Bliss yoga: By Christine Wushke

November 23, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, HEALTH & NUTRITION, INSPIRATIONAL . bliss yoga, Christine Wushke, ENLIGHTENMENT, journey to light, Kundalini, meditative yoga, Yoga

This style of yoga was inspired by a tantric dance called the Tan Da Va. When I was first introduced to this dance I was told that part of the dance training was to sit and watch a stick of incense burn. After a few hours of watching the smoke rise and spiral, one begins to get in touch with the intuitive flow or a natural instinctive movement. Bliss yoga is movement that comes from an inner naturalness. There is an ancient wisdom within your body waiting to unfold and flow like the rising smoke of lit incense. When it is given space to flow it becomes a beautiful expression of your unique wisdom inherent within. Bliss yoga can be described as the poetry of yoga: rules are not important and expression is everything.

1. Sit on the floor with the legs crossed; if you find this position to be uncomfortable, sit in an alternative position or in a chair.

2. Close your eyes and let your awareness move inward. Be aware of your sit bones in contact with the floor or chair.

3. Take a moment to inwardly honor the deep wisdom and intelligence inherent within the body.

4. Imagine that just below your tailbone a stick of incense is burning and the smoke is rising up the spine. Set your imagination free: see the smoke spiralling, or moving straight up. There is no wrong way to do the practice; it is about allowing what is and making room for your intuition to take the lead.

5. Slowly allow your torso to move side-to-side, forward and back. Allow the movement to come from the inside out–allow the inner wisdom to be the mover, not the mind. Get creative, stretch forward and back, side to side. Allow your movement to be intuitive.

6. Hold each stretch for as long as desired.

7. When you feel intuitively ready to finish moving, let the body slowly unwind and return to sitting quietly.

8. As the body comes into stillness become aware of the movement or aliveness of prana (life force energy) inside the body.

9. Enjoy the effects of heightened awareness for a few minutes or longer.

Benefits: Loosens and releases the sacrum. Relaxes the muscles of the pelvis, and lower back. Massages and oxygenates the back of the pelvis. Increases flexibility in the abductor, and adductor muscles in the thighs. Increases body awareness aiding in a healthier and more loving relationship with your body. Increases prana (energy) in the body. Deepens your spiritual practice.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to find out more about the writings of Christine click here.

Christine Wushke is a certified yoga and meditation teacher with over 15 years of experience. Her aim is to create a sacred space for students to effortlessly find the presence of stillness and an inner silence. Christine’s mission is to raise consciousness on the planet by empowering people to realize their own Divinity and to uncover a deep peace within. Christine is committed to assisting you in your journey, and helping you to realize directly for yourself the truth of what you are, and the stillness of truth within. In addition to her yoga and meditation training, Christine is also a registered massage therapist. In the past two years she has studied extensively in the spiritual tradition of Advaita Vedanta. Her teaching style is largely influenced by Iyengar yoga, and the nondual tradition of Advaita.

www.journeytolight.net
www.innerlightyoga.blogspot.com

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Call of the Conch-3-Not for Human Consumption: By Joyce Sweinberg

November 16, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, HEALTH & NUTRITION, INSPIRATIONAL . Ahimsa, Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism, India, Love, Nonviolence, Spirituality, Suffering

Dairy products in our current industry, worldwide,
foster the very same adverse effects as meat production and consumption, and even worse,
torture the dairy cow and her offspring repeatedly over time prior to the final slaughter.

For years, I drank milk and consumed milk products, never realizing that I had milk allergies which were causing my facial rashes and breakouts. Finally, someone suggested this to me and when I looked it up online, I was shocked to see how many allergies one can have to dairy products. This was my first step in removing dairy from my diet, for my own benefit. I was not always true to my vows and would often give in to pizza and on Halloween, would raid my sons’ candy for Snickers Bars, and on other holidays, eat the chocolate which was everywhere. In the summer months, I sometimes gave into the soft ice cream cones at the corner ice cream stand. And, usually, I broke out but thought it was worth it.

Until I saw some of the videos posted in the earlier parts of this series. When I saw how the dairy cow and her offspring are abused, I could no longer seek out dairy products in any way. But for some of us, we need to have other reasons than that, so I am including this part to highlight the unknown facts that dairy products really are not that healthy for us or our world, and can cause a multitude of environmental and physical problems. Many of us operate under the false assumption that dairy products make for healthy bones and this is being proven to be untrue in studies. The fact is that it is hard for people to give up their false belief systems if it would require them to remove dairy products from their diets. I have reproduced some excerpts below from online websites along with the link to the actual site for further reading.

Many sites will address the adverse environmental and other effects of the meat industry while including dairy products as a viable alternative to meat. An honest and intelligent assessment of the available facts cannot support such a conclusion. Dairy products in our current industry, worldwide, foster the very same adverse effects as meat production and consumption, and even worse, torture the dairy cow and her offspring repeatedly over time prior to the final slaughter. The simple indisputable fact is that by consuming dairy products or using them in worship, one is promulgating torture of these defenseless animals, and in the process, violating the foremost principle of dharmic behavior, ahimsa.

Let me add this about myself. While I now check the ingredients on everything I buy and I will not knowingly purchase anything which contains meat products or animal products or dairy products, I find it is still a challenge to determine whether there is dairy or animal product in what I eat when I am out, either in a restaurant or at a social event. If I am in doubt, and if the product is one which normally has dairy or eggs in it, I will politely decline.

When I am at temple, it is a more difficult position…I can refuse offers of yogurt or payasam or curd rice, or anything which is obviously milk based. But so many of the prasad offerings are laced with dairy or cooked in ghee that it is impossible to tell. I do still partake, asking His mercy and guidance in what I do. And I write this acknowledging that in co-writing this series, I am educating myself as I go along, making some decisions and deferring others as I ponder the solution that will work for me. I offer these writings to you, the reader, in the same spirit.

FROM PETA…
“Environmental DestructionLarge dairy farms have an enormously detrimental effect on the environment. In California, America’s top milk-producing state, manure from dairy farms has poisoned hundreds of square miles of groundwater, rivers, and streams. Each of the more than 1 million cows on the state’s dairy farms excretes 120 pounds of waste daily.(22) Overall, animals in animal factories, including dairy farms, produce 1.65 billion tons of manure each year, much of which ends up in our waterways and drinking water.(23) The Environmental Protection Agency reports that agricultural runoff is the primary cause of polluted lakes, streams, and rivers. The dairy-products industry is the primary source of smog-forming pollutants in California; a single cow emits more of these harmful gases than a car does.(24)

Eighty percent of all agricultural land in the U.S. is used to raise animals for food or to grow grain to feed them—that’s almost half the total land mass of the contiguous 48 states.(25) Each cow raised by the dairy-products industry consumes as much as 50 gallons of water per day.(26)

Human Bodies Fight Cow’s Milk Besides humans (and companion animals who are fed by humans), no species drinks milk beyond infancy or drinks the milk of another species. Cow’s milk is suited to the nutritional needs of calves, who have four stomachs and gain hundreds of pounds in a matter of months, sometimes weighing more than 1,000 pounds before they are 2 years old.(27)

Cow’s milk is the number one cause of food allergies among infants and children, according to the American Gastroenterological Association.(28) Most people begin to produce less lactase, the enzyme that helps with the digestion of milk, when they are as young as 2 years old. This reduction can lead to lactose intolerance.(29) Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and an estimated 90 percent of Asian-Americans and 75 percent of Native- and African-Americans suffer from the condition, which can cause bloating, gas, cramps, vomiting, headaches, rashes, and asthma.(30) Studies have also found that autism and schizophrenia in children may be linked to the body’s inability to digest casein, a milk protein; symptoms of these diseases diminished or disappeared in 80 percent of the children who switched to milk-free diets.(31)

A U.K. study showed that people who suffered from irregular heartbeats, asthma, headaches, fatigue, and digestive problems “showed marked and often complete improvements in their health after cutting milk from their diets.”(32)

Calcium and Protein Myths

Although American women consume tremendous amounts of calcium, their rates of osteoporosis are among the highest in the world. Conversely, Chinese people consume half as much calcium (most of it from plant sources) and have very low incidence of the bone disease.(33) Medical studies indicate that rather than preventing the disease, milk may actually increase women’s risk of getting osteoporosis. A Harvard Nurses’ Study of more than 77,000 women ages 34 to 59 found that those who consumed two or more glasses of milk per day had higher risks of broken hips and arms than those who drank one glass or less per day.(34) T. Colin Campbell, professor of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University, said, “The association between the intake of animal protein and fracture rates appears to be as strong as that between cigarette smoking and lung cancer.”(35)

Humans can get all the protein that they need from nuts, seeds, yeast, grains, beans, and other legumes. It’s very difficult not to get enough calories from protein when you eat a healthy diet; protein deficiency (also known as kwashiorkor) is very rare in the United States and is usually only a problem for people who live in famine-stricken countries.(36) Consumption of excessive protein from dairy products, eggs, and meat has been linked to the formation of kidney stones and has been associated with colon cancer and liver cancer.(37,38) It’s also suspected that consuming too much protein puts a strain on the kidneys, which compensate by leeching calcium from the bones.(39)”

http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=98

FROM A PETA SPONSORED WEBPAGEHarvard School of Public Health, on the Consumption of Dairy Products (2005):

“The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. … Three glasses of low-fat milk add more than 300 calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What’s more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomachaches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis. It also ignores the possible increases in risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer associated with dairy products.”

Cow’s milk is an inefficient food source. Cows, like humans, expend the majority of their food intake simply leading their lives. It takes a great deal of grain and other foodstuffs cycled through cows to produce a small amount of milk. And not only is milk a waste of energy and water, the production of milk is also a disastrous source of water pollution. A dairy cow produces 120 pounds of waste every day — equal to that of two dozen people, but with no toilets, sewers, or treatment plants.

In Lancaster County, Pa., manure from dairy cows is destroying the Chesapeake Bay, and in California, which produces one-fifth of the country’s total supply of milk, the manure from dairy farms has poisoned vast expanses of underground water, rivers, and streams. In the Central Valley of California, the cows produce as much excrement as a city of 21 million people, and even a smallish farm of 200 cows will produce as much nitrogen as in the sewage from a community of 5,000 to 10,000 people, according to a U.S. Senate report on animal waste.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Dairy products are a health hazard. They contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. They are contaminated with cow’s blood and pus and are frequently contaminated with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Dairy products are linked to allergies, constipation, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

The late Dr. Benjamin Spock, America’s leading authority on child care, spoke out against feeding cow’s milk to children, saying it can cause anemia, allergies, and insulin-dependent diabetes and in the long term, will set kids up for obesity and heart disease, America’s number one cause of death.

And dairy products may actually cause osteoporosis, not prevent it, since their high-protein content leaches calcium from the body. Population studies, backed up by a groundbreaking Harvard study of more than 75,000 nurses, suggest that drinking milk can actually cause osteoporosis. Find out more by visiting our links page.”

http://www.milksucks.com/index2.asp

Other resources:

https://luthar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/bookofcompassion2ed.doc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYpafipJyDE&feature=player_embedded

Nursing calf photo can be found at http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/5743/calf-nursing.html

n702126689_1382369_7333

Patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyaa prayacchati;
Tadaham bhaktyupahritamashnaami prayataatmanah.

If one offers Me with love and devotion of a leaf,
a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it with joy. BG 9.26

b36

https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-introduction/
https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-1/
https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-part-2/

Auspicious Shades by Trina Kavanagh

November 14, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, ART & POETRY, INSPIRATIONAL, PERSONAL . ADVAITA, Love, Personal Growth, Poem, Poetry, Ramana

As I ramble on with Ramana
on sitting silent, and passing.
Action of auspicious shades of orange autumn leaves
attach their coloured crusty shades
to reflective rockports of realization.

On occasion, a lofty leaf within leela, stuck without sticking
releases bondage from rambling rocking walking rock.
Heart time space are collaborated and concentrated.
An unconditional comfortable compassion now remains here
and an all airy fiery appearance resides rupa.

Om. All love.

Park 021

Njanappaana by Poonthanam Nambudiri-4

November 14, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, ART & POETRY, INSPIRATIONAL . ADVAITA, Personal Growth, Poetry, Spirituality

translation and commentary by Smt. Savitri Puram

Bhagavan says : “njaanagni: sarvakarmaani bhasmasaat kuruthe”
~the fire of knowledge burns all karmaas in to ashes.

Introduction

Njanappaana can be considered as the Bhagavad Gita of Malayalees. This is a Darshanika kaavyam or philosophical poem expressed in the most simple Malayalam language for ordinary people. Poonthanam Nambudiri, an ardent devotee of Shri Guruvayurappan, transformed his unbearable sorrow from his infant son’s death into a “yogavishesham”. He used this sad experience to build his Bhakthi soudham or house of devotion and opened it for all devotees for all time. Even though the language is very simple, this njaanappana, or song of wisdom deals with the essence of all vedas and upanishads. May Bhagavan Guruvayurappan, Bhagavathy Sarswathi Devi and Sri Poonthaanam Nambudiri bless us to become wiser by going through this great Song of Wisdom!!

This is continued from Part One… https://luthar.com/njanappaana-1
Part Two https://luthar.com/njanappaana-2
Part Three https://luthar.com/njanappaana-3

Karmangalkku vilabhoomiyaakiya
Janmadesamibhoomiyarinjaalum
Karmanaasam varuthenamenkilum
Chemme mattengum saadhiyaa nirnnayam

Know (arinjaalaum) that this earth (bhoomi), our birth place or mother land (janmadesaham) is the field where we sow the seeds of all karmaas (karmangalkku vilabhoomiyaakiya). Definitely (nirnayam) it is not possible (saadhiyaa) to exhaust the residual karmaas (karmanaasham varutthenamenkilum) anywhere else other than here.

These four lines may seem to contradict the idea expressed in the previous lines. In the last stanza poet said that karmaas can be performed only on earth (there is no contradiction on this part.)and results of the karmaas are experienced in appropriate worlds like heavenly worlds or worlds of hell. Now this stanza says that “karmanaasham” or exhaustion of karmaas is possible only on earth. Let us explore what poet means by “karmanaasham” in this context.

In this context, by the word “karma” poet means residual karmaas. After death, subtle body (jeevan or soul) experiences the results of all karmaas that can be experienced by subltle body in the worlds other than earth. But some results can be experienced only by the gross body. So jeevan comes back to earth with those residual karmaas, takes an appropriate form of life in an appropriate circumstance to exhaust the remaining karmaas and to do new karmaas. Jeevan thus enjoys or suffers the results of all the residual karmaas on earth. So in the time between births, subtle body experiences the results of good and bad karmaas and during the life on earth, gross body experiences the results of remaining different set of good and bad karmaas. It is to be noted that in the time between births, subtle body does not accumulate any karmaas. Only during the life time on earth, jeevan in gross body accumulates karmaas.

Swami Sivananda says about residual karmaas: “If all Karmas bear fruit after death, there will be no cause for rebirth after life in heaven or hell or in animal bodies, because in these there is no means of virtue or vice. You need not be afraid that if any Karmas are left in store there will be no salvation, because knowledge of Self will annihilate all Karmas. Therefore it is an established conclusion that the souls descend to the earth from heaven with a remainder of works (Anusaya). After the fruits of the meritorious acts have completely been enjoyed in heaven, the remaining other set of works (good and bad) whose fruits are to be enjoyed in this world forms the Anusaya with which the souls come to the earth.” Bhagavan says : “njaanagni: sarvakarmaani bhasmasaat kuruthe” or “the fire of knowledge burn all karmaas in to ashes”.

In short, sum total of all our past lives led us to where we are now. To realize the goal of salvation, soul undertakes many many lives in gross body or physical body. Those who take responsibility for one’s karmaas and do one’s best to free from the cycle of birth and death is defined by scriptures are wise and strong willed. Those who blame others are defined as unwise and weak. How can we become wise and strong willed in this Kaliyuga? Poonthanam suggests chanting of naamam and surrendering to Bhagavaan as the best method. Chanting naamam helps us to remember Lord’s greatness continuously and from there Bhagavan takes over because He has promised in Bhagavad Gita:

Ananyaschintayanto mam ye jana: paryupasate,
Tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshamam vahamyaham

“Those devotees who think of me continuously, making me the sole object of their worship, I myself will provide for their every need and safeguard their yogakshemam.

Bhaktanmaarkkum mumukshu janangalkkum
Saktharaaya vishayee janangalkkum
Ischicheedunnathokke kodutthitum
Viswa maathaavu bhoomi siva siva

Siva! Siva! this Bhoomi Devi who is the mother of the whole universe (Viswamaathaavu bhoomi), fulfills all the wishes (Inchikkunnathokke kotukkunnu) of devotees (Bhakthanmaarkkum), people who aspire liberation or salvation (Mumukshu janangalkkum) and desire-bound materialists ( saktharraya vishayee janangalkkum) alike!

This earth fulfills the wishes of all kinds of people. It is interesting to note that Bhoomidevi lets any aspirant to advance in their chosen path. The only condition is sincere effort to reach the goal. May it be the desire to feel the presence of God everywhere and in everything, may it be the desire to attain salvation, or may it be the desire to succeed in the material life, our Mother Earth fulfills the wishes of everybody alike.

As per Shri Neelakandhan Nambisan, Poonthaanam used the word “bhakthanmaarkkum” as the first word because Bhagavan is Bhakthadaasan and devotees are more dear to him than those who desire mukthi or salvation. We have several stories to illustrate Bhagavan’s bhaktha vathsalyam or love for devotees. To make Prahlada’s words true, He took incarnation from the pillar as Narasimha, to make Bhishmaachaaryaa’s words true, He broke His own vow and took weapon in His hands, and He became the charioteer of Arjuna. Then as Paartha Sarathi he assures us through Arjuna: “na mae bhaktha: pranashyathi” , “my devotees will never perish”.

The word “Viswamatha” means the mother of the whole universe. There is one more reason to call Bhoomidevi Viswamatha. “viswam” also means Bhagavan. (Viswam Vishnu: Vashatkaara:). In one sense, Bhoomidevi is mother of Bhagavan also because all the incarnations happened in Bhoomi. So Bhagavan is Viswam and as His mother is Viswamaatha. So the name Viswamatha is apt for Bhoomidevi.

Sankaraachaaryar says ” kuputhro jaayetha kwachidapi kumaatha na bhavathi” or “there could be a bad son but never a bad mother !”. This mother of the Universe, Bhoomidevi sets an example and underlines the above statement by supporting and fulfilling the wishes of all her three types of children-bhakthaas, mumukshus and worldly people.

Were the divine naamaas “siva! siva” used to express poet’s surprise when he observed Bhoomidevi supporting the Vishayee’s worldly desires or to indicate Bhoomidevi’s apaara kaarunyam or limitless mercy towards the Vishayees? As a mother, Bhoomidevi may be letting Vishayees fulfill worldly desires for sometime in the hope that in course of time, with the satsangam of the Bhakthaas and Mumukshus, Vishayees will develop detachment towards worldly desires. A mother is an ocean of love and kindness!

Another interpretation is that the poet used these names to express Bhoomidevi’s sorrow to see how Vishayees go after never ending transient pleasures even after achieving their righteous and dhaarmic goals. This earth is karmakshethra and even after taking birth as a human on this earth, it is sad to see some one not trying to attain salvation. In kaliyuga this can be easily achieved by chanting Bhagavan’s divine names and people are still reluctant to turn their mind to the higher power. This might be another reason for Bhoomidevi’s sorrow.Those who do naamsankeerthanam are set on the path of Bhakthi and knowledge and eventually attain moksha.

Viswanaathante moolaprakrithi thaan
Prathyakshena vilangunnu bhoomiyaay

Moolaprakruthi, creation of Lord of the Universe (Viswanaathante) appears (vilangunnu) as Bhoomidevi who is visible by direct senses or direct perception (prakthyashena).

Let us explore more about creation. Bhagavan initiates creation. The first cause is Bhagavan or Viswanathan who is beginingless and endless. First effect is Moola Prakruthi. Second effect is Prakruthi which is the avyaktha or undifferentiated cosmic substance. Then comes the effect of Prakruthi, Mahat thatva. From this Ahamkaaram or feeling of “I-Ness” emerges, next is cosmic mind, five Njaanedriyas or knowing senses from mind, then five karmendriyas or working senses also from the same mind, Pancha tanmathras or five objects of njaanedriyas and finally the physical manifestation of the Pancha tanmathraas, the five visible material substances. These are called Pancha bhoothaas. Of this the last one formed is Bhoomi. First is Aakasham or space , next is Vaayu or air, third is Agni or fire, Fourth is Apa or water and then comes our Bhoomidevi ot Prithvi or earth. So we can see that Bhoomidevi is the gross and visible form (prakthyaksham) of Moola Prakruthi.

We can compare the relation between the Moola Prakrithi and Bhoomi to a mount of mud and an earthen pot made of mud. Here we can say that mud is the Moola Prakruthi and the earthen pot made out of mud is a manifestation of mud. So earthen pot can be compared to Bhoomi. Similarly all the different golden ornaments are made from the same basic substance Gold. Once you melt the ornament, it becomes the basic gold again. Likewise, before dissolution Bhoomi dissolves in water, water is evaporated by fire, fire is put out by air and air disappears in space and everything goes back and dissolves in Moola Prakruthi and in turn Moola Prakruthi dissolves in Paramaathma or Viswanathan.

Shri Nilakandhan Nambishan has given an interesting interpretation for the word “Viswanathan”. One meaning for “Vi”is bird and “swaa’ can mean a dog. So he says that name Viswanathan indicates that Bhagavan’s limitless mercy reaches the whole universe including the birds and dogs and hence undoubtedly He is the Lord of all!

Poonthaanam says that Jeevaas who took birth in this Kaliyuga on this earth as human beings are very blessed because just by chanting Bhagavan’s naamam, we can attain moksham.

Avaneethala paalanathinnallo
Avathaarangalum palathorkkumbol
Athukondu visheshicchum bhoolokam
Pathinnaallilumutthamamennallo
Veda vaadikalaaya munikalum
Vedavum bahumaanichu chollunnu

Several incarnations (avathaarangalum palathu), when you think about them (orkkumbol), are for protecting (paalanatthinallo) earth or Bhoomidevi (avaneethalam) . Because of this (athukondu), earth is considered very special (bhoolokam visheshicchum)and best (utthamam) among all fourteen worlds (pathinnaalilum). Not only munis who have the knowledge of Brahmam (veda vaadikalaaya munikalum) , but also Vedaas say this (chollunnu).

All incarnations of Bhagavan including the Poornaavathaars or incarnations with full glory, of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna happened on earth. Bhoomi got this special blessing and privilege to become the mother of Bhagavaan’s incarnations. These incarnations were to protect her from cruel, unrighteous and demonic kings. Bhagavan promised : “Whenever there is a fall in Dharma and a rise in Adharma, I manifest to protect the good, to destroy evil and establish Dharma” and kept his promise.

When ever Bhoomidevi is subjected to endless suffering at the hands of cruel and demonic people, she approaches Brahma and with Brahma and Devaas they approach Bhagavn. Bhagavan never ignored her prayers but solved her problems and took care of her with love. So Bhoomi is special for Bhagavan. Also as said in previous lines, Bhoomi is the Karma Kshethra and Karmaas can be done only by taking a physical form of life on earth. Bhoomi is special for this reason too. In addition to this, to exhaust residual karmaas from other worlds, jeevan has to take birth on earth. So Bhoomi is the divine place where you can accumulate karmaas, exhaust all results of residual karmaas and this is the only place where you can do Nishkaama karma or “actions with renunciation of fruits” and attain Moksha.

Because of all these reasons realized souls like sages and vedaas consider Bhoomi as the perfect world or the most desirable place to be born in for any living being. “Veda vaadikalaaya munikalum” can be interpreted in two ways:

1. Those who are experts in Vedaas.

2. Word Veda also means “brahmam”. So this can mean those who have realized brahmam or those who always meditate on brahmam.

The fact that Bhoomi is the best of all worlds is approved by Vedaas and great seers. It is said that even inhabitants of swarga or heaven desire to come to earth so that with Nishkaama karmam they can attain salvation. Scriptures and our ancient sages say that Naamasankeertthanam is the first step and best method to realize God in Kaliyuga.

Lavanaabudhi madhye vilangunna
Jambu dweeporu yojana lakshavum
Saptha dweepukaluntathil ethrayum
Uthamamennu vaazhthunnu pinneyum

An island called Jambu dweep with an area of one lakh yojana (one yojana is about 10 miles) stands (vilangunna) in the middle of the salty ocean (lavanaabudhi madhye) and is praised again and again (vaazhtthunnu pinneyum) as the best of all (ethrayum utthamamennu) the seven existing islands (saptha dweepukaluntathil).

There are seven islands and Jambudweepam is the best and most blessed of all islands. Other islands are Plaksha dweepam, Shaalmala dweepam, Kusa ,Krouncha, Shaaka and Pushkara dweepams. There are seven different types of oceans and Jambu dweepam is surrounded by the salty ocean. The other oceans are of sugar cane juice, wine, ghee, milk, curds and pure water. In one description, Jambudweep is not only in the middle of the salty ocean, it also forms the center island. Jambudweep is surrounded by salt water and after this body of salt water is Plaksha dweep, surrounded by an ocean of sugar cane juice. Then comes Shaalmala Dweep surrounded by an ocean of wine. Then comes Kusha dweep surrounded by an ocean of ghee Next is Krouncha dweep, surrounded by an ocean of milk. The last but one is Shaaka dweep, surrounded by an ocean of curd. The outermost and seventh dweep is Pushkara dweep which is surrounded by pure water.

There is an interesting story behind the birth of the seven seas and seven islands. The below quotation is taken from respected KVGji’s and S.N.Sastriji’s translation of Bahktharanjini interpretation of Naarayaneeyam published by Bhaktharanjini Trust.

” Puranams say that the earth is in the shape of a lotus bud in the center of which stands the mountain Mahameru or Sumeru. Once, King Priyavratha observed that the Sun God shines only on one half of the earth’s surface in the course of his circuit around Sumeru and leaves the other half in darkness. The King thought that it was not good to waste half of the day as night. Therefore he made seven circuits around earth, in his effulgent car, following the Sun at its speed determined to turn night into day. The tracks that were sunk by the fellies of the wheels of his chariot came to be the most celebrated seven oceans which divided earth in to seven islands.”

Poonthaanam glorifies Jambudweep because this island has nine regions or parts and one of them is Bharatha varsha. Bharata varsha is the best and blessed of all nine regions of Jambudweep. It is the only place where one can perform good karmaas and attain moksham. So we can even say that because of the Bharata varsham, Jambu dweep became the holiest of all islands! Poonthaanam again tells us to remember the importance of Naamasankeerthanam, especially for those who are fortunate to be born and fortunate to live in this Bharatha varsha of Jambu dweep. It is Karma Kshethra, it is Punya Bhoomi and with Nishkaama karmam one becomes Punyavaan and attains moksham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbI4Uk8fSYk&feature=player_embedded

Love in Relationship and Divine Love: By Mourad Rashad

November 2, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL . Divine Love, Love, Relationship

While the worldly man is quite free to take full liberties with his feelings, to the extent that he can indulge in whatever affective commitments -that might contradict all common sense- just to gratify his ego’s caprice or whims. The worldly man takes into consideration that he will pay a price in exchange for pleasure. The price paid by that man might be suffering or just giving up some of his comforts whether material or otherwise.

On the other hand, the spiritually-disciplined seeker disdainfully refrains from dissipating his energies through indulgence in such vagaries. Moreover, he is also keen to purge and cleanse even his legitimate affective commitments -such as his love to his parents and family – from the least ego-dependent attachments that might serve as permanent leakage unduly draining his energies for no use.

The word love had been used indiscriminately to denote a very wide range of feelings according to the spiritual maturity of man.

However, due to the fact that man is glamorized with the word love and always trying to experience love he will use the most sublime meaning of this word indiscriminately; even to signify the most trivial feelings of egoistic attachment to any person. While true love means the deferential unrestrained self-giving – on the part of the lover – that transforms his old self-assertive ego into a prayerful caring womb nestling the image of his beloved, which now magnificently and gloriously occupies the whole field of emotional vision of the lover. This sublime sense of the word is manifested and expressed by the love of the mother to her newly born child.

Downward gradation from that almost spiritual experience on the part of the mother towards her newly born child -where the mother is temporarily relieved from the grip of her ego through emotion- the word love is mistakenly used to denote an infinite variety of other feelings. These feelings range from that almost spiritual experience of the true love of the mother down to the stale egoistic attachment. This attachment is wholly dependent upon the derivation of the lover – from the relationship – of some fulfillment of his needs or some nourishment to his vanity. This is expressed and manifested in the lover’s possessive appropriation of his beloved, just to guarantee and secure an uninterrupted fulfillment of his needs or uninhibited nourishment to his vanity.

Apart from the experience of true love which can be undoubtedly described as ego-deflating, all other forms of egoistic attachments -which we term collectively love-, are highly ego-inflating. Why they are labeled as ego-inflating? They are labeled so because they constitute an undisguised source of ego’s gratification either to one party in the relationship or to both. This results that the gratified party/parties become strongly attached to the worldly interpretation of human existence. This worldly and wrong interpretation represents the spiritually ignorant perspective that concentrates on man’s ego as the sole worthy and decisive factor in human life. In such a way –through ego gratification- man has discarded and totally ignored the spiritual teaching that ascribes all human weal to the grace of the Lord God rather than to ego’s merits, qualities or effort.

Now, regarding the statement which says “God is Love” where does it fit here in the above exposition? It is what the newly born child experiences. The mother with that unending immeasurable care and concern in an attempt to bring uninterrupted comfort and protection to the child could be compared to the Love of the Lord God. From the stand point of the child, his mother is his God. When the mother fails to comfort or protect the child, the whole existence will move to carry on the job. If we can return again to the position of the child with his mother, the Grace of the Lord God will pour on us from every possible and impossible unthinkable direction.

Do you consider yourself a disciple? Do you have a Master? By Mourad Rashad

October 30, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, INSPIRATIONAL . Advita

Do you consider yourself a disciple? Do you have a master?

Nowadays, many humans who study the way do not look for a master, just out of pure conceit, simple ego. Why? It is very hard for the ego to acknowledge in himself that there is some one who knows better. The way to the Divine cannot be without a Master. You have to admit to yourself, that there is at least one human, who knows better.

Primarily, I have to be ready to accept a Master, before choosing him. Many go to Masters, remain near them for years and never become enlightened; why? They were not ready; they offered resistance to the Master. Another meets his Master only once -in his whole life- and he becomes enlightened, why? He was ready and offered no resistance to his Master. That what happened to Sri Atmananda, who met his Master only once.

What is the meaning that the disciple is ready? As I see it, the disciple would have come to an understanding that HE IS IGNORANT AND ALL HIS KNOWLEDGE IS WRONG, and I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, this is the gateway to the path of knowledge or understanding. The other gateway is when the disciple knows fully well that he is a great sinner and the NEED TO REPENT BECOMES IMMENANT FROM THE AGONY OF BEING A SINNER; this is the gateway of love or Bahakti.

Now, one has to be either, otherwise, he is not yet ready. When one is ready in either way -way of knowledge or way of love- the whole existence will direct him to a Master. A Master that will accept him as his disciple. When one is not yet ready, he has to prepare himself to become ready, the preparation entails, reading, meditating, giving alms, visiting Masters to keep the truth alive in his heart…etc.

This preparation might take years, until you are ready. Do you choose the Master? Or does the Master accept you? Nowadays, anyone can travel and visit this Master or that Master all over the world, but does that make you a disciple to that Master?

Now, suppose you are ready, you might have access to many well known approved Masters, but which one is Your Master? Who is the Master that will benefit you until enlightenment and establishment?

A beautiful Sufi story: A man thought to himself: I need a Sufi Master to tell me what to do so that I can enter Paradise. He looked for a Sufi Master; after great struggle he found Libnani -a famous Sufi Master at that time. The man went to meet him and this interchange took place:

Man: I wish to learn, the way to Paradise. Will you teach me?

Libnani: I do not feel that you know how to learn.

Man: Can you teach me how to learn?

Libnani: Can you learn how to let me teach you?

Now, you are ready. Who will say that you are ready; definitely not you. When a Master accepts you to become his intimate disciple that means you are ready.

Njanappaana by Poonthanam Nambudiri-3

October 17, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, ART & POETRY, INSPIRATIONAL . ADVAITA, God, Grace, India, Poetry, Spirituality

translation and commentary by Smt. Savitri Puram

If we have a lighted lamp, we can use it to read and enjoy a book
or use it to burn and destroy the book. We have the choice
to draw the life circle with Bhagavaan and His naamam as the center
and kindness and love as radius of the circle…
Poonthaanam advises us to use the lighted lamp inside us,
lit by the Light of Lights, to walk through the path of Bhakthi and Naamasankeerthanam.

Introduction

This is continued from Part One… https://luthar.com/njanappaana-1
Part Two https://luthar.com/njanappaana-2

Alpakarmikalaakiya naamellaam
alpakaalam kondororo janthukkal
Garbha paathrathil pukkum purappettum
Karmam kondu kalikkunnathingane

We are all (naamellaam) alpakamikal or our duration of one life to do karmaas are short (when compared to the celestial beings). Hence with the karmaas accumulated in this short period we take birth in different animal’s’ womb (kondororo janthukaal garbhapaathratthil pukkum), come out (purappettum), live for a short period (alpakaalam) and continue playing this karma-bound game (karmam kondu kalikkunnathingane)“Alpakarmikal” include all animals and human beings We are all “alpakarmikal” when compared to celestial beings because one celestial year is 365 human years. What about Brahmadevan? One day time of Brahma is one chaturyugam which is equal to 4,320,000,000 human years. Then night also is as long as the day. So one full day is 8,640, 000,000 human years. So if we multiply with 365 and then by 100 years of Brahma’s life it becomes beyond comprehension for us. So let us not go further to Paramapurusha’s time scale because Bhagavan’s one moment is Brahma’s whole life duration which is 311,040,000,000,000 human years!

We perform karmaas continuously during our short life and then take birth in different animal wombs or human wombs based on our sukrutham or dushkrutham or mixture of both.. For example, some say one cat year is equivalent to seven human years. So when born as a cat, results of the accumulated karmaas get exhausted in a short time. We believe that before getting a human birth or narajanmam, we go through millions of lives in the lower species with short durations of life. If we are born as a fire-fly (in Malayaalam, Iyyaampaatta) duration of life to exhaust karmaas is only about 21/2 hours or so. As a crocodile, it may be more than 100 years and as an elephant it may be 60 years. Also we see early deaths in all species and the only explanation for all these untimely deaths and diseases is the results of poorvajanma or previous janmaa’s karmaas. Poonthaanam expresses this numerous cycles of birth and death as a karma-bound game. Only Jeevathmaas in the form of different species of animals and humans are involved in this karma-bound game. Paramaathma is only a witness.

When we are finally blessed with a human birth, Poonthaanam advises us to use the power of discrimination bestowed on us by Lord. Only humans have the “vishesha buddhi” to change the course of our life by surrendering to God and offering all our karmaas at His Lotus feet. Continuous chanting of Bhagavaan’s auspicious names will help us not only to understand the real meaning of the famous sloka, but also to practice it in our daily life:

Kaayena vaacha manasendriyairvaa
budhyaathmanaa vaa prakruthe swabhaavaath
karomi yadyath sakalam parasmai
naaraayanaayethi samarppayaami.

Whatever I do with my body, speech, mind or with other senses of my body, or with my intellect and soul or with my innate natural tendencies I offer (dedicate) everything to Lord Narayana.

With the complete surrender or Sharanagathi, we can escape the terrible cycle of birth,death and sufferings and attain His Lotus feet. Naamasankeerthanam destorys desires and tendencies and helps us to do all karmaas with out expecting anything in return.

Narakatthil kitakkunna jeevan poy
Durithangal otungi manassinte
Paripaakavum vannu kramatthaale
Narajaathiyil vannu pirannittu
Sukrutham cheythu maelppottu poyavar
Sukhicheetunnu sathyalokattholam
Salkarmam kondu maelpottu poyavar
Swargatthinkal irunnu sukhikkunnu

Until the consequences of the the multitude of sins gets exhausted (durithangal otungi) Jeevan stays in Naraka or hell ( narkatthil kitakkunna jeevan) and when slowly mind attains maturity (kramatthaale manassinte paripaakavaum vannu) jeevan moves (poy) to take birth as human being (narajaathiyil vannu). After taking birth as humans (pirannittu), those who do sukrutham or good deeds in abundance goes all the way up ( sukrutham cheythu melpottu poyavar) to the sathyalokam (sathylokattholam) and remains there happy and peaceful (sukhiccheetunnu)( never to return and take birth again). Those who do satkarmaas go up to heaven and remain there (for sometime) enjoying the heavenly comforts.

Can we differentiate sukrutham and satkarmam? Sukrutham is the result of dhaarmic punya karmaas. In other words sukrutham is Nishkaama satkarmam or good deeds with out expecting anything in return. All actions performed with purity of mind is Sukrutham. Sukrutham is satkarmaas done for the Kalyaanam or mangalam of all. Bhagavaan assures in Gita “the doer of good (kalyaanakruth), never comes to grief” or “sukruthis never come to grief”. According to another definition Sukrutham is the results of the satkarmaas accumulated from one’s own past karmaas or sukrutham can even be passed on from ancestors.

What is satkarmam? Satkarmaas are definitely good deeds, but the purpose of action may or may not be pure and also good actions can be performed with selfish motives These satkarmaas with out purity of mind do not become Sukrutham. But the results of these satkarmaas are experienced in Swargam or heaven and when they are exhausted soul is subjected to rebirth.

Another word for sathyalokam is “yathaarthalokam” or real world and once we have realisation, no more suffering, sorrows or rebirth.

Life after death is not to punish the souls by sending them to hell or reward them by sending them to heaven. These experiences are given to remind the soul of it’s true purpose of life. Of course the soul’s journey to mukthi or salvation, or heaven or hell depends on the sukrutham or good deeds done. Experiences in heaven and hell are supposed to impart knowledge and wisdom so that when they take rebirth, they can strive to do more good deeds and attain salvation. That is why poonthaanam says about maturity of mind (manassinte paripaakam). But often Maaya masks this realisation and again jeevan goes after transient pleasures and ahdarmic deeds. But because of the Vishesha Buddhi and power of discrimination, humans have the choice to acquire good and bad karmaas. It is only in human birth jeeva gets this opportunity to go beyond the bondage of karma as a whole and attain salvation. Poonthaanam recommends Naamasankeerthanam as the most easy and enjoyable path to salvation.

In this context Njaanaaanada Saraswathi’s description about the fate of souls after death may help us to understand this better. In this book called Vedantha Vinjaanam, he compares the soul’s journey to a bouncing ball. When we throw a ball to the ground with lot of force, it bounces very high. But when it is thrown with less force it bounces only to a lower height. When it is thrown with hardly any force it hardly bounces and leaves the ground. Here the force with which we throw the ball is compared to sukrutham of the soul. After the death of the body, depending on how much sukrutham one has accumulated, soul goes to Sathylaokam, or Swargam (heaven) or chandralokam or Parjanya lokam , pithrulokam or in the vicinity of earth called prethalokam. Souls that go to Sathyalokam never returns to take janma because they have either attained saalokyam, sarropyam, saameepyam or saayujyam with Paramaathma. (In sathylokam soul can unite with paramaathma and this is Saayujyam. Souls can reside for ever in God’s abode and this is called saalokyam. Next is soul’s assumption of God’s form called Saaroopyam. Staying near to God is Saamipyam.) Poonthannam here mentions about only sathyalokam, heaven and hell. In all other worlds except Sathyalokam, soul stays until the consequences of satkarmaas or dusshkarmaas or a mixture of both are exhausted, and then with the remaining inherent vaasnaas or tendencies takes birth in an appropriate womb determined to improve oneself.

Several different explanations are given for the journey of the soul after death. Dvaitha and Advaitha school of thoughts view these differently. One group believes in attributeless or impersonal God and other group sees God as a personality endowed with glorious qualities. But Mukthi or liberation is unanimously defined as the release from the repeated cycle of birth and death. With the abundance of good deeds or sukrutham, mind becomes pure and “sama-darshanam” or Jeevathma-Parmaathma unity happens. This realization is called enlightenment and enlightened souls eventually get liberated.

Sukruthangalumokke otungumbol
Paripaakavumellolamillavar
Parichodangirunnittu bhoomiyil (jaatharrayi)
duritham cheythu chatthavar pinneppoyi
narkangalil vevvaere veezhunnu

When the results of the good karmaas are exhausted (sukruthangalokke otungumbol), souls remaining in heaven (parichotangirunnittu) are reborn on earth (bhhomiyil jaatharrayi). When their previous good and bad experiences do not impart any maturity and knowledge (paripaakavum ellolam illa-not even as much as little sesame seed), they end up doing more and more bad karmaas (duritham cheythu). Again after death (chatthavar) they suffer the consequences of their various negative karmaas in different ways or in different types of hells. (In one old version the word “jaatharaayi” is not there and with out that meaning can be interpreted in a different way. In that case, the word “parichotangirunnittu” can be for the life on earth or bhoomi itself. When the the good results of the past sukrutham experiencing in this life on Bhoomi is exhausted, with out any realisation of how transient the pleasures are, some commit more sins to end up in different hells)

In this stanza Poonthaanam explains how important is “pascchaatthaapam” or atonement. Even when we enjoy a good life here on earth, we tend to forget how blessed we are and keep hurting others in several ways. When subjected to miseries also, some people often do not realize the sins or mistakes they have committed and refuse to learn and correct themselves. Poonthaanam is talking about such people and he says that they commit more and more sins with out atonement and go through more suffering. If we realize our mistake and do “praayasccchttham” sincerely, we will not be tempted to do more sins. Famous story of the prostitute Pingala is an example for purifying one’s mind with “pascchaatthaapam”. She realized how wrong it was to sell her body for a living and later with deep atonement surrendered herself at Bhagavaa’s feet and attained Mukthi.

“Aviveka: paramaapadaam padam” is illustrated in this stanza. This means “avivekam” or lack of wise discrimination is the root cause of all miseries. When there is no maturity of mind, the power of discrimination will not be there. So instead of going after “sreyas” or what is good, we go after “preyas” or what gives pleasure. Swami Desikan describes nine steps for a spiritual aspirant and vivekam is the first step. Poonthaanam used the word “paripaakam” of the mind to indicate this vivekam or wise discrimination. Lack of Vivekam or paripaakam of mind leads us to hell by performing adhaarmic and bad deeds .

Purity of mind is very important in spiritual advancement. Only from a pure mind knowledge is emerged. With all temptations around us, it is harder to purify our mind in Kaliyuga.

Kalau kalmasha chitthaanaam
Paapadravyopajeevanam
vidhikriyaavihinaanaam
Gathir Govindakeerthanam

In Kaluyuga, mind of ordinary human beings are tainted by Kaamam, krodham, madam, moham etc (kalamsha chittham) and often end up doing adharmam (paapam) to make money (dravyam) for living (for upajeevanam). Ordinary people do not have the time or inclination to do good karmaas as prescribed in vedaas (vidhikriyaheenam). The only thing that can give relief from the sufferings of Kaliyuga is Govinda naama sankeerthanam. Bhagavaan and Bhagavaan’s naama are never separated. Naamam is called Kalpa vruksham of the earth.

Suralokathil ninnoru jeevan poi
Naraloke maheesuranaakunnu
Chandakarmangal cheythavan chaakumbol
Chandaala kulathinkal pirakkunnu
Asuranmaar suranmarayeetunnu
Amaranmaar marangal aayeetunnu
Ajam chathu gajamai pirakkunnu
Gajam chathangajavum aayeedunnu
Nari chathu naranai pirakkunnu
Naari chathutan oriyai pokunnu
Kripa koodaathe peedippicheetunna
Nripan chathu krimiyaai pirakkunnu
Eacha chathoru poocha yayeetunnu
Easwarante vilaasangalingane

A jeevan or soul from heaven or land of Devaas (suralokatthil ninnoru jeevan) is born as a Brahmin on earth (naralokatthil maheesuranaakunnu). People who do extremely cruel actions becomes “chandaala” or a member of a despised caste. Demons or Asuraas become Suraas or Devaas. People who are eternal or immortal or deathless (amaranmaar) are born as trees (marangal aayeetunnu) . A goat (ajam) is born as an elephant (gajam) and vice versa. A tiger (nari) after death is born as a human being (naran) and a woman (naari) is born as a fox (oriyaai). A king who mercilessly tortures (kripa kootaathe peedippicchitunna) his citizens takes birth as a worm (krimi). A fly is reborn as a cat and all these are Bhagavaan’s leelavilasam or playful divine drama.

After death, to experience the results of the residual karmaas, jeevan takes birth in appropriate womb. The passage of a soul from body to body is determined by the force of one’s actions, or karma. If an individual performs good deeds, the next birth will be rewarding, and if not, the person may degenerate into a lower life form. In the above lines, Poonthaanam shows several examples of the effect of karmaas on the soul when it is separated from the body after death. A jeevan from heaven comes to earth to experience the results of his residual negative karmaas. Likewise after experiencing negative results by taking birth as beings in several thousands of species, finally a tiger, for example, gets the life of a human being. Humans bestowed with the power of “wise discrimination” along with the grace of God, can perform good karmaas and advance spiritually. But when a human being resorts to unkind, hurtful, and negative actions, he will again be pushed back to be born in lower life form like a worm. Poonthaanam says: A king who mercilessly tortures (kripa kootaathe peedippicchitunna) his citizens takes birth as a worm (krimi).

There are several examples in our puraanaas to illustrate this law of karma. A good example of how an “amara” or immortal being becomes a “maram” or tree is the story of Nalakoobara and Manigriva who were the sons of Kubera, the lord of Yakshaas or the Lord of wealth. Once Nalakoobara and Manigriva were enjoying themselves playing in a lake with women. They were intoxicated and oblivious of everything around them. Sage Narada passed by the lake during this time and the ashamed ladies immediately covered their body with clothes and showed their respect to Narada with folded hands. But both Nalakoobara and Manigriva, intoxicated with pride and drinks ignored Narada Muni. Narda Muni cursed them to become “maruthu trees”. They had to remain as trees for a very long time until Krishna as Damodara came out of Gokulam and touched them with the wooden mortar.

Another example is the story of Gajendramoksham. King Indradyumana was born as a “divine elephant”. I am quoting below the words of our own respected S.N Sastriji (from the Naaraayneeyam commentary) : “The njana and devotion which he (King Indradyumnan who became an elephant by sage Agasthya’s curse) had acquired in his previous life came back to him under the stress of the suffering caused by the attack of the crocodile. He then worshipped Thee with lotus flowers plucked by his trunk, while singing continuously a great hymn addressed to the Nirguna brahmam which he had learnt in his previous life.” Even though King Indradyumna had to be born as an elephant, his residual good karmaas led him to salvation. (Also the crocodile was Huhu, a gandharvan in the previous janma.)

As a “Bhoktha”, the experiencer, one does not have the freedom of choice in experiencing the results of accumulated bad karmaas. (Bhagavaan and His naamam are the only solution to lessen or erase our suffering due to accumulated bad karmaas). But as a “Kartha” or doer, one has freedom of choice to some extent. If we have a lighted lamp, we can use it to read and enjoy a book or use it to burn and destroy the book. We have the choice to draw the life circle with Bhagavaan and His naamam as the center and kindness and love as radius of the circle. Also we can draw the life circle with “I” and “mine” as center and a combination of kaama,krodha,,lobha moha,mada,maasthryaadi negative qualities as radius of the circle

Poonthaanam advises us to use the lighted lamp inside us, lit by the Light of Lights, to walk through the path of Bhakthi and Naamasankeerthanam.

Keezhmelingane mandunna jeevanmaar
Bhoomiyeennathre naetunnu karmangal
Seemayillatholam pala karmangal
Bhoomiyeennathre naetunnu jeevanmaar
Angane cheythu nedi marichudan
Anya lokangal oronnil oronnil
Chennirunnu bhujikkunnu jeevanmaar
Thangal cheythoru karmangal than phalam
Odungitum athottunaal chellumbol
Udane vannu naetunnu pinneyum
Thante thante grihathinkal ninnutan
Kondu ponna dhanam kondu naamellam
Mattengaanumoredathirunnittu
Vittoonennu parayum kanakkine

These jeevaas run (mandunnu) between the lower worlds and upper worlds (keezmelingane) of the universe. But it is said (athre) that they get to do karmaas (karmangal naetunnu) only in Bhoomi. It is said that only in Bhoomi these jeevaas get to do various (pala) and limitless (seemayilaatholam) karmaas. Thus (angane) they accumulate karmaas(naeti) and after death (maricchutan) spend time (chennirunnu)in different worlds one by one (lokangal oronnil oronnil) and experience or enjoy (bhujikkunnu) the results of (good) karmaas (karmangal than phalam) done by themselves(thangal cheythoru). These experiences end (odungitum-with the exhaustion of accumulated good karmaas that can be experienced in worlds other than earth) in a little while (athottunaal chellumbol) and again (pinneyum) jeevaas come (vannu) to earth and collect (netunnu) karmaas. When a person goes to some unknown place and spends prodigiously all the money he collected and brought from his own house, can be called “vittunnunnavan”. Exactly in the same way, jevaas accumulate all the karmaas from earth and experience the results in another world.

It appears that a literal translation of some of the verses my not make much sense. Therefore, it seems appropriate to explore the metaphysical meaning that the lines convey.

In Vedanta, earth is often referred to by another name “karma-kshethra”. This name came because souls can experience the results of karmaas performed ONLY on earth and not in any of the other 13 worlds. What ever experiences any jeeva go through in any other world is the result of karmaas done on earth. If good karmaas outweigh the bad karmaas, we go to heaven, experience the results of good karmaas that can be experienced in heaven until those results are exhausted. Then it goes to hell to experience the results of bad karmaas that can be experienced in hell until those results are exhausted and comes back to earth with some residual good or bad (or both good and bad) karmaas that can be experienced only on earth. But no new accumulation of karmaas can happen in any other world. “otungeetum ottunaal chellumbol” (line 5, first part) means that the karmaas that took the soul to heaven (or hell) will be exhausted in heaven (or hell) by enjoyment (or suffering). Every action we perform is like sowing a seed. It remains vibrant and at a later time we reap the results. It is not possible for ordinary people like us to link the past karmaas and what we experience now by any reasonable method. The same karma performed with different attitude can lead us to heaven, hell, or salvation. Bhaavam is very important.

Poonthaanam has used the word “bujikkunnu” for experiencing the results. The word “bhojanam” is defined as “sukhena anubhuyathe iti bhojanam” or “what is experienced happily”. So “bhujikkunnu” may apply only for the experiences of our good karmaas. When the good karmaas that can be enjoyed in heaven are over, we come back to earth. To experience the results of different types of karmaas, our subtle body goes to different worlds and then with a gross, physical body comes to earth and experience what ever residual karmaas are left as well as to perform new karmaas and the cycle continues. The word “Vitttoonu” is a characteristic of a spendthrift. Origin of the word spendthrift is some one who has spent his accumulated wealth from predecessors or ancestors. Poonthannam compares jeevan’s enjoying the results of the accumulated karmaas from the past (from earth) to a person’s enjoying life by spending all the wealth acquired over a period of time. Just like wealth gets exhausted by spending, results of karmaas gets exhausted by experiencing. Life in heaven is not eternal, it is transient. It is interesting to note that jeevans in subtle body and gross body welcome the end of suffering, but definitely want the enjoyment of the results of good karmaas to last for ever when both are transient Only Nishkaama karmam (with out expecting anything in return) leads to eternal peace and happiness or salvation.

Since every action we perform, and every thought that comes to our mind has a result or consequence, Poonthaanam used the word “Seemayillatholam” or limitless or endless karmaas. Wheel of karma continues on and on. Nobody can remain Karma-free. There is one and only one solution to get out of the wheel of Karma and all scriptures and our great seers suggest to surrender to God and do karmaas with renunciation of the fruits of actions.. Poonthaanam gives an easy solution to develop this attitude of complete surrender -Naamasankeertthanam.

Let us chant the naamam to purify our mind with Shri Poonthaanam and other millions of devotees:

Krishna! Krishna! Mukunda! Janaardana!
Krishna! Govinda! Naaraayana! Hare!
Achyuthaananda! Govnda! Maadhavaa!
Sachindaananda! Naaraayana! Hare!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbI4Uk8fSYk&feature=player_embedded

Samasthaaparadham kshamaswa Sreekrishnaarpanamasthu

This Is How Jesus Used To Drink: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

October 4, 2009

Harsha . INSPIRATIONAL, PERSONAL, TEACHERS . Grade School, Holy Mother, Nuns, Story

The first time I came to the U.S. with my mother and brothers was in 1965. I was 9 years old. We joined my father who was then teaching Mathematics at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

We lived very close to Colby College. There was a Roman Catholic Grade School there. My father knew the Priest and the Nuns who ran it and liked them very much. The Priest lived next to our house and he and my father talked often. Within a few days of our arriving, me and my brothers were enrolled in that school.

It was a huge change going from Punjab, India to Maine, U.S.A. My brothers and myself did not speak English. We did not even understand it much. For example, it took me a few days to realize that at my school, “Rest Room” referred to the bathroom and not a place to go rest and take a nap in the afternoon if you were tired.

The saving grace in all the adjustment was that I had the most wonderful Nuns as teachers. I especially remember the Mother Superior. I think we called her the Holy Mother. There was something extraordinary peaceful about her. She was full of grace, kindness, and a quiet dignity in all her words and actions.

After we had been in Waterville for a few weeks, the Holy Mother along with the Sister Nun came over to our house. The Nuns spoke to my father. My father said to my mother and us that the Mother Superior and the Sister wanted to take us to a movie. We all readily agreed.

The Mother Superior and the Sister took us to see “The Sound of Music”. It had just come out. That was the first American Movie I ever saw. I did not fully understand the movie at the time but really enjoyed the songs in it. After the movie and some food, the Nuns drove us back. I was singing in the car that very catchy tune in the movie, “You are sixteen, I am seventeen….”. The Nuns and my mother were talking . My brothers were smiling.

In my first month, I had a lot of difficulty drinking water from the water bubbler in my school. I had never seen anything like a water bubbler before. I would squeeze and turn the knob and the water would spring up towards me and go into my nose. I did not know the method of how to get the water to jump in my mouth and somehow suck on it and gulp it down.

The water would at times spring up and go into my mouth but then go right out before I could drink it. Children in the U.S. grow up with drinking water from the bubbler. However, for me it was a formidable challenge. I was used to the Indian style of drinking water with cupped palms.

One day, in between classes, I was engaged in my usual struggle to get a drink from the bubbler. I was really thirsty and so my efforts were unusually strong. But no matter how I tried, I was not able to get the water to fall perfectly in my mouth and gulp it down. Finally, in desperation, I squeezed and turned the knob with one hand and tried to get the water to come to the palm of my other hand and drink it. It was messy. While I did manage to get a few drops of water in my mouth, the rest spilled on my shirt.

A small crowd of students now started to gather around the water fountain watching me.

The Holy Mother saw what was happening and came over. She said to me that she would turn the knob on the water bubbler and I could drink the water. So with the Holy Mother holding the knob and turning it, I put my cupped palms together to hold the incoming water. After my cupped palms were full, I drank the water in the traditional Indian way. This had to be repeated many times because I was very thirsty.

Mother Superior continued holding the knob and I kept drinking the water with my palms until my thirst was quenched. After a couple of minutes, I finished. All this time, the Holy Mother was looking at me intently to make sure that I was fully satisfied.

As she took her hand off the knob of the water bubbler, the Holy Mother said in her gentle and most dignified way, “This is how Jesus used to drink water.”

The crowd around the bubbler then dispersed and we all went to our respective classes.

You Are What You Eat

October 1, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, HEALTH & NUTRITION, INSPIRATIONAL, TEACHERS . ADVAITA, Ahimsa, Heart, Mind, Nonduality, Nonviolence, Ramana, Ramana Maharshi, Self-Realization, Spirituality, Wisdom

by Swami Sadasivananda

Are we Really what we Eat?
The Need for a Vegetarian Diet!

Every one has heard the saying: “You are what you eat.” But according to the scriptures and saints of the major Eastern religions, as well as of early Christianity, a more precise reckoning of this euphemism is, in fact, a twofold statement: “You are what you think, and you think like what you eat!”

Science tells us that the food we eat is transformed into energy that fuels the physical body. Only in our recent times has science acknowledged that there is also another energy imbued within our food, of a far more subtle nature, that influences not only the physical sphere of our being, but more importantly, the mental realm of our existence. Although modern science holds the trophy for “The slowest learners on earth”, they are now admitting that the most profound and powerful effect food has on man occurs at the psychological plane of existence.

This fact is, of course, based on the Maxim of physics that all elements in existence are essentially energy, and that energy is constant. The constancy of energy is defined by its nature of being impervious to essential altercation. The energy in the beginning of a process is the same at the end of the said process. What goes in, stays in!

In terms of ingestion of digestible matter, the quality of the energy, scientifically and specifically the vibratory rate, that dominated the nature of the plant or animal that is being eaten, is directly transferred through the digestive process and into the mind of the consumer. Thus our mind, our perception, and finally our spirit become what we eat!

If the energy is heavy or inert, little can be done with it to produce the state of silence and clarity needed to reflect the truth of spirit. Certain actions darken the mind and make it thick or heavy, vibrating very slowly–sometimes seemingly not at all. On the other hand, some actions lighten the mind, making it fluid and subtle, vibrating at a very high level. It is this latter condition that is needed for attaining the state of liberation–or rather, the state that liberates the spirit from the illusion of bondage and suffering. It is really the mind that becomes liberated, but that liberation also affects the essentially ever-free spirit and sets it free from involvement with the mind. And to attain such liberation the mind must be purified and refined. Thus, vegetarian diet becomes one of the best and strongest means for its purification.

“When we realize that any physical object has all the levels which we do, namely, the physical, biomagnetic, sensory, intellectual and will bodies, we can understand the importance of the kind and quality of food we eat. For not only does the physical substance of the food become assimilated into our physical body, so also do the subtler energies become united to our inner levels. This is the teaching of the Chandogya Upanishad:

“Mind consists of food. That which is the subtle part of milk moves
upward when the milk is churned and becomes butter. In the same
manner, the subtle part of the food that is eaten moves upward and
becomes mind. Thus, mind consists of food.” 1

“It is obvious, then, that the food we eat is going to determine the quality and condition of all the levels of our being. Our food has the same levels we do, and the different energies of the food are absorbed into our corresponding levels. Therefore when we eat something, it not only affects us on all levels of our existence, it becomes those levels. In this very real sense we indeed are what we eat. In esoteric philosophy our various levels are looked upon as separate bodies through which our consciousness operates. Since those bodies are formed essentially from the food we eat, they will be conditioned by and function according to the kind of energy extracted from the food. We are very much like the child’s toy that is a series of colored rings stacked on a rod. That is, we are successive layers of subtler and subtler energy that are connected to the physical body. From these energy levels the different life processes are empowered and administered. When the energies within us are positive, they produce harmonious states of mind and behavior. But when the energies are negative, they move in a random and chaotic manner and produce negative states of mind and, consequently, negative behavior. Moreover, these toxic energies can also manifest as physical illnesses or defects. Substances that are toxic to the body–such as meat, alcohol, nicotine, and drugs–are toxic on the inner levels as well, and their ingestion poisons all our bodies by putting into them negative energies which are going to manifest in the disrupting manner just described. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, and grains are reservoirs of pure, basic life energies that are very light and malleable. These energies are easily assimilated into all our bodies and made to take on our specific, unique life vibrations and karmic patterns.” 2

Thus, we must accept, and can on no legitimate grounds refute the facts of the twofold statement: “You are what you think, and you think like what you eat!” Therefore, it can be gleaned, from both the material as well as the spiritual viewpoint, why Sri Ramana Maharshi stressed a vegetarian diet.

Question: I have heard it said that the Maharshi set no rules of conduct or lifestyle within the Ashram that came up around him. Therefore, how can what is being said regarding a vegetarian diet be essential for spiritual attainment?

It is in fact openly stated, and recorded within several of the published core teachings at the Ashram that Bhagavan Ramana set forth only one regulation for the devotees living within the Ashram, as well as for those living outside that followed his teaching. This one rule of life regarded the maintaining of a sattvic (pure) diet.

Question: Did Bhagavan ever explain why maintaining purity of diet was important, and what constituted a sattvic or pure diet?

He did explain the reason why a vegetarian diet was, and is even to this day, maintained at all times. This discipline was central to his guidance of effective means of sublimating (uplifting) the mind and its direction towards reflection upon its True Nature. His guidance stressed an ever purer awareness or quality of mind, which paved the way towards awareness within the heart, the essential home of our Eternal Self.

In Bhagavan’s own words we find recorded:

Devotee: What diet is prescribed for a sadhak (one engaged in spiritual practices)?
Maharshi: Sattvic food in limited quantities.
D.: What is sattvic food?
M.: Bread, fruits, vegetables, milk, etc.
D.: Some people take fish in North India. May it be done?
(The Maharshi made no answer.)
D.: We Europeans are accustomed to a particular diet; change of diet affects health and weakens the mind. Is it not necessary to keep up physical health?
M.: Quite necessary. The weaker the body the stronger the mind grows.
D.: In the absence of our usual diet our health suffers and the mind loses strength.
M.: What do you mean by strength of mind?
D.: The power to eliminate worldly attachment.
M.: The quality of food influences the mind. The mind feeds on the food consumed.
D.: Really! How can the Europeans adjust themselves to sattvic food only?
M.: (Pointing to Mr. Evans-Wentz) You have been taking our food.
Do you feel uncomfortable on that account?
Mr. Evans-Wentz: No. Because I am accustomed to it.
D.: What about those not so accustomed?
M.: Habit is only adjustment to the environment. It is the mind that matters. The fact is that the mind has been trained to think certain foods tasty and good. The food material is to be had both in vegetarian and nonvegetarian diet equally well. But the mind desires such food as it is accustomed to and considers tasty.
D.: Are there restrictions for the realised man in a similar manner?
M.: No. He is steady and not influenced by the food he takes.
D.: Is it not killing life to prepare meat diet?
M.: Ahimsa stands foremost in the code of discipline for the yogis.
D.: Even plants have life.
M.: So too the slabs you sit on!
D.: May we gradually get ourselves accustomed to vegetarian food?
M.: Yes. That is the way. 3

In this example, and as is seen throughout the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Bhagavan is stressing: “It is the mind that matters.” Furthermore, “The mind feeds on the food consumed”, and “The weaker the body the stronger the mind grows.”

In the following story, we are being shown that a pure diet will not only elevate the quality of the mind, but will also keep the body free from illness: “One afternoon at 3 o’clock, a devotee who was going to Madras gave a small tin containing some ointment and said that if that medicine was applied to Bhagavan’s legs, the pain would decrease, and that if Bhagavan would continuously use it, he would bring a dozen tins of it from Madras. Bhagavan replied, saying: “Enough. The Karpura Thailam I am using now is adequate. Why do I require such costly medicines? If diet is properly regulated, no medicine will be required. When these medicines are used, the ailment apparently disappears, but it starts again. That is because of some irregularity in diet.” 4

One of the close disciples who lived with Bhagavan, Arthur Osborne, related what the Maharshi taught him: “It should be explained for non-Hindu readers, that the practice of vegetarianism is not only out of disinclination to take life or eat flesh, though that is one reason for it; it is also because unsattvic food tends to increase animal passions and impede spiritual effort.” 5

Although the Ashram food was strictly vegetarian, Alagammal, Bhagavan’s mother, like some very devout Brahmins, went still further and considered some vegetables (i.e. onions) also unsattvic (impure). When Bhagavan would sit with the devotees in the kitchen and peel onions, Alagammal would weep bitterly. In response, Bhagavan would retort while holding up an onion: “Behold the powers of this small bulb.” She would then weep all the more loudly. Bhagavan had the final word, and would say mockingly: “Mind that onion! It is a great obstacle to Moksha (Deliverance)! It should be said here that Sri Bhagavan did not disapprove of orthodoxy in general. In this case there was excessive attachment to the forms of orthodoxy and that was what he attacked. In general he laid stress on the importance of sattvic (pure) food. He did not often give any injunctions at all concerning outer activity; his usual method was to sow the spiritual seed in the heart and leave it to shape the outer life as it grew. The injunctions came from within.” 6

1 Chandogya Upanishad, 6.5.4, 6.6.1,2,5.
2 Spiritual Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet, Swami Nirmalananda, Atmajyoti Press.
3 Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, recorded by Sri Munagala Venkataramiah, Sri Ramanashramam 2006, Talk 22, p. 20.
4 Letters from Sri Ramanashramam, Suri Nagamma, Sri Ramanashramam 2006, Letter #266 December1949, p. 640.
5 Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge, Arthur Osborne, Sri Ramanashramam 2006, p. 82.
6 Ibid. p. 81.

Reprinted with permission of Swami Sadasivananda
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Call of the Conch-Part 2: By Joyce Sweinberg

September 29, 2009

Harsha . Advaita and Yoga, HEALTH & NUTRITION, INSPIRATIONAL . ADVAITA, Ahimsa, Bhagavad Gita, God, India, Nonviolence, Spirituality

WARNING: THE STILL AND VIDEO IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE
ARE GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE TO DAIRY COWS AND THEIR OFFSPRING.

We need to realize that milk is not an “Innocent”
animal product as it is thought to be, but is a
highly violent, cruel, and immensely exploitative food.
The most important factor in cow abuse is the economic factor;
we need to realize that as long as we, the consumers
of milk and leather, continue to buy these violent products,
the exploitation of the cow and the killing of her calves
will continue to occur. ~Shri Kamlesh

“The female dairy cow spends her life confined in close quarters with other cows, being pumped with hormones calculated to produce pregnancy after pregnancy as long as she is capable of bearing calves, both to increase the population of the cows for milk and meat production and to spur the female to produce more milk. When her calves are born, they are taken from her within a few days of birth, giving rise to the grief of separation for both the mother and the child.” https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-1. The videos below depict the artificial insemination of the dairy cow, the birth of the calves, and the removal of the calf shortly after birth…on it’s way to either the slaughterhouse if it is male, or to its own pathetic future as a female dairy cow, soon to face the same fate as the grieving mother who gave birth to her, bearing in her heart the infant grief of separation from her mother and facing the maternal grief in the heart of a mother forced to face the loss of her child.

The motherless child…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRxkU_opyQ&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZrX1rTddho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kM387cI4rk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAiIIZMKPC0&feature=player_embedded

Contrasts a dairy calf searching for his mother on a farm with undercover footage of calves at a slaughterhouse.

“Roughly 50% of the calves are male calves which are considered to be the by-products of the milk industry and do not have any value. These male calves are the most unfortunate souls of the milk industry; they are the silent sufferers in the background that no one bothers to notice. They sacrifice their lives so that we can drink the milk which was meant for them.These calves meet their deaths wherever factory farming occurs both in India and in the western world.

India.

Before mechanized farming, the male calves were highly sought after as draught animals that would till the land and become the farmer’s best friend. But with tractors taking over the role of draught animals, the male calves are useless and the farming/milk industry no longer feels it necessary to sustain them.

Due to the cultural heritage of India, where beef eating is not popular and cow killing is illegal, these calves are not slaughtered for calf-meat or “veal” as in the western countries. But since they pose no value to the farmer these calves are killed in the most horrific manner.

Most male calves in India are separated soon after their birth… they are strangulated to death, starved and then even buried alive in compost mounds to dispose their bodies. In some cases a stuffed animal like structure is covered with the hide of the dead calf and placed near the cow, so that she continues to give milk thinking that the stuffed doll is her living calf! Many are slaughtered in illegal slaughter houses to make fancy “calf leather” belts, purses, wrist bands etc.

Western Countries.

In the west the male calves are seen as sources of “calf-meat” or veal, which is the most perverted food any human can eat. The specialty of veal meat is that it is very tender, fatty and succulent and to achieve this, the calves are taken from their mothers immediately after birth and raised so as to deliberately induce borderline anemia.

They are then confined in small cages called as veal-crates, usually measuring 2-feet-wide, in which they cannot turn around or stretch their limbs all their lives. This is done so that their flesh does not build muscle which is considered to be tough to eat. After about 3-5 months of living confined to their cages, these innocent calves are then slaughtered to satisfy humans’ perverted thirst for flesh.

The plight of the female calves is worse, they are raised so that they can be perpetually inseminated to give us their milk for the rest of the lives. If they are so unfortunate so that they become sick or break their legs which they often do, due to being continuously pregnant they are then mercilessly slaughtered, ending as meat and leather.

It is a well known fact the cows raised for milk (Dairy cows) have to undergo much more abuse and sufferings than the cows which are raised for meat (Beef cows)”

These are NOT isolated incidents, but are in fact routine procedure to dispose the male calves as profitably as possible depending upon the location, either in India or in the west. This suffering and killings are a direct result of the milk industry, which satisfies our thirst for milk, our cravings for ice-creams, payasams and chocolates at the cost of these innocent animals.

While we enjoy our milk, the silent killings go on! ~Shri Kamlesh*

Having one’s actions grounded in ahimsa for the Lord’s creatures, all of them, calls to our spiritual conscience with the power of the sounding of the conch. The conch, held by Vishnu, the preserver, represents life. When it is sounded, it is the sound of victory, as by Krishna and Arjuna heralding the defeat of the adharmic influences in the battlefield of the mind symbolized in the Holy Gita. May the adharmic influences inherent in the dairy industry fall to the ground in defeat at the call of the conch.

… dhenoonaamasmi kaamadhuk…

Among the cows, I am Surabhi, the wish-fulfilling cow. B.G. 10.28

https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-introduction
https://luthar.com/call-of-the-conch-1

*The italicized text of Part 2 in this series was written by Shri Kamlesh, who also provided many of the images used. Any edits were to context, not to content. I offer my namaskarams to him.

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Category Archives: INSPIRATIONAL

Bliss yoga: By Christine Wushke

Call of the Conch-3-Not for Human Consumption: By Joyce Sweinberg

Auspicious Shades by Trina Kavanagh

Njanappaana by Poonthanam Nambudiri-4

Love in Relationship and Divine Love: By Mourad Rashad

Do you consider yourself a disciple? Do you have a Master? By Mourad Rashad

Njanappaana by Poonthanam Nambudiri-3

This Is How Jesus Used To Drink: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

You Are What You Eat

Call of the Conch-Part 2: By Joyce Sweinberg

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