Wednesday, 28 December 2011

Understand The Reality. BG 2/6

This is the second discourse of the six in the series. The verses elucidated in the talk are as

follows. Given for your reading pleasure and reference:

,

॥7॥

Children are busy playing, and youth, gratifying. The old are busy worrying. No one seems to

have time for God.

, ॥8॥

Who is your partner or son? In this peculiar world, think over your own source of origin and

your real identity.

, ॥9॥

Wise company with the noble arouses dispassion and that leads to non-attachment. With non-

attachment comes stability and knowledge, and that leads to liberation.

॥10॥

Infirmity takes away sensual pleasures. A pond ceases to be so without water. Just like a family

scrambles with dissipating wealth, the illusory world disappears upon self realization.

ध - - - ,

॥11॥

Your friends, youth, wealth and pride — all that boost your ego will be snatched by Death in a

jiffy. This world is an illusion, an elaborate construction of non-substance. Aim for the highest

goal.

You can click on the video image below to view the video.

Continued…to part three...

Peace.

Swami

In: Bhaj Govindam, bhakti, Self realization, Spirituality, Videos

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Chant the Holy Names. BG 1/6

Adi Guru Sri Sankracarya Bhaj Govindam (BG) is a beautiful composition by Sri Sankracarya. This stotra has also been

given the title of Mohamudgara — one that shatters your passion towards material things and

attachments. I have commented on the composition in a series of six lectures. All lectures are in

Hindi. During my discourse, I refer to the verses from the stotra. So to help you better

understand and enjoy, I am documenting the verses below with my contextual translation.

The couplets in the first discourse are as follows:

भ भ , भ , ॥1॥

Chant the holy names O deluded one! At the moment of your last breath, no secondary

knowledge or anyone from this world will be of any help.

ध , भ ,

॥2॥

The one deluded by the material world is always struggling for more. Lead a virtuous life and be

contented with what comes your way; for, you can only reap what you sow.

भ भ , - - - - ,

॥3॥

You lust after women; however, know that bodies are the result of gross formation of flesh, fat,

bones and so forth.

, भ ,

॥4॥

Life is elusive and ephemeral as that drop of water that runs down the lotus leaf and promptly

loses its existence. All around you, the material world is suffering from diseases, ego and grief;

what is so attractive about it?

:, ध ,

॥5॥

That family for whom you devoted your whole life constantly earning and struggling is only

interested in you so long as you are of some use to them.

, भ ॥6॥

The moment you breathe your last, they will have you cremated without ado. Your own wife, the

one you shared most intimate moments with, will dread at the sight of your body.

The discourse can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Continued…to part two...

Peace.

Swami

In: Bhaj Govindam, Sankracarya, Spirituality, Videos

Thursday, 22 December 2011

The Four Pillars of Sadhana

The Practice of Self Transformation rests on four pillars. Read on.

Goswami Tulsidasa writes in a certain legend in Ramayana, an ascetic tells King Pratapbhanu

upon the latter being amazed to see the occult powers of the adept:

Jani ācaraju karu mana māhi, suta tapa tē duralabha kachu nāhi.

Tapabala tē jaga srjayi bidhātā, tapabala biṣṇu bhayē paritrātā.

Tapabala sambhu karahi sanhārā, tapa tē agama nahi kachu sansārā. (Tulsi Ramayana, 1.162.1-2)

Do not be surprised dear. Nothing is impossible with sādhanā. It is with tapas alone that Brahma

creates, Vishnu protects, and Shiva destroys. With penance, nothing in the three worlds is

unattainable.

There are no quick fixes. Success in sādhanā, practice, of self transformation is proportionate to

the amount, quality and consistency of efforts put in. Great persistence is rewarded by

extraordinary rewards. In aphorisms of Patanjali, he states that yoga is the practice of erasing

your psychic imprints in Yōgaścittavrttinirōdhaḥ (Patanjali Yoga Sutras, 1.2) and he starts by saying

atha yōgānuśāsanam (ibid, 1.1), "Now begins the discipline of yoga". So, sādhāna is about

adhering to the specified discipline; in a strict and careful manner till you attain your goal.

The yoga of self transformation helps the practitioner to turn inward completely. Besides

discipline, the success in the actual sādhanā depends on four key aspects: sādhaka (aspirant),

siddha (master), sādhya (goal) and sādhana (resources). Absence of any one of the four puts the

whole practice on a shaky ground. The palace of stones turns into a sand castle — fragile and

temporary. It is worthwhile to understand the fundamentals of sādhanā before delving into the

actual practice. As follows:

1. Sādhaka — The Seeker:

The seeker is the sādhaka ( ध ), practitioner, who is committed to the path. He has realized

the futility of material pursuits and naturally builds upon on the flourishing indifference

(vairāgya) towards material attainments. He has understood that irrespective of the degree of

success in worldly pursuits, they continue to be temporary. Further that, they, ineluctably, bring

greater misery and fear. In the material world, the first fear is of failure when you are working

towards creating something. If you succeed, the second fear is of losing your acquisition.

Protecting and holding on to the achievement keeps one on one’s toes. A seeker is the one who

has decided to go beyond his fears and cross the ocean of his tendencies of mind to reach the

peaceful shore of inner peace and his true nature. There is no practice without the practitioner.

The seeker forms the main pillar of the actual practice.

The seeker must be committed to two things above everything else: practice and dispassion.

Krishna says to Arjuna:

Asanśayaṁ mahābāhō manō durnigrahaṁ calaṁ

Abhyāsēna tu kauntēya vairāgyēṇa ca gr h tā.(Bhagavad Gita, 6.35)

O Warrior! Doubtlessly, it is an extraordinary feat to conquer one’s mind. But, Arjuna! With

practice and dispassion it is possible.

If the aspirant continues to find joy in materialistic or sensory pursuits of the external world, his

journey to discover the inner one will be a drag. His efforts are going to be diluted. Dispassion

comes as a result of reflecting on the temporary, illusory and selfish nature of the material world

as well as with the conscious effort of letting go (tyāga) all that binds you. A genuine seeker has

both. If you can enjoy with no attachments, you have learned the art of living. It is not the joy

itself but the attachment to such joy that binds one. Detachment comes from staying even under

all circumstances. And evenness comes from an ever-present mind that helps you remember to

stay course. An alert mind, in turn, is a natural outcome of good meditation.

2. Siddha — The Guru:

The guru is the siddha ( ), adept, who has already been there and done that. His role is to

guide the seeker and help such practitioner get across the hurdles. Since eons, all systems of

various yoga and the practices thereof have been passed on from guru to the disciple. To the

highly committed seeker, finding and meeting his guru becomes an automatic act — almost like

a preordained rendezvous. There is no need to go out in search of a guru. Once you start the

actual practice and stay on course firmly, Nature will arrange for your guru to come into your

life. And till such time even if you do meet the right guru, you will stay oblivious and unaware.

Do not be hasty in selecting a guru. Guru is not a formality or a transaction of convenience. He is

not an item you can just tick off.

The right guru can dispel your doubts, help you cross the hurdles and assist you in spiritual

attainment faster and better than you on your own.

a bhavētsaṅgayuktānāṁ tathā viśvāsnāmapi, gurupūjāvihinānāṁ tathā ca bahusaṅginām.

Mithyāvādaratānāṁ tathā ca niṣṭhurabhāṣiṇām, gurusantōṣahinānāṁ na sid'dhiḥ

syātkadācana. (Shiva Samhita, 3.17-18)

The one who is attached to the material world, lacks faith, has no devotion towards his guru,

rejoices in socializing, lies, speaks harshly, disregards guru's needs is unlikely to attain his

spiritual goal.

A guru is not indispensable. I am deviating from the word of the scriptures with the previous

statement; I am doing so based on my personal experience and observations. However, the right

guru can certainly accelerate your journey. If you lack the burning desire, even God cannot help

you attain your goal, let alone any guru in human body. Just like a competent spiritual master can

bring out the best in his disciple, a devoted disciple can also get the best from his guru. Devotion,

faith, honesty, service are the ingredients of the right recipe. If your guru wants material things

from you or if his giving time to you is dependent on how much you have to offer, forget that

guru like a bad dream. How can the one who has not risen from desires himself instruct you on

dispassion?

Guru banāyō jāni kē, pāni p yō chāni kē, Drink water after filtering and make guru after

examining, a famous saying in the Nath sect. It has traveled verbally so I am unsure of its origin.

3. Sādhya — The Goal:

The third important pillar is the goal, sādhya ( ). It is pivotal to know your target. The yoga

of self transformation has many milestones that are aimed at guiding the seeker. If you do not

know your goal, attainment of anything will mean everything or achieving everything may mean

nothing. The course of action can only be charted if you know the destination. Some may want

occult powers, others, Samadhi and many others may just want a better way of living. Anything

is possible with the right practice. For a yogi, the goal may be yogic trance. For the mantrin, the

goal may be to invoke the latent power of the mantra. For the worldly, it may just be acquisition

of material wealth. For the ill, it may be to regain his physical health. Whatever your goal

maybe, it is important to have one and carry out the practices accordingly.

I would like to quote a verse from a vaishanava tantric text:

Āradhāitō yadi haristapasā tataḥ kim

Nārādhitō yadi haristapasā tataḥ kim.

Antarvahiryadi haristapasā tataḥ kim

Nāntarvahiryadi haristapasā tataḥ kim.(Nārada Pancrātra, 1.2.6)

If your worship leads to Śr Hari, what good is any penance; of what use is any austerity if you

are not lead to Śr Hari. If you worship him within and without, tapas is no longer important; if

you do not worship him within and without, how can tapas be of any importance.

Read the above statement multiple times to let its profundity sink and settle. Although, uttered

with the devotional sentiment, the aforesaid statement highlights the essence of all sādhanā. That

is: one must never lose sight of one’s goal on the path of sādhanā. If you are treading any path

that does not lead you to your goal, why waste your time on such path? The rules, discipline,

framework and philosophy are only means to an end. Your sādhanā is to attain your sādhya.

Once done, you are ready to define your own rules because when you are delivered, you are free.

Free of everything. It is important to follow the rules initially. Just like if you are driving on the

highway, for your own safety and that of others, you follow the traffic rules. But once home, you

no longer walk in lanes or indicate before turning. Very much like the lane markings are there to

guide you, any discipline on the spiritual path is to assist you. If you turn your discipline into a

ritual losing sight of the ultimate, your path will become a conglomerate of dry practices devoid

of bliss and joy.

4. Sādhana — The Resources:

The last and certainly not the least aspect is sādhana ( ध ), resources. It is not possible to do

the practice without support. By resources, I do not mean that you require substantial financial

capital. For the initial stages, you can start the practices sitting at your home. As you progress,

your circumstances should allow you to do almost like a "meditation getaway" of a week, ten

days or month once or twice a year at the minimum. Your routine during that getaway will be

intensive meditation.

Further, with continued advancement, a "quieter" place will be required for intensive practices of

silence and solitude. You are not going to see serious results without an intense practice.

You need not worry about any of the above at this stage. To begin with, you require a burning

desire, commitment to the practice, purity of moral, spiritual and yogic discipline. For the

genuine seeker, the providence arranges for everything as the need arises. I say this from my first

hand experience.

Enjoy the journey!

Peace.

Swami

1

In: Sadhana, Yoga of Self Transformation

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Samadhi: Meaning, State and the Truth.

A reader posted the following comment a few days back:

Hari Bol Prabhu ji ! I am eagerly waiting for your upcoming posts and with your kind grace, hopeful to understand the Truth. I

have one query regarding my understanding .You may choose to answer the question if you feel that in

upcoming posts it will be answered at its own. The question is about state of "Samadhi".What is the meaning of the word Samadhi or State of Pure Bliss? What I understand is that the Samadhi is a State when one knows who really he is, i.e. There is no difference between God and Himself. when One is realized that he is not "Jad" but Chetan. As King Janak said in Sri

Ashtvakra Geeta after realizing the truth " How Amazing am I, I bow down to myself".

Please guide me, if my small mind with little knowledge is on right path. Hare Krishna ! Amit [Commented on: The Yoga of Self Transformation – My Solemn Vow]

As for the meaning of Samadhi: the way I see, it means to be at par with the One. Upadhi means

to be near, almost like just one step below. Samadhi means to be the same. From that angle, you

are right that Samadhi is a state where one knows who one really is. But I would like to briefly

differentiate between just knowing and experiencing it. From second-hand knowledge, one may

know all about Samadhi but the actual state of Samadhi goes beyond knowing – it is about being.

It is about feeling. It is about experiencing.

Read the whole article »

You might like:

How to Be at Peace

What do You Stand for?

Six Principles of Meditation

What's Your Excuse?

I am Not Happy

What is the Meaning of Life?

How to Apologize

Join Meditation Retreat, Feb 8 - 13, 2015

In: Readers' questions, Yoga of Self Transformation

Monday, 19 December 2011

Mind: Karmic Trail and Psychic Imprints.

This is the second chapter in the series on The Yoga Self Transformation.

Why Self Transformation?

Conditioning, karmic trail and psychic imprints.

(Patanjali Yoga Sutras, 2.12)

Psychic imprints, resulting from karma, accumulated over many lives condition the mind and

cause one grief.

Image source: ariadna Imagine a spinning wheel painted with spectral hues. Since it is spinning its face appears illusory

white. In reality, there is no white colour on the wheel but because it is spinning with a

combination of the spectral shades on its face, it appears white. Similarly, mind is always

moving. Like the spinning wheel, it creates an illusion of reality of the material world. It makes

the world look like a permanent place. However, that is not so.

In order to understand your true nature, the one independent and cleared of all conditioning, your

mind must acquire certain stillness. To attain that stillness and examine the nature of mind, its

movement must cease. It is only after such cessation you can see the real colours. Purity of

discipline in your karma helps a great deal in achieving mental stability. Whatever you do with

speech, actions or words leave an imprint on your mind. The objective of this article is to help

you see how all karma have a residual trail. Such residue covers and conditions your mind.

Most yogic texts demand the practitioner to follow strict karmic and moral discipline. Truly

profound, if you ask me! Getting back to karma and their residue:

Read the whole article »

5

In: Sadhana, Yoga of Self Transformation

Friday, 16 December 2011

King in the Cattle: Nature of Mind.

A lion if brought up with goats, can behave like them. Mind's true nature is eternally peaceful and full of bliss. My obeisance to my Ishta, my foremost Guru. The cause of all existence and sustenance, I offer myself, completely and

unconditionally, at His lotus feet.

Once upon a time, there was a lioness. She dies during the course of giving birth to her cub. A

small girl who had never seen a cub happens to be in the woods at that time. She picks up the cub

and brings it home. The cub is fed goat's milk and is made to live with other goats. They all grow

up together. The lion starts to feed on grass like the other goats. Living like the cattle, the lion

forgets its true nature.

One day, while grazing along with the herd, the lion gets aloof and finds itself lost in the

shadows of the jungle. As he attempts to navigate his way back, he gets even deeper in the

woods. He feels scared and sees a wolf from a distance. The lion, unaware of his ferocity and out

of ignorance, starts running for its life. However, much to his surprise all the other animals start

running away as they see the lion approaching. The lion stops and thinks to make sense of what

he just witnessed. An eerie feeling takes him over. He starts to feel there is more to it than meets

the eye. He starts to ponder over the incident of other animals dashing upon his sighting. He

decides to explore the matter further.

He starts to move around a little more freely and a little less scared. Wherever he goes, he sees

the same reaction: all the other animals start scrambling. It goes like this before he sees a group

of lions feeding on a freshly killed bull’s gore. A latent desire to partake of the meat arouses in

him. His surprise elevates to the level of shock. As if automatically, he feels the urge to make his

own lunch. He decides to hunt down a calf. The joy he discovers in the hunt and feeding on the

prey far exceeds any other he had ever experienced. Additionally, an innate sense of fearlessness

emerges. He feels the jungle is his home and that no one around can dare to kill him.

Similarly, your true nature is bliss and fearlessness. The lion in you has started behaving like the

goats due to its been brought up with them. This is called conditioning. You have lost sight of

your true nature due to numerous factors. Predominantly, experiencing the world through the

body since eons has made you forget who you really are. As a result, the connection with the

Supreme Soul is lost.

The bliss you seek does not exist in the world outside; instead, a whole world exists in the bliss

within you. Self realization is about finding that eternal reservoir of bliss and peace. Your true

nature is pure bliss and unimpeded joy, infinitely so. You have been conditioned, inadvertently

or otherwise, by the society and other evolutionary forces. Your conditioned soul is a product of

the collective intelligence of the world. You, however, are a product of your karma and your

desires. You have forgotten your true nature because of the conditioning. Such conditioning has

come to you in the form of religion, social, family, and moral values. Since eons, preceding

generations have accepted such standards, mostly unquestioningly, passing them onto the

successive ones.

The world you see externally is merely a projection of the world within you. In fact, the world

outside is an exact replica of the one in you. Your inner world is a product of your thoughts. Due

to your forgotten nature, your inner world constantly gets affected by the world outside. If the

inner world is in turmoil, the outside one will appear just as listless and doomed.

The goal of the Yoga of Self Transformation is to help you discover and get back in touch with

your inner world, your real nature. I can only share with you the practices and show you the

path; its attainment is your personal matter.

Hare Krishna.

Swami

This is the first in the series on The Yoga of Self Transformation. Please read prologue for background

information.

2

In: Spirituality, Stories, Yoga of Self Transformation

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Knowing the Unknowable. The Path of Yoga

A reader posted the following comment:

Respected swami ji, there are observations I would like to share with you. Your writings have been really great

and is helping people who are following you. First observation:"Probability of success will increase multifold if you are aware of the path before you start treading it."

On the path of self realization as well we have to calculate success and probability like in materialistic world. This path is also known as the path of unknown; how can journey towards unknown be known before hand? Isn't it paradoxical? [Commented on: The Yoga of Self Transformation - Prologue]

The first question is actually a good one. I am assuming the first sentence after the quotes to be a

question and not statement.

The path of self realization is like any other in many ways. When you work towards any goal,

clearly you ought to tread some path. Whether the path is known to you beforehand or if it is

unfolded as you get along can make marked difference in your own confidence, conviction and

conformity. It is not about calculating, it is about knowing what you are signing up for. If you

plan to spend a day at the beach, you tend to take your swimming costumes with you.

Calculation is a function of intellect and intelligence. The goal of self transformation is to rise

above intellect to experience your true nature. Just like two pieces of wood are used to ignite fire

but the same fire consumes the very wood that created it at the first place; similarly, an

awareness of the path, intellect, and intelligence are used to spark the fire of self transformation.

Upon your discovery, the newly found inner peace and knowledge will consume intellect and

discrimination helping you gain that transcendental state of mind.

Read the whole article »

In: Readers' questions, Yoga of Self Transformation

Monday, 12 December 2011

The Yoga of Self Transformation - My Solemn Vow

Over the next few days, I will start posting articles on The Yoga

of Self Transformation. In my writings, at times you may find information contradictory to what

you have known till date from other texts or sources. At that juncture, I encourage you to choose

from the viewpoint that helps you move forward. Eventually, everything should lead to a

conclusive state of self discovery. Before I start sharing my thoughts with you, I would like to

read out my solemn vow:

I vow to expose only what I know from first-hand experiences. For various yogic

practices, I may quote from texts but it will only be those references that I have

validated personally and that I can demonstrate to the seekers. I am fully committed

to presenting a truthful account of what all yogic practices can actually achieve.

The Yoga of Self Transformation is how I got to Samadhi. For the record, when I embarked on

my spiritual journey, I did not know how long it would take me to get to my goal just like I did

not know if I would even experience it ever. After the discovery, to give a cohesive shape to my

findings as well as with the intent of bringing it together, I am presenting to you the theory and

practices clubbing them together under the title: The Yoga of Self Transformation.

Read the whole article »

In: Meditation, Self realization, Yoga of Self Transformation

Friday, 9 December 2011

The Yoga of Self Transformation - Prologue

Image source: cjn Till date I have been writing on topics in a somewhat fragmented manner. I covered what I felt

was important based on my own experiences and my interactions with others. I understand the

need to tie them using a common theme. It has been on my mind to document my core

philosophy and related practices. I welcome anyone to follow the path as I shall outline over the

course of several weeks and see the results for themselves. A serious and sincere attempt will

meet priceless rewards. You will begin to get glimpses into your true nature. And when that

happens, your motivation to go right to the end will flourish automatically.

My original plan was to write a book on what I call The Yoga of Self Transformation. However,

it may be a while before that materializes. So, I have decided to write a series of articles that may

ultimately take the form of a book. Over the next few months, maybe six or eight, I shall lead

you by hand exposing you to the following:

My philosophy There are two ways to tread the path of self transformation. First is to absorb the core philosophy

and adopt the practices if the doctrine makes sense to you. The second is to carry out the

practices first and see the truth of thesis unfold subsequently. From my perspective, it is

paramount that I first introduce you to the base teachings. Probability of success will increase

multifold if you are aware of the path before you start treading it.

Read the whole article »

In: Self realization, Yoga of Self Transformation

Monday, 5 December 2011

The Whole Nine Minutes

I would like to share with you a video reflecting my activities at the ashram. All those who have

been unable to meet me thus far have been messaging me wanting to know more. I have also

added a page on the blog with my pictures. The video below highlights the usual at the ashram.

The best part of my life is helping people and the hour long class on Sundays of local kids. The

background music decibel has been intentionally raised so you can absorb the message through

visuals. Spoken words in the present scenario hold no context nor meaning.

Peace.

Swami

In: Spirituality, Videos

Thursday, 1 December 2011

The Successful and the Successfool

Everybody likes to succeed. Some merely suck and do not succeed while there are many who

succeed but still suck. Since eons, the tradition has been that the passing generation conditions

the upcoming with their definition of success. Very often, I find that people are trying to succeed

based on someone else's criteria and benchmark. Some are successful, some, full of success.

Some succeed but do not know it, as a result they continue the toil and struggle; they are not

successful but successfools. Some get fulfilled with their success, others only get fooled by it. To

become "successfool" takes some serious effort too. It involves becoming a servant of your

achievements while continuing its pursuit.

Averagely, in a class of forty students, two get high distinction, three, distinction, and ten, credit

with twenty getting just the pass. Five, however, fail to score above the threshold and are given a

"fail". Those who get fail, are they not successful? Or, the five who get high distinction, are they

successful? The five who failed may well succeed at other endeavours. Their current grade is

merely a stamp, a label, based on the criteria of some institution. While it is easy to see success

vis-a-vis failure in this instance, the lines are offered blurred in other streams of life.

Read the whole article »

2

In: Self realization

Monday, 28 November 2011

Q&A: The Chosen One or the Chosen Path?

A reader posted the following question:

Hari om ji,

How and when do we get confused on our calling? How do we differentiate between a real

calling and a desired way of living? What if the desired path or way of living is not meant for

you? Then why do we get such strong feeling that we should take a step forward. When you say

that your decision taken in present reflects your future- how do we relate to this? Please explain.

Thank u.

Hare Krishna [Commented on: Q&A: I have got to be living...]

When there is any confusion, it is not real calling.

What is the difference between real thirst and illusory thirst? Real thirst can only be curbed for a

short period whereas the illusory one disappears as soon as you are able to take your mind off it.

When the calling is real, the decision is barely and rarely in the hands of the one ordained.

Nature will automatically drag that person in his natural play field. Real calling is never a

product of the mind, desired way of living is the result of cogitation and deliberation. In latter,

one analyses a series of options available and chooses the best one. Real calling connects at a

deeper level. It cedes all cogitation.

If you choose your “desired path” and feel it is not for you after you have started walking it,

leave your desired path. Simple! Who says that one has to stick to something for one’s whole

life? A good way to test is to start living it quietly. Live the desired way unannounced and see if

this is what you want. Take time off and live it completely for a short period first. Once you feel

that this is exactly what you want, you can make your decision public. Years ago, I stumbled

upon a funny yet sublime quote: “If at first you do not succeed, don’t tell anyone.”

Treading any new path requires that one gives up the old one. Imagine climbing a staircase. At

some point in time, you must completely abandon the present rung of the ladder to get to the next

one. With one foot on the preceding rung and other on the next one, it is impossible to advance.

Often non-fulfillment comes when the seeker wants the best from his past with his present (read

chosen) lifestyle. It does not work that way. A new lifestyle is a new lifestyle. It may not have

any elements of the past. A tamed mind finds it easy to adjust and love it whereas an outwardly

focused one wants the best of the both worlds. In fact, it holds true for all aspects of material life

too. Mind is always making you compare your past with present to create a picture of the future,

immediate or distant.

If you are willing to relinquish — not the world but your world of desires — treading any path

becomes easy. Without vairāgya (indifference and dispassion towards the material comforts) it is

not possible to tread any spiritual path and without abhyāsa (spiritual discipline), it is impossible

to get results. The path is arduous but peerless work meets priceless rewards!

Peace.

Swami

2

In: Readers' questions, Renunciation

Thursday, 24 November 2011

Life is Like...The Sky

Life is like the sky, sometimes cloudy, other times, very clouded.

The same sky offers a completely different view depending on the time of the day. At night it is

full of stars and the waning or the waxing moon. During the day, it is full of light. Artificial

lighting of cities make the beautiful star-studded sky hazy. The same sky when covered with

clouds hides both the very bright sun or the soft moon. Clouds seem to come from nowhere

followed by rain. Sometimes the same cloudy sky dislodges a hail storm, other times, the very

quiet but cold snow. If you look up, you are looking at the infinite sky. If you look straight you

may be greeted by the horizon creating the illusion of sky meeting earth. Rain, thunder, showers,

snowfall, even day or the night are merely transient phases in the sky. The sky does not get

affected by it. It remains infinite and blue. Moods of various seasons are allowed, if not accepted,

by the sky in an unassuming and unattached fashion. It does not lose its unsullied nature. You

can move to any part of the world, the sky stays the same. Whether it is the noisy jet that is

flying or the quiet trackless bird, the sky does not discriminate. The clouds may be in the sky but

the sky is not in the clouds. How ideal!

Similarly, a life of purity will always be like the blue sky. If you are always aiming for

something higher, a terminal point may never come just like if you are running towards the

horizon, there is never a finish line. A rainbow always emerges in the clean sky. And sky is often

clear and clean soon after the downpour. When you are experiencing rainy days, take an

umbrella or sit tight, be patient, clear days are just round the corner. If you always want a clear

sky, you may have to live in the normally inhabitable deserts. When life appears dark like the

sky on the night of new moon, you can settle your gaze at the glimmering stars. When sun is

spewing fire, do not stare at it. Let it be certain in your mind that all the colours of sky are only

the most temporary phases.

Read the whole article »

2

In: Life, Life is like..., Nature, Self realization

Thursday, 17 November 2011

Q&A: I have got to be living...

A reader posted a comment in two parts, as follows:

Swamiji

It's a beautiful post. I am just 23 and iv not gone through everything in life. Like they say that life

is like a cardiogram. If there's only peace and calm in your life then life is like a straight line

which indicates that you are dead scientifically. When there are ridges is when you're considered

alive. Then why not just go through everything instead of searching for peace so early in life.

Please enlighten...

Iv got to be experiencing life as it instead of surrendering myself to peace. Afterall if there arent

any ups and downs in life, then life becomes a flat line which indicates on the cardiogram that

you're dead... [Commented on: Living with Love]

Nice simile: cardiogram! Cardiogram only gives the readings; it does not control the heart beat.

Besides, the life-o-gram of most shows flat even when the cardiograph resembles the volatile

stock chart.

Allow me continue from your remark, “I have got to be…”:

Who says you have got to be doing this or that? You? What we ought to be doing is often

dictated by our conditioning. Imagine, you being born in a village. Let’s say in a remote village

in the mountains. In a village where your exposure, while growing up, was limited to forests,

river streams, cattle and so forth. Just really take the time to imagine yourself in that situation.

Will your definition of what you should be doing change or stay the same?

The path of self realization is about defining your own rules. Please read To Bee or Not to Bee,

especially the part where I talk about the psychology of a bee and its modus operandi. Just

because everyone around you seems to be living a certain way does not necessarily make it the

best way. I am not suggesting, even for a moment, that your way is not the right way. Any path

that inspires you to be a better human being, and, helps you help others, that path will

automatically instill in you the desire to discover your own truth.

You talk about being twenty three and enjoying the ups and downs. Discovery of peace does not

mean that there will be no ups and downs. It does not mean that the cardiogram will run flat. It

means that you will no longer puke while on the roller coaster. Imagine being able to give peace,

happiness and joy to many others. Self discovery is not about surrendering to peace. It is about

following your own path. It is about not just living life the way it is handed down to you but

analyzing it and giving it more meaning. In Loincloth and Reality of the Material World, I wrote,

“When in youth and rolling in money, the material world seems a place worth living in...” So, at

your present age, maybe you could not be bothered and are having the time of your life. Well,

that’s all well. I am happy for you. If you feel you are in bliss and that you are living a

meaningful life, and especially if others around you are helped by your endeavours, there is not

an iota of change you need to bring in you.

Spirituality is like an insurance policy. It is not needed when all seems to be going well, but

when met by an accident, its worth shows forth. No one uses margin lending when the stocks are

going up, it is when they are going down, the facility is utilized. So, who wants to think about

God when the days are sunny? It is when you are down in the muggy weather that you need all

the inner strength to stay up on the cardiogram.

And, oh, for the record, with mere manipulation of my energies, I can give you a flat line on the

cardiogram with zero pulse anytime you so wish to see. I will continue to blink and have full

consciousness during that time. A flat line, after all, may not mean that one is dead. To me, it

means the path is straight! And a straight line is always the shortest distance, an engineer told me

once.

While writing my thoughts on your comment, my disciple, Swami Vidyananda was sitting next

to me. I read him out your comment and asked for his opinion. “Everything external is limited,

the bliss inside is free of such limitations”, said he aptly. A renunciate at the age of eighteen, he

is twenty six presently. Different to mine, right or wrong, that is his path. Unlike my ridged and

long answer, his statement is beautifully short and straight like an arrow. Suspiciously like the

straight line on the cardiogram…

Vitals Check…OK.

Hare Krishna

Swami

2

In: Readers' questions, Self realization, Spirituality

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Living with Love

Bliss blossoms, prospers and dances at the tune of love, it flourishes when nurtured.

If I were to pick the most important word from the dictionary, without a moment's hesitation, I

would pick Love. The greatest and most sublime of all emotions is love. Its profundity renders it

unjust for love to be merely classified as an emotion, it is a state of being, a transcendental state

at that. The more firmly you are situated in love, the greater the bliss; such bliss that is immanent

in you will start emanating from you. If it were to come down to just one difference between

being divine and being human, it would be former's ability to always only give out love

compared to the latter who, sometimes, falters.

This genuine word most pure, in this artificial world mostly impure, however, has been overused

and abused so often that it has become a blanket term for many things it is not. A lot of people

love someone or some philosophy or a cult or sect or their possessions and devote their entire

life, saving for and protecting them. People also refer to growing in and out of love and

consequently relationships. Some pledge their life and "love" to each other only to separate later

on. There are many who find their love fade away with time like the most glittering colors do

under the sun. But if it was true love, how could it fizzle away? Truth, while it may be not be

absolute, is not dependent either. Similarly, true love is not conditional, for what is based on

certain criteria is more an agreement.

Many a few are able to love God truly. God does not talk to them or directly answer their

questions. He does not partake of their offerings nor does he ever show His form to them. They

still continue to love God and cry for Him however. If they are not doing such worship out of

any fear or with a view to attain some objective, they are close to true love. Whether they are

completely established in love can only be ascertained when they hold a communion with the

God in a human being. If they are still able to love everyone with the same emotion, they have

become an embodiment of love. When, the only emotion they reciprocate with is love, they are

no less than love incarnate. Know that in the presence of such person your own being undergoes

a silent transformation. Loving God is easy for He neither criticizes nor complements; He does

not hug you nor stave you off. You have accepted Him the way He is. He is a product of your

belief; unfortunately, often not your own belief but the one passed onto you. Loving God is still a

divine act for a human being; loving all is a godly act of a divine being. If you do not have any

realization of your own, and you do not have any knowledge about anything but if you choose to

only return all emotions with love, people will offer you the highest place on the altar of their

hearts and will worship you more than they ever worshiped God. When stroked by trouble you

will be in their thoughts before God and when struck by joy they will attempt to contact you

before visiting the shrine.

So, how can you ascend to the level of a divine being! Actually, it is easier than you think; the

practice may be harder than mere comprehension of the underlying philosophy. You must be

comfortable with yourself and be contented with what you have in order to cultivate the emotion

of love. You must also learn to stay inwards so you may not only maintain your blissful state but

be imperturbed by the emotional, intellectual, and material offerings of the world. That will

allow you to always only give out love — pure, unalloyed and pristine.

Love is innate in everyone. It is the cause of your existence and the basis of your being. It is

often misplaced at the same time in most people. Love when misdirected takes the form of an

attachment and when mispositioned, it promptly becomes an obsession. Till such time that you

turn inward completely, you can make an effort to discover your present state of love. The

following section will help you do that. Once done, you can repair it if damaged, rejuvenate if

worn out, renew it if expired, and strengthen if weak. It is going to take some work but the

rewards are infinitely priceless. Regarding the present placement of love in you, reflect on the

following:

People love different things and they do so differently. Often attachment, infatuation, attraction

or certain desires ranging from lust to liking, from pity to passion are mistaken for love. Love

may well be the basis of such emotions as well as the trigger but it is when love is polluted and

no longer pristine, it permanently assumes one of the aforesaid forms. Love is very fluid, and, an

apt shapeshifter. Of those who love, their love is generally divided among the following three in

no fixed ratio; sometimes they only love one of the three, other times, only two. Your goal is to

channelize all your love from other categories into the single most important one. Onto the

categories:

1. Things:

There is no dearth of people who fall in this category. They love things and they are totally, head

over heels, in love with their possessions. Personally, I am always amused when people are in

love with non-living things. These ones are deeply attached to their cars, gadgets, accessories

and so forth. Basically, for everything they own and has a price in the market, they are in love

with that. If this person's wife has a car accident, he is more worried about the car and insurance

than his own wife. He may, only just, cleverly hide his emotions and customarily enquire about

wife's well being immediately followed by a series of questions regarding the car, damage and

the like. A significant portion of their time is spent caring for their soulless possessions, the rest

on talking about them and any remaining, worrying about them. Love is a peculiar emotion. It

transforms you into the one you offer it to. You start loving a criminal, you will find yourself

accepting his immoral ways becoming one yourself with your acceptance. You love a saint, you

will turn into one too. Similarly, when you start to love things, you become a lifeless thing

yourself. The only difference — you have consciousness and things do not. When in love with

things, you will not be able to love people; certainly not so freely or expressively. I hope you

know that your car, house or golf clubs do not love you at all. They are just as ready and able in

anyone else's hands as in yours. If you continue to be a thing by loving things, you will soon be a

thing forgotten as well. Because you are a thing now, you will either be outdated, obsolete

or old-fashioned one day in the future, for, that is the fate of all "things" eventually.

If, sadly enough, you are one of these people, you need to do some serious thinking. Let go off

your attachment with things. Direct all your love to the other category. Love only grows when

distributed among living beings, for it is only in another living being that it lives, otherwise it

dies. Loving things will drain you out of love leaving you hanging high and dry; too high for

anyone to hear you and too dry to retain any fragrance or taste. If you do not start loving people

infinitely more than you love your things, you will waste your beautiful life on lifeless things

before the life in you flees away too leaving all, absolutely all such things, behind you for others

to use and abuse at their will and leisure. Your dead photo hung incongruously, in a manner no

less unceremonious, on a listless wall will be the only reminder that you ever existed.

2. Philosophy:

Some people are in love with a philosophy, a religion, a cult, a sect, a cause or a certain belief

system. Of the above, a cause if dedicated to the welfare of others may be worth loving. The rest

may deserve your attention, opinion or even sympathy but not your love. Remember, you are

what you think but you become what you love. These people, the ones who love not things but a

certain intellectual proposition, are still better than the first ones. At least, they develop their

intellect or live their life in accordance with the religion or cult. All religions, I believe, have

something wonderful to offer.

There is a caveat though. An ongoing affair with a philosophy, can turn one into a fanatic and

sometimes, an extremist. Once down that route, it is very hard to change. Since you adopted a

doctrine, not based on your own discovery, but either at the whim of your mind or a superficial

intellectual grasp, giving it your love will turn you into a superficial and dry person. Love

perishes in dryness.

Those who are in love with a philosophy or the like have bought into someone else's opinion;

consequently, their love, its concept, and its expression reduces to an artificial manufacture and

opinionated theory. Most religious professions, paid or voluntary, social or commercial, fall

under this category. Such practitioners consider the cause or doctrine above other human beings.

Some will even give or take life for such cause.

If, by any remote chance, you happen to be in this category which you may be justifying by

branding your obsession as your passion, please, I implore you, take a good look and try to

see trees from woods. If must you dedicate your life to a philosophy or a set of dogmas, at least,

create your own.

A borrowed one will only fetter you robbing you of your freedom. The ultimate attainment is to

shift your focus of love from this one to the next category; as follows:

3. Living beings:

You are the one who has learnt that fellow human beings, regardless of the virtual differences of

race, creed, pigmentation, are just about as human as you and as divine as the One you worship. I

thank you for gracing the planet earth. You make this world a beautiful place. You may practice

whatever religion, you have discovered and understood the essence of spirituality. When you

treat everyone like you treat yourself and see everyone as you see your God and when everyone

only gets back love from you, you are a sage. True love is unconditional. It is not governed by

the action-reaction laws of motion just as it is not a theory of physics.When you throw a stone or

a flower in a lake, the lake accepts both with equal indifference. The stone drowns immediately;

the lake accepts it and does not complain. But the lake thanks you by keeping the flower afloat.

When you either expect or want anything in return for your "love", be sure what you have is not

love. When you give love conditional upon having something first — be it mannerisms, love,

respect, anything at all — that is not love either. But, when the only thing you have to offer is

love, that undoubtedly is love.

Whenever you buy anything from the market, you always pay the price with money. Money is

the only thing you offer to buy the intended item. The more you have the more you can buy.

Equivalently, love is just about the only currency for all that is priceless. The more you have it,

the greater your choice. The more you can give, the more you can buy. Just like you may have a

million dollars, if you are not prepared to part with a dime, you cannot buy anything. You may

be a great saint or a heinous sinner, if you are not willing to give love you cannot have any in

return. When you give out every ounce of love you have in you, you will be rewarded with an

infinite supply of bliss and love.

Love is part of your very existence. If you want to experience bliss without treading an arduous

path of tedious practices, just start giving out love. For every emotion you are offered, return it

with love; for each gesture you are shown, gesticulate back yours of love, for every word uttered

to you, articulate yours with love. Try this unfailingly for a few months and see the difference for

yourself.

Give your love to people, living beings, before you offer it to a religion or a thing. And things

remain just that — lifeless, soulless things. Tell your car that you are very sad today and see if

responds with the care you always showed it. Talk to your God, your religion, telling them you

are feeling low, and see if he comes out of the book, picture or idol. Try the same with a human

being, you will at least get a response. Before you go tell another person of your woes, listen to

someone with his and help him feel better. When done to a few people a few times, you will

always have a listener, a carer, someone who wants you to be happy.

I hope you know that your love is worth lot more than wasting on things.

Go on! learn to love so you can learn to live! Express your love. Make someone feel special.

Make others feel important. Make all feel human. Make everyone a recipient of your love. Make

each one yours. If you are tired of being human, become god instead. Be divine. All of the above

is only possible when you can live a life free of expectations. And that, in turn, is possible only

after you have turned inward. Turning inward will open the flood gates of love and bliss. It is

only natural then you will give out what you have n you. Imagine being infinitely loving and

blissful and eternally so at that.

Love.

Swami

8

In: Love, Self realization, Spirituality

Sunday, 13 November 2011

A quick update: The Truth of Technology

My laptop's charger breathed its last an hour ago. Like an angry person, it got very hot. The

fumes stayed inside but its cozy warmth turned into searing heat. It reminded me of the

conditioned mind that tries to curb its desires but eventually erupts like a volcano.

I am writing to inform you that I will be unable to post anything or respond to any comments for

a minimum of week. For, I envisage the gestation period to be one week before I see the new

charger.

The charger that charges the laptop can no longer take the charge in its chagrined state and

therefore needs replacing. So much like mind, if it is always working, it simply breaks down one

day.

Learn to give it rest.

Peace.

Swami

P.S. The scheduled posts will continue to go live as planned.

1

In: Mundane Stuff

Friday, 11 November 2011

Life is Like...A Trip to the Supermarket

Life is like a trip to the supermarket. You go grocery shopping

mainly as a matter of necessity. You may be someone who either makes a mental note of what

all you are going to buy or someone who is in possession of a well documented list before you

enter the supermarket. In any case, once in, you invariably recall some additional items. You are

not too keen to make the trip but it seems you have no choice. You park your car away from the

unfettered shopping carts that are ranging the parking lot with no sense of direction and with

complete disregard for basic traffic etiquette.

You walk towards the supermarket; just before you enter, you pull out a shopping trolley with a

jerk. Your freedom is now limited to the movement of the cart. You are greeted by a colourful

view of fresh produce and big flashing cards depicting price. An overwhelming feeling takes you

over; a few moments later, you are lost. You are now walking past various aisles like the mouse

trying to navigate its way through a maze. There is stuff everywhere. It does not matter which

way you dart your glances or still your gaze, there is more stuff. And many choices for every

item, at that. Did it really have to be that complicated!

Your shopping cart that is now full of items is behaving more like a pram with a handful three

year old in it. You have to put in the extra effort to make it move with precision. Exactly like a

child's pram, you do not feel comfortable leaving it unattended. You do part with it to quickly

grab that item, you keep a watch on it — as if, a group of cart thieves are waiting for the right

opportunity or there is a cart ranger who will book you for parking in the wrong zone. Anyway,

feeling drained and thirsty, you get in the check out lane. You are greeted with the customary

smile by the check out operator. They ask you if you are doing well. But they are not really

interested in knowing that, for, they start scanning before you can answer. At least, they are not

judging you from your purchases; the fact is they could not be bothered. In other words, they are

as interested in knowing about you as you about them. The total turns out to be more than

expected. You bite the bullet paying it. You also make a soon-to-be-forgotten mental note

on being careful about your purchasing next time. You walk up to your car, unload everything

from the trolley and load your car only to unload again when you get home just a few minutes

later.

Read the whole article »

In: Being happy, Life, Self realization

Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Bondage, Engagement and the Path

Some more Q&A for your reading pleasure:

Hare Krishna Prabhu Ji

Liked your post today ...... just wanted to ask when ypu try to be yourself than persons around

start taking advantage of your plus and minus points. Even at work if you work calmly remaining

yourself , people start doing polotics with you like telling your boss something abt you which you

dont like. Pls tell me how to deal with all this and stay calm. [Commented on Living in Pajamas ]

Image source: a_glitch It will cease to matter what your colleagues tell your boss if you stop worrying about it. You

cannot change them but you can change yourself. If you become light, darkness cannot exist

around you. The best way to deal with it is to give outstanding performance at work. Your boss

is merely the medium and not the provider. It is providence that is getting to you all that you

deserve. If you do not lose sight of this truth, and continue to perform you will start to feel calm.

Your boss may still not recognize your work, but he will not be able to rob your peace. The

truthfulness of your conduct (a loyal worker) will always ensure that you are taken care of by the

Supreme. If others are playing games and you join in, you accept the rules of engagement by

being a party. Incidentally, the question below talks about engagement and that too adroitly.

Your colleagues may engage with you or against you but that will not bother you unless you let

it. For the next forty days, make a resolution that you will not highlight anyone’s shortcomings to

your boss and Nature will reciprocate. Try it to believe it!

Prabhu! I met you a few days ago. I am so taken by your relating direct experiences. but i

wonder for someone as you who seeks the almighty, and that being the only goal, why would you

want to engage with the world? isnt it binding you to the world with golden chains like with iron

chains? Why do you not just go you path, like ramana maharshi, meera, and the owrld will

understand and follow. In our owrld nothing works as well as experience. You have all this and

more. [Commented on To Bee or Not to Bee ] Read the whole article »

In: Readers' questions, Renunciation

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Q&A: The Supreme Truth. The Ultimate Form

A regular reader posted the following question a few days back. It is a long comment with a

decent question:

The essence is air - forms are different. "If the belief that God in the form of Rama or Krishna or Christ or any other form graced this

planet, helps you discover your inner peace, if such belief helps you tread the path of

righteousness and compassion, if that belief makes you a better being and inspires you to make

this world a better place, you must stick to that belief"…

Prabhu above are the words by you, i have a question on this, i believe there can only be one

reality, there can be either one either good or bad, there can be either dry or wet, so this is truth,

so when you say that to help inner peace you should see it in the form you want to see why

should it be different for different individuals. We only do it to sooth our mind, but if there is a

truth it should be in a single form not in different forms.

Prabhu i believe that most of Individuals believe in different forms because they have been told

or what their parents preach them and it becomes a habit turns to belief, but this is not truth to

believe what one does not experience it and know the reality and which you did. I say that there

can be only one truth and every one should believe and follow this, and individuals believe in

different forms, shape should narrow down to one and that should be the reality. I really would

like you to highlight this truth and guide to know it as it is. I do not want to every think that the

form is different because i think it, i want to know the reality and see to believe it, and then

putting a shape, face, or image will be truth.

I know i am asking for too much and there is no short cut so i am working on it. Please guide us.

Haribol/ Vivek [Commented on Scriptures: Their meaning, validity, and reading.] --------------------

To correctly answer your question, let me break it down. From what I can decipher you are

asking:

What is the ultimate reality, the supreme form, the one truth?

Form is not an independent phenomenon. It is a product of sight and sense. If one is blind, one

cannot see forms. And if one is unconscious, one cannot perceive any form. Envisage being in a

group of eight people and having a rose in front of you. The eight members in the group are from

different cultures, religions and backgrounds. You ask each one of them what does that rose

mean to them and what all comes to their mind on sighting the rose. I do not know what each one

will say but you can be sure to get a different answer from everyone.

You mention about the existence of only one reality, good or bad, dry or wet etc. This is exactly

what one needs to transcend. These are dualities and expressions of a conditioned mind. The

truth of external phenomena is interdependent and conditional. Imagine calling someone, in other

part of the world, who is twelve hours behind you. You place the call at eight in the evening and

it is eight in the morning for the person at the other end. You tell the person that it is night and

there are stars in the sky. The other person tells you that it is actually a bright day with blue sky.

Who of the two is telling the truth? None, one, or both? Realizing the true nature of all such

realities and rising above them is self-realization.

How can there be one ultimate form? Form is an external phenomenon and your real nature is

independent of such phenomenon. That is why I say that if a belief in any one form helps you

discover your own truth, that is a good start. When you believe that your discovery is the only

way, be sure that it is still non-discovery. Because if you still harbor such belief, it shows that the

truth has not dawned yet.

By asking me one truth or the ultimate form, you are asking me to give you an answer that will

condition you. It is a journey of self discovery and not self conditioning. The greatest across

various religions only ever showed the path. Treading their path is simply a start. Why to be a

slave of anyone’s ideology? To get to the destination requires peace, patience, effort, consistency

and faith. Any belief that instills these five in you becomes a reasonable starting point.

Śankrācārya was a strong proponent of advaita, non-duality. Non duality implies that God and I

are one. Yet at the same time, he composed numerous devotional songs in dvaita bhāva, a

devotional sentiment worshipping a form of God outside. So, which of the two is right? Both are.

Some posts already scheduled to go live in the next few weeks will further address this question.

Peace.

Swami

In: Readers' questions, Self realization

Monday, 7 November 2011

Tilaka, Śrī Vidyā and Celestial Music

The past few days have been quite hectic. The internet connection has been intermittent. Many

users posted their comments and questions. I am taking up three topics in my current post.

Before I proceed with my answers, I have a couple of updates:

Sri Yantra

I am in possession of a video camera now. So, soon I will be posting my videos of discourses

online. Given the state of connectivity, it is not possible to post them from here. Some, dwellers

of cities, have volunteered to do it. So, it will be managed somehow.

Many have asked for my pictures etc to be on my blog. We are going to create a separate web

area for the ashram and post pictures, videos, activities and other relevant information about the

ashram on that website. Predominantly because I cannot manage pictures or videos from my

present location. The website will have a link from the blog. You can expect something by

January at the latest.

Now, onto the questions:

Tilaka I have seen many wearing Chandan and Kumkum tilak on Adnya Chakra. What is the significance of wearing Chandan Tilak on the upper part of forehead and Kumkum Tilak at Adnya? [Commented on Living in Pajamas]

Traditionally, tilaka is a symbol. A symbol of auspiciousness, a stamp of commitment, a

declaration of belief and confidence. In all religious ceremonies of sanātana dharma, tilaka, a

mark on the forehead, and mauli, the sacred thread form an integral part. Socially, The wife puts

it on to declare her marital status along with an implicit commitment to the relationship of

marriage. The maiden puts it on her forehead to accentuate her beauty while quietly declaring her

self-confidence. Religiously, tilaka of various sects are different, a sign that allows them to

recognize each other. A Shaivite may wear tripuṇda, Vaishnavite, urdhav tripuṇda, and Shakta,

just the round circle. Each sect also seem to have a philosophy behind it.

Read the whole article »

In: bhakti, external worship, Readers' questions, Sadhana, Spirituality

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Living in Pajamas

Taking off the mask and being yourself gives one inner peace and freedom. You come home tired; knackered and knocked out. You had the usual day. You probably dozed

off that five minutes extra in the morning that triggered the start of a frenzied day. Everything

had to be done in a hurry; by the time you got to breakfast, the delay was now by ten minutes.

God alone knows who ate the five minutes you did not even snooze.

Anyway, you either go for a breakfast that is not filling or you skip it altogether. You justify

skipping your breaky saying it will help you shed some weight but you do not want to think

about the damage it will cause including insulin level in your blood that is now matching

economic inflation. You turn on the lousy radio in your car, go through the traffic slower than an

old snail. You reach work. Before you take another breath, you log on and fire off an email or

two, almost silently declaring your time of arrival.

Hectic day! Pointless meetings, useless attendees, baseless targets, senseless spending, reckless

execution, endless emails, mindless planning and only lesser remuneration; in short, all the

elements were present to make your day the usual corporate day. You spend your day

exchanging nods in agreement, when in fact, you violently disagree internally. But for the sake

of maintaining world peace, you let it go with a nod and a grin. You exchange smiles

and pleasantries with the one you would happily hew the head off and feed on his gore before

walking around holding his hacked head by its hair, like a prized possession, in the manner of a

wrathful goddess. I dare not think what if the victim happens to be bald.

It is lunch time. You are hungry but because of the missed breakfast, skim milk coffee, and

consequently raised insulin levels, your appetite is deluded like the conditioned mind. You are

not sure what to eat, just like you are unsure why you are even working the way you are. A full

meal is a bit too much and just the sandwich is a little too less. Oh! these choices. You are asked

to join for lunch by your co-workers. You promptly agree and you all go in a group like a flock

of sheep. You land in a noisy restaurant, as if the inner turmoil is not enough. Everybody is

talking, no one is listening and barely anything can be heard. A natural start, that. You finish that

lunch, pay your share of the bill and get back to work. It feels boringly quiet. You finish the rest

of your day.

You start commuting back to home. You are too tired to think. Maybe, you take a couple of

personal phone calls. You turn on some music and not the radio channel hoping it may relax or

excite you. But in between traffic and changing lanes, before you know it, you are home. Maybe

you are someone who jumps straight into the shower or perhaps you eat a light meal, brush your

teeth and take that shower that makes you feel fresh and light. Either way, after the bath, the

most important moment of the day arrives: Lo and behold, it is emerging on the horizon — you

slip into your pajamas. It feels as if the stressful day did not happen. You feel free as the flying

bird and quiet as mouse. Let us not think about your spouse's decision to flick through each

channel on the satellite TV a minimum of forty seven times. Getting back to you, slipping on the

pajamas has done something to you. You feel yourself. You are now laughing, talking, eating

and behaving differently. The fourteen dollar wal-mart-retailed-made-in-china pajamas have

done what the four-hundred-dollar Versace trousers could not. You just feel very comfortable.

You may have the compulsive disorder of ironing your night suit but that does not deter you for

you are being yourself now. What miraculous pair of pajamas!

I hope you know what is happening behind the scenes. You are feeling free and light because

you are being yourself. You do not have to pretend to be someone else. Mostly that someone

else is not a person but a role. It may be the role of a competent worker, a kind boss, a friendly

peer, a team player at work, a disciplined driver on the road, or a good listener on the phone, a

caring mother, a loving partner, a compassionate fellow, a fine daughter and so forth. You are

not given the chance to be in your pajamas. You always have to wear the garb of the role. The

guise you put on also, as if automatically, brings about some changes, however subtle, prominent

or temporary, in your personality. Because now you are "playing" a certain role, you have the

invisible burden of getting and doing it right.

The act of turning inward is like putting on the comfy, wrinkle-free, and soft pajamas. Once you

are in your pajamas and you learn to be comfortable seeing clad in one, you not only perform

every role far more effectively but also with much greater ease, almost effortlessly.

Living in your pajamas means being yourself. No make up, no matching shoes or accessories, or

carrying yourself a certain manner, no crap — just you being who you are. You no longer have

to laugh softly with great finesse, you can roar like the thunder, peal upon peal, if you so wished.

Why bother having or wanting anything from those who will only give you that if you were a

certain way! Accept others as they are and do not waste your time being someone else if they

cannot accept you for who you are. Once you turn the tables on your mind, everything will

become clear. You will love everybody in their pajamas and they will only have love and respect

for you. All other emotions are now in the dirty laundry with your other garbs.

Go on now! Find yourself that pair and learn to live in it. You need to discover yourself before

you can be yourself. After all, even in pajamas, an XXL will not give you comfort and warmth if

you are designed for an XS.

Discover your own truth. Wear your own pajamas — preferably made from natural material like

cotton, for the last thing you want is to have that pair made from artificial fabric. Clearly, you are

not getting ready for a fancy dress competition. In your pajamas, you may resemble the mighty

pooh or the miniature teletubby, but whoever you may look like, you will entertain yourself

heartily; know that much for a fact. (Image credit: twasa)

Peace.

Swami

1

In: Being happy, Self realization

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