Unity Of Mind and Body

UNITY OF MIND AND BODY

The key learning from the past two days verses of the Upanishads : {.  जो ब्रह्मचर्यादि साधन सम्पन्न है, शान्तात्मा है  ; यज्ञ में मंत्रोच्चारण में प्रवृत्त वाणी और यथार्थ वस्तु के ज्ञान में प्रवृत्त मन - इनके द्वारा यज्ञ प्रवृत्त होता है, यह यज्ञ के मार्ग हैं – refer the slides}  The importance of purity of heart, meaning truth, ahimsa, lack of ahankar-moh-lobh-krodh etc; and the vital point of unity of mind and body {represented by speech}... prayers are to be done by Mind and Body {Speech}

WHAT IS THE METHOD OF PRAYING?

Simply going to a Mandir, or saying prayers is not the method. A pure mind, with unity of your entire existence is required. While simply doing it does count, however, if your mind is elsewhere while doing it, it is a futility as an exercise, as a Karm.  What is more important is the purity of your mind & heart. This purity cannot be attained without a complete union of the Mind and the Heart, and a commitment to complete truth, integrity, honesty, balance {no emotional attachments}, ahimsa, peace. Also, you need to quit ahankar, pride, anger, jealousy, etc. And a full union of the mind and the heart and your speech – your mouth should speak exactly what your mind says.

4 TYPES OF BHAKTS

Other scriptures lay deeper understandings for the reader – for example, The Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta states there are 4 types of bhakts, Artharthi {self desires and wants attainment}, Aart {for freedom from trouble} , Jidnyasu {wanting to know God}  and Dnyaani.  The scriptures lay the highest emphasis on the Dnyaani... {which does not mean a person who knows the scriptures by heart ; this means a person who knows-undestands and is united with God...}

Even if you know the scriptures by heart - you are at best a Jidnyasu, provided your intent in learning the scriptures is wanting to know God; if you learn them for material desires, ego-pride etc, wanting to be known as a well-read person - then you are Artharthi; not even a Jidnyasu.  What happens is, as you go about trying to understand God, your mind is constantly drawn towards various directions. You have to repeatedly control it, and bring it back.

THE TRAIGUN SANSAAR

This by itself is not a problem; our souls {well, mine at least} are not yet evolved to that stage of purity; thus, it is a path that has to be walked on. Given that you are still in the control of the Traigun Sansaar  {Saatvik – Raajasik – Taamasik}, it is only natural that your mind will be distracted even if your intent is pure. These distractions can be Taamasik - idleness / laziness {I will read the Scripture tomorrow}; or Rajasik {attracted towards the benefits that you get from these efforts} or even Saatvik {pulled towards the sheer purity of that existence, the calmness the silence which you begin to enjoy and crave}. But the key is to keep trying to control it,, repeatedly bringing it back to  the object of your efforts

MATERIAL EXISTENCE

It is true that you are a Jidnyaasu only if you read the scriptures, and do manan-chintan on the nature of the supreme entity; it is the intent that counts. If your readings are for earning wealth through spreading knowledge {teacher-Guru}, or for other reasons-  you are neither a Dnyaani nor a Jidnyaasu.... but that does not mean you do not make the effort. The intent can also develop over time as you go forward on the path – and your material instincts will have proven to be a trigger. Thus materialism is not bad in this philosophy stated above {Vedant}. Material existence is completely in agreement with this path; walking on this path does not make you a Sanyaasi.

YOUR PATH, YOUR CHOICE

This path is your own to  walk; you have to decide who how what where where when. Each soul’s journey is a highly individualized one; my only advise  is to widen your reading once you start reading, or swaaydhyaay. Read a diverse set of scriptures, get a deeper understanding. And in order to break your prejudices regarding other beliefs, I also recommend you develop  a familiarity with them, a genuine understanding and appreciation. It will inculcate in you a tolerance towards others.

Ideally, The Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta should be enough – but it is a very hard one to fully understand; that is why it needs to be supported by other readings, which will help us evolve over time. But ultimately, it is your soul’s path, and the soul – the jeevatma – is independent, a fragment of The Parabrahm.  It has independence of choice, and of determination. The choice will have to be yours….