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….
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