbai from 8th Dec to 13th Dec. The text of the discourses will be Gita Chapter 1, and Ashtavakra Gita Chapter 2.
Sadhana Camp, Indore: A four days Sadhana Camp will be organized at the Vedanta Ashram, Indore from 23rd to 26th Jan 2010. The texts of the discourses will be announced later.
Mahashivratri, Indore: The next Mahashivratri is on 12th Feb 2010.Special Programs will be organized on that day. Please look out for further announcement in our Blog for the occasion.
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Hari om !
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Om Tat Sat