1.The senses are extrovert by nature and so they drag the ignorant perpetually towards external objects. Hence the spiritual aspirant, endowed with discrimination and renunciation, must suppress the outbursts of the senses, just as the charioteer wielding the whip and the reins does to the raging steeds. Uncontrolled senses cause great harm. But before using concentration and meditation to control them, cultivate good habits. Concentration must have Sathwa-guna (pure qualities) as its basis. The mind has to be purified by proper treatment of the character through good habits. Concentration has to follow this purification process, not precede it. Else the whole effort would be futile. Many great people have ruined their careers by aspiring for concentration without the discipline of good habits.
2.Upasana means the acquisition of the Divine presence and the achievement of the bliss of adoration. Vedic tradition sanctions four paths as legitimate and fruitful to win this achievement: Sathyavathi, Angavathi, Anyavathi and Nidaanavathi. We shall consider the path of Sathyavathi today. The scripture defines the Divine thus: Sarva vyaapinam aatmaanam, ksheere sarpith iva arpitham - the Atma is immanent everywhere just as ghee permeates every drop of milk. When the seeker pursues the Truth with this conviction, his spiritual practices are called Sathyavathi (Truth-based). The Lord declares, “In My latent form, I am in the entire Creation, operating the mystery. See in Me all and see all as Me.” The Lord promises this vision of immanence and transcendence to whomsoever that persists with sincerity o n this Sathyavathi path.
3.To concentrate effectively, establish your attention on a form that gives you joy. Sit in the padmasana (lotus) posture and fix your eyes on the tip of your nose. In the beginning, practice meditation for a minute; then for three minutes. A few days later try for six minutes and after some time, for as long as nine minutes. Thus the concentration has to be strengthened gradually, without undue hurry. Slowly the mind can be held for even half an hour; this discipline must be developed steadily. With practice, the mind will get fixed and the power of concentration will increase. To attain concentration and acquire one-pointedness, you must undergo exertion to some extent. You must fasten your mind on the Lord and keep off all other thoughts from the mental plane. By such exercise done constantly, your vision will be firmly fixed on the Lord residing in your heart . That is, verily, the goal, the full fruition of meditation.
4.Angavathi and Anyavathi are two of the many paths of adoring the lord. The Universal Being is the Fire, the Wind, the Sun, the Moon and all else. He is the breath that sustains life and the rain that feeds the plants which provide sustenance. So He can be adored as having graciously assumed all these beneficent forms. This approach, through the benign manifestations of Angas, is the Angavathi path. Anga means a limb or a feature. Adoring Divinity by symbolising a certain facet of the Universal being is the Anyavathi path; Anya meaning the other or the appurtenances. Easwara or Shiva (the facet of dissolution) has the trident symbolising in its three prongs, the Past, the Present and the Future. Krishna, the manifestation of universal love, bears a flute which is the symbol of the egoless, desireless se eker. In the Anyavathi path seekers meditate on these pleasing personifications and the significance of the symbols and adore the Divine in the delight that wells up in their hearts.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
1.The mind plans and executes innumerable deeds and roams over vast expanses, all in the twinkling of an eye! It operates with unimaginable speed. However while meditating, the mind should not be allowed to wander away from the object of meditation. Whenever it flies off at a tangent, it must be led back to the form meditated upon. Only one form has to be meditated upon in the beginning; do not change the object of focus everyday. To concentrate effectively, you must be careful not to have as your focus something your mind does not like, or that which causes pain or shakes your faith; for however hard you may try, your mind will not stay fixed on these. With time, even if unpleasant thoughts come, learn gradually to welcome them as beneficial, and seek to grasp the good in them.
2.The latent Atma causes the patent world. Being is behind Becoming, and finally, Becoming merges in Being; the patent is absorbed into the latent. Just as milk flows from the cow, from the Supreme Person flows the power of maya as Prakriti (Nature) - the apparent manifestation. Milk is a composite of cream, curd, and butter, which can be separated out of it through various processes. So too, the five fundamental elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) were separated out through cosmic processes. Therefore what appears as the Cosmos is only the superimposition of the non-real Individual Self and the five elements on the absolute substratum - God. His Will causes this unreal multiplicity to be superimposed on the One that He is. He can by His mere will end it, for He is the Master of Maya.
3.Remember the senses can do nothing by themselves; they are not independent. If the mind is brought under control, the senses can also be controlled. Some people undergo mere asceticism of the senses in order to control the mind! They are ignorant of the real discipline that is necessary - the destruction of desires. However vigilant warders may be, a clever robber can still steal in a hundred amazing ways. So too, however skillfully you may try to control the senses, the mind will drag them to its side and execute its desires through them. If only the outer door is closed and the inner door is left unbolted, calamity is certain. Therefore the aspirant should establish mastery over the external senses. But the mind too has to be controlled by means of Shanthi (peace) and Vairagya (renunciation). When this is done, one can experience Ananda (spiri tual bliss) and visualize the Atma (Divine Self) within, at all times.
4.The root of the word ‘Veda’ means ‘to know’. Vedas are also known as Chandas; this means pleasant, joyous. Other important meanings of this word are vital, strong and shielded. All these are the qualities of the Vedas as it is shielding, fostering, promoting the welfare of humans engaged in the unceasing round of worldly affairs, and conferring the ultimate liberation. Humans are ever caught up in activities pursued with the profit available as the purpose. They have to be moulded as righteous men and women. The Vedas shield people on the path of action (karma marga) from engaging in unrighteous acts, and protect the seekers of knowledge (jnana marga) from the temptation of the senses. Through their role as armour or shield, they shower bliss on all who rely on them. The sacred ceremonies and rituals that Vedas ex pound confer joy and bliss not only on the participants but also on the entire world and beyond.
BAGAVAN SRI SRI SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
2.The latent Atma causes the patent world. Being is behind Becoming, and finally, Becoming merges in Being; the patent is absorbed into the latent. Just as milk flows from the cow, from the Supreme Person flows the power of maya as Prakriti (Nature) - the apparent manifestation. Milk is a composite of cream, curd, and butter, which can be separated out of it through various processes. So too, the five fundamental elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) were separated out through cosmic processes. Therefore what appears as the Cosmos is only the superimposition of the non-real Individual Self and the five elements on the absolute substratum - God. His Will causes this unreal multiplicity to be superimposed on the One that He is. He can by His mere will end it, for He is the Master of Maya.
3.Remember the senses can do nothing by themselves; they are not independent. If the mind is brought under control, the senses can also be controlled. Some people undergo mere asceticism of the senses in order to control the mind! They are ignorant of the real discipline that is necessary - the destruction of desires. However vigilant warders may be, a clever robber can still steal in a hundred amazing ways. So too, however skillfully you may try to control the senses, the mind will drag them to its side and execute its desires through them. If only the outer door is closed and the inner door is left unbolted, calamity is certain. Therefore the aspirant should establish mastery over the external senses. But the mind too has to be controlled by means of Shanthi (peace) and Vairagya (renunciation). When this is done, one can experience Ananda (spiri tual bliss) and visualize the Atma (Divine Self) within, at all times.
4.The root of the word ‘Veda’ means ‘to know’. Vedas are also known as Chandas; this means pleasant, joyous. Other important meanings of this word are vital, strong and shielded. All these are the qualities of the Vedas as it is shielding, fostering, promoting the welfare of humans engaged in the unceasing round of worldly affairs, and conferring the ultimate liberation. Humans are ever caught up in activities pursued with the profit available as the purpose. They have to be moulded as righteous men and women. The Vedas shield people on the path of action (karma marga) from engaging in unrighteous acts, and protect the seekers of knowledge (jnana marga) from the temptation of the senses. Through their role as armour or shield, they shower bliss on all who rely on them. The sacred ceremonies and rituals that Vedas ex pound confer joy and bliss not only on the participants but also on the entire world and beyond.
BAGAVAN SRI SRI SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Thought for the Day
1.In order to master the mind, your impulses and desires have to be suppressed. Desires excite the mind to rush towards the senses, just like a dog runs behind its master. Repeat the divine Name and meditate, then you can develop your will, memory, and imagination along proper lines. Meditation is a great help to gain control over an unsteady mind. It is not enough if one of the senses is conquered; all of them should be mastered. Of course, this is a very hard task and you might feel like giving up, but never lose heart. Do not stray from the path of discipline whenever you feel you are not making as much progress as you hoped to. That is not the road to victory - persevere, be patient, and you are sure to triumph in the end!
2.The body, sense organs, mind and intellect are instruments for a human being. Only when one understands the secrets of these instruments will one be able to comprehend the Atmic Principle. If you cannot understand the vesture you are wearing, how can you understand the mystery of the infinite, indwelling Spirit? The body is the basic instrument for all the actions in life and for the acquisition of all knowledge and skills. But it should be primarily regarded as an instrument for realization of the Divine. Attachment to the body and utilisation of it for physical pleasures should be given up. It is essentially sacred and precious, for it is the abode of the Atma and should be used only for sacred purposes.
3.The mind conceives an object and dallies with it a little, but it soon discards it and runs after another one which it feels is more attractive! The Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) has to be ever watchful of this tendency of the mind. When the mind flits from one thing to another, it must be brought back to the right path and the right object through concentration and meditation. That is the correct spiritual practice. If the aspirant does not make efforts to achieve this one-pointedness and allows the mind to follow its vagaries, the process deserves to be called ‘monkey meditation’, a type of meditation that is indeed very harmful to spiritual progress. You must redirect the mind to concentrate, to focus and to be one-pointed. Concentration endows you with divine joy, wisdom beyond measure, inner vision, insight into the deeper truths, clearer underst anding and oneness with God.
4.There are many entrances to a temple. They are intended to let in devotees who seek to worship the God enshrined within. Similarly for the temple of this human body there are five gates - the five senses. What is the purpose of these doorways? If we build a house and erect doors in it, they are for the use of our kith and kin. If any stray animals try to enter, the doors are shut against them. Likewise the doors in this sacred body should be kept open only for good and divine entrants. Only then it deserves the name Kshetra (shrine). It ceases to be a temple if unholy objects are allowed to enter. What is consumed by the mouth is not the only thing that goes into the body. The other sense organs like the eyes, the ears, the nose and the hands also "consume" objects from the outside world. You must take in satwic (pure) food through all the five sense organs.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba
2.The body, sense organs, mind and intellect are instruments for a human being. Only when one understands the secrets of these instruments will one be able to comprehend the Atmic Principle. If you cannot understand the vesture you are wearing, how can you understand the mystery of the infinite, indwelling Spirit? The body is the basic instrument for all the actions in life and for the acquisition of all knowledge and skills. But it should be primarily regarded as an instrument for realization of the Divine. Attachment to the body and utilisation of it for physical pleasures should be given up. It is essentially sacred and precious, for it is the abode of the Atma and should be used only for sacred purposes.
3.The mind conceives an object and dallies with it a little, but it soon discards it and runs after another one which it feels is more attractive! The Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) has to be ever watchful of this tendency of the mind. When the mind flits from one thing to another, it must be brought back to the right path and the right object through concentration and meditation. That is the correct spiritual practice. If the aspirant does not make efforts to achieve this one-pointedness and allows the mind to follow its vagaries, the process deserves to be called ‘monkey meditation’, a type of meditation that is indeed very harmful to spiritual progress. You must redirect the mind to concentrate, to focus and to be one-pointed. Concentration endows you with divine joy, wisdom beyond measure, inner vision, insight into the deeper truths, clearer underst anding and oneness with God.
4.There are many entrances to a temple. They are intended to let in devotees who seek to worship the God enshrined within. Similarly for the temple of this human body there are five gates - the five senses. What is the purpose of these doorways? If we build a house and erect doors in it, they are for the use of our kith and kin. If any stray animals try to enter, the doors are shut against them. Likewise the doors in this sacred body should be kept open only for good and divine entrants. Only then it deserves the name Kshetra (shrine). It ceases to be a temple if unholy objects are allowed to enter. What is consumed by the mouth is not the only thing that goes into the body. The other sense organs like the eyes, the ears, the nose and the hands also "consume" objects from the outside world. You must take in satwic (pure) food through all the five sense organs.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba
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