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Year 21
Issue 12
Kvof!3126
Amrutbindu Upanishad - 6
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Section Index
1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
7.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Message of P. Guruji
Tattva Bodha
Letter
Gita Reflections
Jivanmukta
Yoga Vasistha
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23
Tattva Bodha
Six Divine Qualities: Shraddha
Shraddha is the next means to being a qualified student of Vedanta. Without this qualification the portals
of knowledge can be completely denied. Faith creates an atmosphere of openmindedness and reverance. It
opens the doors to the unknown. Without this even wordlly knowledge does not unfold itself, let alone this
profound knowledge of the Self.
Blessings of Shraddha:
Shraddha or trust enables us to have a positive
mindset as we listen to the teacher. It gaurantees our
availability and open mindedness in the journey of Selfdiscovery. It is not merely a quality of a dry trust in
someone but it reflects a fine tuning between the
teacher and student that is borne of faith, reverance
and love. We all have certain pre-concieved notions
about the world, about it's creator and about the Self.
These notions are not implanted or nursed through
any valid means of knowledge but are inculcated
simply by following the family and society. These
notions play a very significant role in determining our
relationship with the world, with God and with the Self.
Listening to this knowledge with faith is keeping aside
our pre-concieved notions and listening to the
scriptures and the Guru with an open mind giving them
a benefit of doubt. Surely when we study the sriptures
at the feet of the Master there will be cotradictions
and doubts regarding our own experiences and
convictions and that what the scriptures reveal. In such
a case I first give the benefit of doubt to Vedantic
Scriptures and then through enquiry I proceed to see
if my conclusion is valid or not. But primarily listening
Vedanta Sandesh
Vedanta Sandesh
Obstacles not
only indicate the
way to go, but are
also challenges,
which makes the life
worthy & interesting.
Challenges invoke
the best of our
understanding,
enthusiasm
&
courage, and like in
all adventure sports
makes life very
exciting.
Obstacles not only indicate the way to go, but are also challenges, which makes
the life worthy & interesting. Challenges invoke the best of our understanding,
enthusiasm & courage, and like in all adventure sports makes life very exciting.
It is only in the face of obstacles that we not only realize our weaknesses &
shortcomings, but also get a chance to actualize qualities we cherish. Reaching
our cherished goals is no doubt a matter of great joy & fulfillment, but the real
lasting memories are of moments when we were facing & handling obstacles.
Every so called obstacle is basically a situation, but we brand it as an obstacle
depending on our perceived competencies. A so called 'big' problem is indicative
of our corrosponding fears & inabilities; and a small problem just reveals our
confidence & intelliegnce to deal it. So no situation is a problem and there are no
obstacles per se, it is all about our own capacities or incapacities. There are
certainly some situations which cannot be & also need not be changed, so
obviously they are not problems, problems are only when we need to change
- PoojyaGuruji
them. So for an intelligent & competent person there are no problems. Intelligence
is all about being at home anywhere in ourselves by being at home in what is,
however, if at all we do need to change something, we can, just study the situation,
and handle the situation without any fears of failures, afterall there are no
obstacles, just situations.
Love & om,
Swami Atmananda
-9-
by
Swamini
Samatananda
One who can be free of attachments to the results of action or it's stubborn
insistence actually reflects his faith towards the decions of God. Ishwara being
the real deciding factor of Man's situations in life. In this whole scenario Man has
been given the freedom to perform actions to the best of his ability, with the freedom
to use his discretion in the way one wishes to perform actions.
Karyam Karma:
Karyam karmas are actions that we ought to perform. There are three criteria
to discern ones karyam karma or the actions one necessarily needs to perform.
These are based upon ones swadharma(mental aptitudes), ashrama(as per ones
stage of life); and as that which the situation demands.
The field of
Action
is
the
journey within. If
enquiry, meditation,
contemplation are
different dimensions
of traversing deep
within
our
Quotes
Your teacher can open the door, but you must enter by
yourself.
We can increase many ways to get rid of the darkness, but
none is as effective as simply increasing the light.
There is always a piece of fortune in misfortune.
Don't confuse the extent of one's fame with the extent of
one's character.
If you befriend another person but lack the mercy to correct
him, you are infact his enemy.
Manifest the courage to discard the shallow and seek the
profound.
True words are often not beautful, just as beautiful words
are often not true.
Feelings of defensiveness are rooted in self-doubt.
The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.
Vedanta Sandesh
Wandering
in Himalayas
The temple of Badrinath is situated on the left bank of the Alaknanda. As
soon as a devotees eye falls on the lovely Lord of Badrinath, his or her heart
sheds all sinful tendencies and feels great devotion and happiness. Decked
Badrinath
with various jewels and multicoloured garlands of flowers, the lustrous Lord of
Badri wins the heart of everyone at first sight. The fact that it is a Nambudri
Brahmin from the state of Kerela who conducts the worship(pooja) at Badri, as
at Guruvayoor and other temples of Kerela, cannot but be a source of pride and
pleasure to the sons and daughters of Malabar.
35
Excerpts from
the
Travel Memoirs
such wise philosophers or heroic men of action make their appearance in the
of
world. When we see the number of books he wrote within the brief span of his
life and the age and circumstances in which he lived, we are not at all surprised
Param Poojya
at the view several scholars have taken that Shree Shankaracharya was an
Swami
incarnation of Lord Shiva. Yet many people in India today do not know the
Tapovanji
greatness of the World-teacher. who raised the Sanatan Dharma to its pristine
Maharaj
glory and honour. Such ignorance is the result of a very defective system of
education. Truly, education is not worth its name if it does not teach people, the
noble lives of their own great countrymen and induce them to follow in the wake
of those national heroes.
- 13 -
The life consists always of ups and downs, of things and situations we like
by
Swamini
Vidyananda
and things we dislike. Situations come and go and by themselves, they don't have
any power to affect us. The reason we grieve and cry or become joyous and
ecstatic is because of our identifications and attachments, because of our personal
likes and dislikes. If we know the real nature of the world, of our beloved relatives
and friends, of love and hate, likes and dislikes, we would not be so easily afflicted
by any situation, however bad or good it may be. The problem is we don't want to
deal with situations as they really are, we want them to conform to our likes - we
want to have only what we like, and avoid what we dislike. But the world goes its
ways, it will not change according to our personal wishes, which change even in a
given person with times and moods. Something liked very much right now by
someone, may become disliked after some time, or one may become quite
29
indifferent to it. If the world would follow these whimsical fancies, it would be soon
in complete chaos. Luckily for everyone, the world is not going to change for us,
various events will always come and go irrespective of whether we want them or
not.
All we can do is change ourselves, and understand our relationship with
the world better and deeper. Usually we like our relatives and friends and grieve if
separated from them by a long travel or death. But what is death and who is the
relative, and, most important, who am I, - these questions usually evade our
attention. Who is a relative here and to whom, and who is an enemy to whom?
This river of relationship is flowing on constantly. What is on top proceeds towards
the bottom, and what is below rises up, like the cartwheel. They who are in heaven
later go to hell; and they who are in hell go to heaven. They go from one species
Adhyatmic
Teachings
of
Guru
Vasishtha
to
Sri Ramji
to another, from one womb to another, from one part of the universe to another.
The brave become cowards and cowards become brave. They who were relatives
go away after a while. The wise know everything to be the Self, they know that
"There is nowhere where I am not"; thus they overcome limitations and
conditionings. The ignorant ones don't know that, and thinking their friend or relative
is leaving them, they suffer. Indeed, they have a lot of reasons for suffering and
grief, because whatever was born or created, will most certainly die or become
broken and perish. If one puts his trust into a perishable thing, relation, situation,
person etc, and wishes this to last forever, he is bound to suffer. At the very
moment of birth everyone knows this beautiful baby, joy of the family, is going to
die - for such is the order of life. But people prefer to forget about inevitable death
and act like this baby and they themselves in this same body are going to live
Vedanta Sandesh
forever. This is not true, and so forgetting the truth is the root cause of all sufferings.
Clinging to perishable things as if they were imperishable is a result of ignorance
and it brings only sorrow.
There is a beautiful story about this in Yoga Vasishtha. On the banks of
Ganga a holy man named Dirghatapa lived. He and his wife died because of the
old age, leaving behind two sons, Punya and Pavana. Of these Punya had reached
full enlightenment, but Pavana, thought he had overcome ignorance, had not yet
reached full enlightenment and had semi-wisdom.
At the sudden departure of the parents Pavana was sunk in grief and wailed
do you bring
this
sorrow upon
dreadful
yourself?
The
blindness
of
ignorance alone is
the cause of
this
downpour of
torrential
eyes.
father
has
departed from
our mother to
that
of
liberation or the
state,
which is natural
overcome the
grieve
to their own
ignorantly
bound yourself to
the notions of
"father"
and
"mother"; and
state
highest
Our
when
liberated from such ignorance! He was not your father, nor was she your mother,
nor were you their son. You have countless fathers and mothers. They have had
countless children. Countless have been your incarnations! And, if you wish to
grieve over the death of parents, why do you not grieve for all these countless
beings unceasingly?
Noble one, what you see as the world is only an illusory appearance. In
truth there are neither friends nor relatives. Hence, there is neither death nor
separation. All these wonderful signs of prosperity whtat you see around you are
tricks, some of which last for three days and others for five days! With your keen
intelligence enquire into the truth: abandon notions of "I", "you" etc, and of "He is
dead", "He is gone". All these are your own notions, not truth.
-7-
Nature
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Vedanta Sandesh
Indra is the king of the cosmic gods. Being the king of heaven, once Indras
mind got overpowered with pride. He began to neglect Prakriti-Mother-Earth.
Prakriti was so enraged that she cursed Indra. She said to him, You will lose
everything you have your throne, your kingdom, everything. Even your Guru,
Brihaspati, will curse you. When he was cursed by Prakriti, Indra got extremely
depressed. He was totaly sunk in despair. Just at that time, his Guru Brihaspati,
who is also the Guru of all the cosmic godscame to see him. Overpowered by his
depression, he did not stand up to greet his master and nor did he offer any
oblations. Seeing this Brihaspati became furious. He said, How can you, the
king of all the cosmic gods, not show any respect to me? Do you not know who is
standing here? It is your own Guru! Getting enraged, he said, I curse you! You
will lose your kingdom and throne, you will lose all your prosperity. Everything
you have, you will lose. You will become a beggar.
In this manner, Prakritis and Brihaspatis curse came true. Indra became
an utter beggar. But, Brihaspati felt sorry for Indra and he modified his curse a
little. He told Indra, After 60,000 years I will restore your kingdom to you. So
Indra prayed and meditated for 60,000 years and his kingdom was restored to
him. Unfortunately, he discovered that his kingdom was not as beautiful as it had
been previously. His palace needed remodelling and many other places needed
construction. Indra was filled with sadness because his kingdom did not have its
former perfection. So he employed the Heavenly architect, Vishwakarma for the
needful.
Vishwakarma worked for many months. The months became years, but
still Indra was not satisfied. He always found fault with Vishwakarmas work.
Every day Vishwakarma had to endure Indras scoldings and insults. In addition,
Vishwakarma had no time for his other work, so he was miserable.
One day Vishwakarma went to Vishnu and said, O Revered One!
ShriVishnu, please save me, save me! Indra has appointed me to rebuild his
kingdom. I have been working extremely hard to please him, but he is not satisfied with my work. He only scolds me and insults me. Let me see what I can
do, answered Vishnu.
Vishnu took the form of a very striking young boy and came before Indra.
This kingdom is your kingdom? he asked. Surely it is my kingdom! said Indra.
Who else could have such a kingdom? This is my creation. As you can see,
looking at its beauty you too cant resist appreciating it. The young boy went on,
No other Indra has such a beautiful kingdom or such a splendid palace. Did you
receive any help from anyone? Yes, said Indra. I received some help from
Vishwakarma, but it was next to nothing.
No other Vishwakarma can be of help in re-modelling, no other, said the
boy mysteriously. What do you mean? cried Indra. You said no other Indra
and no other Vishwakarma. Does that mean there are more Indras and more
Vishwakarmas? Yes, yes, there are others, stated the boy. Indra got furious.
When he thought that there was more than one Indra, he lost all interest in his
kingdom. He did not mind at all if there were other Vishwakarmas. But for Indra
to tolerate more Indras was too much.
Vishnu once more took his own form as a cosmic god. He said to Indra, I
came here to make you realise the futility of pride. I can see that you have realised
it. Now go and bathe in the river and you will be purified. In this manner Indra was
humbled and got back his kingdom and he lived with a new vision of humility.
- 17 -
Wfeboub!Njttjpo
'
Wfeboub!Btisbn
Ofxt
Vedanta Sandesh
Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Binfebcbe;
A week long Gita Gyana Yagna by Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji was organized
at Ramkrishna Kendra, Maninagar, Ahmedabad from 13th to 19th May 2015. As usual
there were two discourses. The subject matters of the morning & evening discourses were:
Gita Chapter 11 and Kathopanishad 2-2.
One of the days there were lovely bhajans & satsang at the residence of the hosts
of Poojya Swaminiji - Sh Jatin & Smt Maitreyi Patel.
Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Nvncbj;
Due to indisposition of Poojya Guruji the scheduled Gita Gyana Yagna at Mumbai
was instead conducted by Poojya Swamini Samatanandaji. The Gita Gyana Yagna was
at Vivekananda Auditorium inside the campus of Ramkrishna Math in Khar, Mumbai. The
discourse series were from 25th to the 30th May morning, and the subject matter of the
pravachans were Gita Chapter 12 and Tattva Bodha. Both the pravachans were highly
appreciated.
Pqfsbujpo!pg!Qppkzb!Hvsvkj;
Poojya Guruji was lately having some stomach problems like acidity & indigestion
etc. In the sonography it was diagnosed that there were some stones in the Gall Bladder
and it was distended too. Doctors decided to perform operation and remove it. Dr Amitabh
Goel, a well-known and highly decorated Laproscopy Specialist of the city was kind enough
to give immediate time and as such an emergency operation of Laproscopic
Cholecystectomy was performed on the 25th May at the Sahaj Hospital, which specializes
in endoscopic surgeries.
The operation was very successful & timely. Gall Bladder had got blocked by a
stone in the duct, which subsequently blocked the artery also, so the condition was indeed
serious. The stay in the hospital was very comfortable & nice. He got discharged the next
day night, and is now recovering nicely at the Ashram. The overall health has improved
very drastically, and even before the stitches could be cut Poojya Guruji has started the
classes, the first one was the Hanuman Chalisa Satsang on 31st May
Ibovnbo!Dibmjtb!Tbutboh!.!Nbz!3126;
On 31st May was the last Sunday of the month, and as such it was the day for the
monthly Hanuman Chalisa Satsang. As usual it was full house, and first there were lovely
spirited bhajans, chanting of Hanuman Chalisa and then the pravachan. Poojya Guruji
continued his deep reflections on the third chaupayi.
- 19 -
Btisbn0Njttjpo!Bdujwjujft!.!!!!!!!!!!
Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Binfebcbe
Venue: Ramkrishna Kendra, Maninagar, Ahmedabad
Subjests: Gita Chapter 11 & Kathopanishad 2-2 / Dates: 13th to 19th May 2015
Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Nvncbj
Venue: Vivekananda Auditorium, Ramkrishna Math, Khar, Mumbai
Subjests: Gita Chapter 12 & Tattva Bodha / Dates: 25th to 30th May 2015
Vedanta Sandesh
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!jo!Qjdt;!Nbz!3126
Pqfsbujpo!pg!Qppkzb!Hvsvkj
Venue: Sahaj Hospital, South Tukoganj, Indore
Laproscopic Cholecystectomy operation done by Dr Amitabh Goel, MS, on 25th May 2015
Ibovnbo!Dibmjtb!Tbutboh-!Joepsf
At Vedanta Ashram, Indore on 31st May 2015
- 21 -
Vedanta Sandesh
- 23 -
Om Tat Sat