miércoles, 13 de junio de 2012

Amrita Varshini - DIWALI MEDITATION : THE MEANING OF PURIFICATION








MUNDO


VAISHNAVA








juancas

Amrita Varshini - NOTAS en FACEBOOK

Creado por juancas  del 13 de Junio del 2012




CONTENIDO












THE PROBLEM DOES NOT LIE IN RELIGION OR SPIRITUALITY. IT LIES WITHIN THE HUMAN MIND.....

de Amrita Varshini, el Domingo, 5 de febrero de 2012 a la(s) 15:18 ·

 


 

“The essential principles of all religions teach love, peace, and harmony. The spiritual Masters have never preached selfishness, nor have they ever encouraged people to treat each other unjustly or to fight each other. The problem does not lie in religion or spirituality. It lies within the human mind. The conflicts and problems that exist today, in the name of religion, are due to lack of proper understanding about religious principles.

 

"In this modern age, people live more from their minds than from their hearts. The mind is confusing. The mind is the dwelling place of selfishness and unrighteousness. The mind is the seat of all our doubts, and the intellect is the seat of the ego. When you dwell entirely in the mind and ego, you are not concerned about others; you are thinking only about yourself.

 

"Intellectuals interpret the teachings of the scriptures and the Masters of their religions to suit their own ideas. Unsuspecting people fall easy prey to those distorted definitions of the Truth, and end up in conflict with themselves and others. This is what happens in modern society. The intellectuals become leaders and revered advisors. Their followers idealize them and worship them as God. In fact, God has been forgotten; the Truth and the essential principles of religion, the very purpose of religion and religious practices, are being ignored.

 

 

"Unfortunately, after the death of the Master, most religions are led by such intellectuals. Only a soul filled with love and compassion can guide humanity and throw light on the path of religion. Such a Master alone can unite people and them to understand the true import of religion and religious principles. But the heart has been forgotten.

 

"No one who has any real understanding of religion can blame religion and the true religious Masters for the present day calamities which are taking place in the name of religion. It is the fault of the pseudo religious teachers and not the innocent followers. The so-called teachers want to force their own ideas and visions on others. Their innocent followers have full faith in their words, in their false interpretations. The intellect (the ego) is much more powerful than the mind. The mind is intrinsically weak. The intellect has determination, whereas the mind is always doubting, vacillating, and unsteady. The intellectuals interpreters of almost all religions have the determination to convince people. Their enormous egos and their determination can easily overpower the followers of any true religion and thus they win their victory over innocent believers.

 

"Such intellectuals are completely lacking in real faith, love and compassion. Their mantra is money,  power, and prestige. Therefore, do not blame religion, spirituality, or the true Masters for the problems in the world today. There is nothing wrong with spirituality or true religion. The problem lies in the human mind”. (Excerpted from talk of HH Mata Amritanandamayi Devi)








Humility of a True Master

de Amrita Varshini, el sábado, 9 de julio de 2011 a la(s) 14:39 ·


 

Question: "Amma, I heard you talk about the humility of a true master, that a satguru doesn't have any sense of ego and that he bows down to all of creation. Is humility is an integral part of a Self-realized master?"

 

Amma: "A Self-realized master is beyond everything. But humility will be one of the basic qualities that he or she expresses. The master is humble because he perceives everything as God and worships the entire creation as the Supreme. So you could say that a Satguru is always in a worshipful, prayerful mood. He bows down to everything, and all of existence, in turn, bows down to him.

 

"A genuine master is the embodiment of humility. In him you can observe true surrender and acceptance, and thus you are given a real example that you can relate to. Only in the presence of a fully surrendered soul can the disciple spontaneously and effortlessly surrender, without the slightest feeling of there being any force involved.

 

"No inner change is possible around an egoistic person. The sadhak (aspirant) cannot be transformed if the feeling of 'I' and 'mine' are predominant in the master. Such so-called teachers can only create fear and anxiety around them, which closes all possibilities of transformation.

 

"There have been many cruel kings and dictators all over the world, who have cared only about their own interests and nothing else. During their reign, terror prevailed and people's hearts were consequently closed. There have also been many examples of great souls who have changed the lives of countless people for the better, with nothing more than their humble presence. Every trace of fear disappears in the proximity of such beings. A genuine master is beyond all egoism. True humility creates a vibration of love and compassion which, in turn, produces the necessary conditions for spiritual unfoldment to take place. This is why the presence of a Satguru provides the most suitable atmosphere in which your heart can blossom.

 

"A Self-realized master dwells eternally in the Self, unperturbed by the different experiences of life. You may observe that the master is humbler than the humblest, simpler than the simplest, inconceivably loving, compassionate, and patient -- and yet, he is none of these, for he is beyond all qualities. His mastery over the mind and the senses gives him the unlimited capacity to focus on any divine quality, and to manifest that quality, fully and perfectly, expressing it in any way he chooses. But the next moment he can withdraw from it, totally untouched and detached.

 

"Though a master may be humble for the sake of setting an example, it is impossible to judge him as being this or that. Of course he is humble but, at the same time, he is beyond that.

 

"A disciple should learn to be humble, for it is through humility that true discipleship is born. Unless this quality is awakened, the master cannot really enter into your life.

 

"It is this awakening of the disciple within you that brings the master to you. Your intense thirst to know the Truth gives birth to the disciple within. The lover within you awakens, and once the lover is awakened, the beloved appears. Without the lover, there is no beloved; without the disciple, there is no master -- the master will still exist, but not in your life.

 

"The disciple's humility-his attitude of being an absolute beginner, and his acceptance and awareness of his own ignorance-makes him open and receptive to true knowledge, which the master then pours into him. Humility is the gateway to real discipleship, and the master will himself set a perfect example of humility.


The World is on the verge of doing a Tandava Dance

Amrita Varshini, el Viernes, 1 de julio de 2011 a la(s) 15:19 ·




The local affiliate of the NBC TV Channel came to interview Amma about Her message to the world.


Amma said:

 

“My life is my message. We are not isolated islands, we are connected to each other like links on a chain. Our actions influence others whether we are aware of it or not. We should not wait for others to change- we should change first. Today the world is on the verge of doing a Tandava* dance. In nature and elsewhere, there is an increase in Aveda – lack of knowledge. We should try to inculcate patience, love and awareness and try to do whatever we can for the world.”

Amma in Dallas

 

* Tandava – usually refers to Lord Siva’s dance during the destruction of the creation.




Tie the rope of love for God around our waist

de Amrita Varshini, el Lunes, 27 de junio de 2011 a la(s) 6:27 







“Worldly life is like going mountain-climbing. When we climb up a mountain, we tie a rope at the top of the mountain and one end around our waist and we climb up holding onto the rope so that we do not slip and fall. In the same way, if we tie the rope of love for God around our waist, problems in the external world will not make us weak. Understanding this, we should hold on to the Paramatman, the Supreme, and move ahead”. Amma


UNITY IN CREATION

de Amrita Varshini, el miércoles, 16 de marzo de 2011 a la(s) 6:42 ·

 


By Amritanandmayi Ma

 

Ammachi responds to American biologist and environmentalist Sam La Budde's concerns on our relationship with the environment and other species:

 

He who has faith and devotion in God as a result of his innate innocence, easily beholds God in everything, in every tree and animal, in every aspect of Nature. This attitude enables him to live in perfect harmony, in tune with Nature. The never-ending stream of love that flows from a true believer towards entire Creation will have a gentle, soothing effect on Nature. This love is the best protection of Nature.

 

The relationship between man and Nature is like the relationship between Pindanada, the microcosm and Brahmananda, the macrocosm. Our ancestors understood this and so they included Nature worship in religious practices. The idea behind all religious practices was to closely associate human beings with Nature. By establishing a loving relationship between man and Nature, they ensured both the balance of Nature and the progress of the human race.

 

Ancients loved and worshipped trees and plants such as the banyan tree, bilva and tulasi, not because the trees bore fruit and helped them to make a profit, but because ancients knew that they were connected.

 

Indic scriptures suggest that a householder should perform the pancha yajnas or five daily sacrifices.... Bhuta yajna is the last sacrifice; it is to serve all living beings as embodiments of the Universal Being. This is done through the feeding of and caring for animals and plants. Earlier, family members never ate before feeding domestic birds and animals. They would also water their plants and trees before eating. In those days, worshipping Nature and natural phenomenon were part and parcel of human life. People were always eager to please Nature in gratitude for her kind gifts. Bhuta yajna brings about the consciousness of the unity of all life.

 

 

 

No religion can exist disassociated from Nature. Religion is the link that binds mankind to Nature. Religion removes the ego in man, enabling him to know and experience his oneness with Nature.

 

The wall of separation between humans and Nature is created mainly by the selfish attitude of humans. They think that Nature has been created only for them to use and exploit in order to fulfill their selfish desires. This attitude creates a wall, a separation and a distance.

 

Everything is pervaded by Consciousness. It is Consciousness which sustains the world and all creatures in it. To worship everything, seeing God in all, is what religion advises. Such an attitude teaches us to love Nature. None of us would consciously injure our own body, because we know it would be painful.

 

Similarly, we will feel the pain of other people to be our own when the realisation dawns in us that everything is pervaded by the same Consciousness. Compassion will arise, and we will sincerely wish to help and protect all. In that state, we won't feel like plucking even a leaf unnecessarily.

 

Looking at Nature and observing its selfless way of giving, we can become aware of our own limitations. That will help to develop devotion and self-surrender to God. Thus, Nature helps us to become closer to God and teaches us to truly worship Him. In reality, Nature is nothing but God's visible form which we can behold and experience through our senses. Indeed, by loving and serving Nature, we are worshipping none other than God Himself.

 

 



Amma Speaks...

de Amrita Varshini, el miércoles, 9 de marzo de 2011 a la(s) 17:03 ·





"Women and men should honour the heart with the same importance they are giving to the intellect. They should strive to work in a way that reconciles intellect and heart, and be role models to each other. Then, equality and harmony will come about naturally. Equality is not something external. A hen can never crow like a rooster. But can a rooster lay eggs? Even if there are external differences, it is possible to become of one mind. Electricity manifests in a refrigerator as coldness, in a heater as warmth and in a bulb as light. A television will not have the same qualities as a light bulb, nor a light bulb that of a television. Nor will a refrigerator be able to do what the heater does, and vice versa. However, the electric current that flows through all these appliances is one and the same. Likewise, although there may be external differences between women and men, the indwelling consciousness is one."

 

"Everything has its place in the universe; nothing is insignificant. There is a significance and consciousness behind each expression of creation. Everything has its own essential nature; some things may be “big,” others “small”. Light is the nature of the sun, waves the nature of the sea and coolness the nature of the wind. What endows a deer with placidity and a lion with cruelty is its own original nature. Similarly, women and men have their own unique natures that distinguish them from each other. These should be remembered and never abandoned." Amma





MEDITATION IS LIKE A TONIC

de Amrita Varshini, el sábado, 27 de noviembre de 2010 a la(s) 5:51 ·




Question: Can meditation be harmful? It is said that a person’s head becomes heated when he meditates.

 

Amma: It is always better to be taught by a Guru how to meditate. Meditation is like a tonic. A tonic nourishes the body. The tonic comes with certain instructions. If you just ignore the instructions and swallow the whole tonic, it can be dangerous. Most tonics should be taken only according to a doctor’s instructions. Similarly, we should meditate according to the instructions of a Spiritual Master. The Guru first makes an assessment of your mental and physical disposition before prescribing the form of sadhana that is most suitable for you. Some people can meditate for any length of time without any problem. But this is not the case with everyone. Some people, in their initial enthusiasm, will meditate or do japa continuously for long hours, without following any rules of regulations. They do this out of a sudden urge. But it will make them lose their sleep and their head will get heated. This happens because they are meditating more than the body can tolerate.

 

Everyone has a limited capacity, depending on the state of their mind and body. If 500 people are crammed into a vehicle that can seat only 100, the vehicle won’t be able to run. And if we put double the amount of grain allowed into a mixer, it will overheat and become damaged; it may even burn up. Similarly, if you, in a surge of initial enthusiasm, do japa and meditation indiscriminately for long hours, your head may get heated and many other problems may arise. That is why it is advised that one should learn these practices from a Satguru.

 

We often hear people say, “We are God; everything is within us.” But those are just words. It doesn’t come from experience. The capacity of each instrument is limited. A 10-watt bulb cannot give the light of a 100-watt bulb. Spiritual practices have to be done according to the capacity of the body and mind. You have to be careful so that you don’t exceed the limit.

 



If you buy a new car, you shouldn’t drive it at the maximum speed at the outset. Only gradually should the speed be increased. Some restrictions have to be followed; otherwise the car will get damaged and become useless. It is the same with sadhana. A beginner shouldn’t meditate and do japa excessively, foregoing sleep in the process. Meditation, japa, physical work and studying the scriptures should all be done gradually in a regulated way.

 

Some people are prone to mental illness. If they meditate too much, their body will get overheated and this will enhance the agitation of their mind. They should be advised to do mainly physical work. If their attention is channelled towards physical work, it will help to reduce their mental agitation. Being engaged in work, their mind will wander less and can be controlled. If they are allowed to sit in meditation without doing any physical work, their problems will only become worse. But if their illness isn’t serious, they can meditation for 10 to 15 minutes a day — that will be enough for them.

 

Thus there are many types of people with different natures. Each individual has to be given different instructions. If you learn how to do spiritual practices like meditation just by reading books, you will not know what restrictions are required specifically for you.

 

Suppose we go to the house and there is a big dog outside. We will call the owner of the house from outside and wait until he has come and tied the dog up, so that it cannot harm us. But if we don’t have any patience and just open the gate and try to enter, the dog will bite us. Similarly, it could be dangerous if we just go ahead with our spiritual practices, without accepting the advice of a wise, experienced person.

 

A spiritual aspirant is on a journey through a forest full of cruel, ferocious animals. He needs the help of a guide who knows the path through the forest. Isn’t it best to have someone with us who can tell us, “There’s danger ahead. Be careful! Don’t go that way; go this way instead?”

 

It is useless to blame God when we suffer the consequences of acting on our own whim. A person under the influence of alcohol was driving a car. The car went out of control and hit a pedestrian. When the police arrested the driver, he said, “Sir, it wasn’t my fault that the car hit that person! The petrol is to blame!” We are doing much the same thing if we blame God for the dangers that we face owing to our own lack of caution.

 

There is a dharma (right conduct) for everything, and we should move in accordance with that dharma. Meditation has its own methodology. The spiritual masters have laid down the rules and methods for each type of practice. One should choose the type of spiritual practices that are most suitable only after taking into consideration the physical and mental propensities of the aspirant. The same method will not suit everyone.

 

Anybody can learn a theory. However, to be successful in the practical tests you need the assistance of a learned instructor, because it is difficult to master it on your own. In the same way, the seeker needs a Guru who can guide him or her on the spiritual path.





WHEN WE ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE WITH THE WRONG ATTITUDE, IT CREATES MISERY, UNHAPPINESS AND LONELINESS

de Amrita Varshini, el Viernes, 12 de noviembre de 2010 a la(s) 14:26

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH AMMA, SRI LANKA GUARDIAN

 

Q1: Why do you think love, compassion and peace are becoming rare commodities even as we modernise and globalise at a frenetic pace?

 

Amma: People always act according to their intellectual convictions. In today's society, since progress is being equated with the wealth one possesses, people all over the world have come to believe that money is everything that "Without money you are nothing". It's only natural then that the slogan has become: "Make money by hook or by crook". It is absolutely fine to have money. But money should not control man; man should control money. Unfortunately, man has become money's slave. It's like the tail wagging the dog, instead of the dog wagging the tail! In a society where money is king, everything becomes business -- even love, compassion and human relationships like marriage. Why? Because dharma, the fundamental principle of life, has been thrown completely out of the window.

 

Q2: We are becoming modern. We are becoming techno-savvy. We are getting material comforts that previously we never could have dreamed of. Why are we then growing increasingly intolerant and egoistic?

 

Amma: [smiling] Due of lack of proper understanding. People think that without ego, achievements are impossible. But this is a misunderstanding. Behind all great achievements, including ground-breaking scientific inventions, something beyond the ego and mind comes into play.

 

Effort is ego, but the right result comes only when we let go of the ego. We must put in effort. However, one should also know how to drop the ego and when. Imagine a kingdom where everyone wants to be king and nobody wants to serve.There are only takers and no givers so the intolerance and conflict.

 

Q3: As we witness this paradox -- scientific advancement, material comforts and modern lifestyles, yet more of unhappiness, loneliness and misery, what does India have to offer to the world?

 

Amma: When we acquire knowledge with the wrong attitude, it only creates misery, unhappiness and loneliness. Look around and you can see that the number of schools, universities, students and teachers are increasing daily. But is knowledge growing? Right-knowledge brings right-understanding and right-understanding brings beauty, joy, peace and contentment in life. In the old days, our schools imparted true knowledge. Only true knowledge can rectify such problems.

 

But today are our children acquiring right-knowledge from our schools, colleges and universities? If they are, then why are youngsters today so immature? Why then is there so much conflict, chaos, violence and war in our world? Why are today's wars much more brutal than ever before? India used to not be like this.

 

If we look back, we see that here even war used to adhere to dharma. The Mahabharata War, fought 5,000 years ago, had clear rules and regulations. Ground soldiers were to fight only with other ground soldiers. Similar was the case with soldiers fighting on horseback and on elephants. Women, children and the sick and elderly were not to be harmed under any circumstance. The war began at sunrise and ended at sunset, after which soldiers from both sides would sit and have dinner together. That is why the battle of Kurukshetra was known as a dharma yuddha. One should observe dharma even at the warfront. India has the right-knowledge but unless we develop the right attitude it will not be of benefit to us or to others.

 

Peace and happiness will not come through scientific advancements, education and by increasing physical comforts. If so, why do even people who live in five star facilities commit suicide in their air conditioned rooms? Why do people have to consume sleeping pills to get sound sleep in the midst of all physical comforts? In order to experience peace and happiness we should air condition our minds. That is what the practice of spirituality helps us to attain. And that indeed is the greatest contribution that India can offer to the world.

 

Q4: We are witnessing the emergence of a globalised world. How important are concepts like nation-states and national boundaries today?

 

Amma: What is wrong with nations, states and boundaries? Let them be there. What is really needed is the capacity to behold the oneness that is beyond these differences, to see the underlying unity to see the whole world as a beautiful flower. Each petal is a nation. If one petal is infested with parasites, won't the others be affected? We shouldn't allow that to happen. We should accept and love all nations, all cultures, all human beings, all languages... When there is such love and compassion, you'll find all differences disappear and you behold oneness. In fact, compassion is a one-word solution for almost all the major problems our world is facing today.

 

The different cultures and nations are like the different flowers blooming in a garden -- it is the variety that lends beauty and life to the garden.

 

Q5: What should today's India be known as: the world's economic super-house, the world's knowledge hub or the spiritual reservoir of the world?

 

Amma: This ancient country, Bharat, was never against science and commerce. However, we always considered spirituality as part-and-parcel of all areas of life. We never segregated science and spirituality. They always went hand-in-hand. Actually, it is high time that we return to that ethos. Neither science nor spirituality alone can solve all the problems humanity is facing today. Only an integration of both will create the needed miracle. And Amma would say that the only country capable of integrating science and spirituality -- and thereby set an example for the entire world to emulate -- is India. We can create a perfect balance between materialism and spirituality. So, India should be known as a pioneer in both.

 

Q6: You are a Guru who has brought solace to thousands of distraught people. Other spiritual Gurus, too, are trying to contribute in their own way. How do you assess the role of the state, the media and politicians? How can they all contribute more meaningfully towards people's happiness?

 

Amma: Whoever you are and whatever be you field of action, follow dharma. Do that which brings the maximum happiness to the maximum number of people. Don't do that which creates maximum misery for maximum people. Try to minimise sorrow, suffering and problems through love, compassion and concern for your fellow beings.

 

Q7: What is the relation between religion and spirituality?

 

Amma: You cannot really divide religion and spirituality. They are interdependent. However, for the sake of analysis, we can say that religion is the surface and spirituality is the inner depth. It is like the outer shell and the fruit inside. Religion should culminate in spiritual realization. The real purpose of religion is to go beyond religious barriers.

 

Q8: Is secularism a Western value or Indian value? How is our idea of secularism different from the one commonly understood in the West?

 

Amma: Secularism is neither Western nor Indian; it is simply human. Be human and treat everyone as humans -- that's all. Maybe our interpretation of secularism is wrong, even perverted.

 

Q9: What more can be done to make our education system more relevant to India?

 

Amma: Education should have two aspects: acquiring knowledge about the external world and understanding the inner world. From this standpoint, there is a tremendous imbalance in today's educational system. We give too much importance to gathering knowledge from the outside world and we completely ignore the inner world. Love, compassion and concern for our fellow beings should become part of our curriculum. It is not enough to teach such values; we must become role models. In fact, every one of us should become a role model because, whether we know it or not, someone is looking up to us for inspiration.

 

Unfortunately, today's educational system is entirely based on blind and illogical competition. "Pull the person ahead of you down and climb over him!" This is what is taught. In that process, anything -- any amount of ruthlessness, hatred and revenge is justified. Today's education only teaches how to create desire, but not how to control them. It is like a beautiful car that can run at very high speeds but which does not have brakes -- an accident is imminent!

 

 



 

Q10: Are you happy with today's politics? How can politics be made more humane and spiritual?

 

Amma: [smiles] As an individual, I am always happy and content because I am only concerned with what I can offer to uplift society. But all the same when I look outside at the world, not only am I worried about politics but about everything happening around us! Is there anything taking place in the world today to give hope to humanity? Such work is being done by a handful of people alone. Whereas the amount of cruelty, wickedness, violence, war and selfishness is reaching an all-time high.

 

When politics is used as a way to serve society, rather than a profession it spontaneously becomes more humane and spiritual.

 

Q11: When the political class raises questions, like the one over the existence of Lord Ram, how should that be dealt with?

 

Amma: Those who have faith in Rama should continue to worship him. Let their faith intensify.

 

Q12: Who is a Hindu? How does one deal the problem of caste that divides and discriminates against people?

 

Amma: Whoever believes in love, peace and selflessness is a Hindu. People who really want to create a change should selflessly and courageously come forward to fight such discrimination. Only when we set an example will others feel inspired and support us unconditionally.

 

Q13: What is Hinduism? And how is the Hindutva that certain political parties try to espouse different from that?

 

Amma: Hinduism is a way of living. It is living in accordance with the laws of nature, observing dharma and creating a balance between the body, mind and inner-Self. However, different people have different concepts about being a Hindu. For some, selflessly serving one's nation and its people is Hindutva. Whatever it is, the most important thing is selflessness and purity in word and deed.

 

Q14: When does religion unite? When does religion divide? With so much religious strife around, what can India offer to the world?

 

Amma: When everyone accepts love and compassion as the essential principle of life that is when religion unites. And when we reject these values, religion divides. Amma would say that India, with its rich spiritual heritage, is the one and only nation that can show the right path to the entire world. India should show the world how inner and outer life can be balanced and thereby create a world of emotionally and intellectually mature people.

 

Q15: How do we deal with the problem of religious conversions?

 

Amma: Only if people change their perspective can the situation be remedied. However, this change must take place in their hearts, the inner world. This should begin with the spiritual and religious leaders. If they change, so too will their followers.

 

Conversion has always been a curse to humanity and culture. It will not bring about any positive and creative change in people. While loving our own mother, why can't we allow others to love their mothers as well? It is simply a question of compassionately considering others.

 

Q16: What changes can we bring about in the Constitution to make our system more just, humane and spiritual?

 

Amma: I don't want to comment on this. My path is to love and serve everyone equally. However, experts, the intellectually mature and enlightened people could come together to consider such a question.

 

Q17: What message did you have for the RSS National Executive when you met them on the eve of Guru Golwalkar Centenary celebrations, last year? Do you think they have done enough to reform Hindu society?

 

I did not impart anything new. I just told them about the importance of cherishing and revering the lofty culture of our country and the greatness of this soil. Our nation's strength lies in her spiritual culture. It is the cement that firmly holds the country together. A life devoid of spiritual culture is like a building made up of just a stack of bricks without cement. Such a structure will soon collapse. We should train the younger generation in service to the country based on an understanding and incorporation of spiritual principles in daily life. Only then will there be purity and fullness in service. For this, parents play the most important role. It is their dharma to guide their children along such lines.

 

As for me, I don't want to divide our society into Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Whatever one section of society does should benefit the whole.

 

Q17: You recently deputed one of your representatives to a seminar organized by the Global Foundation of Civilizational Harmony that had a host of other spiritual Gurus. Do you think we need more such meetings of great minds, especially on issues like female infanticide, conversion and so on? What can politicians learn from this?

 

Such seminars will certainly help promote human values and minimise social injustice, like female infanticide, conversion, etc. But aren’t there already countless such organisations? Real change will come only when the people are inspired and guided in the right direction by those practicing what they teach. What the world needs are role models. We need a better understanding of people's problems. Such understanding and role models are the real solutions to the many problems we are facing in the social and political scenario.

 

 

 




DIWALI MEDITATION : THE MEANING OF PURIFICATION

de Amrita Varshini, el Martes, 2 de noviembre de 2010 a la(s) 19:57 ·




By His Holiness Radhanath Swami

 

 

 

 

What does it mean to be purified ?

 

The soul is essentially pure. Just as the sun in the sky is pure. And the rays of the sun are light giving and beneficial for all living beings. But when the sun is obscured by a cloud, it cannot be perceived. Similarly the beauty of the soul, who is a part of God, cannot be appreciated as long as it is covered by the cloud of ignorance. The spirit soul being part of Krishna, has all the qualities of God in minute quantities. All the opulences of God are reflected by the soul. But the cloud of ignorance hides the pure transcendental qualities of the soul. When covered, what we see are the symptoms of ignorance - Lust, Anger, Greed, Envy, Illusion, and pride. The six enemies of the soul are very powerful, because they are completely empowered by Maya or the illusory energy. Krishna declares in the Gita that these six enemies are unconquerable, very difficult to overcome.

 

Lust is the greatest enemy. Sometimes with our logic, reasoning, our knowledge, we know that something is not right. We know the consequences of engaging in certain activities. Yet there is a force within us that impels us, forces us to engage in abominable things. Arjuna asked Krishna in the Gita, what is that force. Who is it that is impelling me to engage in abominable activities as if by force? Krishna responded, it is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of the material mode of passion, which is later turned into wrath which is the all devouring sinful enemy of this world.

 

So what does lust mean? Some people have a very crude conception that lust means some erotic relationship, illicitly. That is a very very horribly gross idea of kama. But actually, kama means any desire that is separate from God. So even some of the most pious, religious, sophisticated men are victims of kama, in the true sense. Anything that is used for any other purpose independent of God is considered in the Bhagavad Gita as Kama, lust, the all-devouring sinful enemy of the world.

 

So how to conquer this all-devouring sinful enemy? There is a method. And it a sure 100% method. And the supreme Lord showed us the method in a wonderful way. He sent to this world, lust personified, Ravana. Ravana was the most striking emblem of lust in the history of all creation.

 

Sita Devi is the wife of Ram. Sita is none other than an expansion of Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of fortune. All the fortune of the world is the energy of Sita. What is fortune? Fortune does not simply mean money. Fortune means anything good. Fortune means good health, popularity, comforts in life, good friendship, good family, and so on. Fortune means anything good in this world. And to lose anything good is misfortune.

 

So anything that is good … anything that we like in this world, is the energy of Lakshmi devi. Lakshmi devi never ever leaves the feet of Narayana. She is always closest to the heart of Narayan. Infact one of the names of Vishnu is Sreenivas, which means Vishnu always has Sri, Lakshmi, close to His heart. So what happens when we take the fortune of this world and try to separate it from Vishnu, for our own satisfaction?

 

Lakshmi expands Herself, same energy, same person, but she appears as Durga. Durga, in Sanskrit, literally means prison. When you see Lakshmi, you see lotus flower in Her hand, which is a sign of auspiciousness, victory, success, beauty and opulence. In another hand she is offering her blessings. For those who approach her by using her energy in the service of Vishnu, she appears before that person in this beautiful form. But those who take her and try to use her, to exploit her, in their sense gratification, instead of offering her to Vishnu, she appears as Durga.

 

 

Durga does not carry lotus flowers. She carries, swords and tridents, and clubs. The trident is the most formidable weapon. It has three throngs - which signify the three fold miseries of the material world. Miseries caused by ones own body and mind, such as mental distress, worrying, physical disease, old age. Miseries caused by other living beings - sometimes people insult you, sometime they cheat you, exploit you, sometimes even your loved ones completely disappoint you. And miseries caused by natural disturbances - such as too much heat, cold, rain, wind, volcanoes, cyclone, tornadoes. Durga Devi is constantly keeping those persons who are under her control in line with this trident, stabbing their heart with the three fold miseries of material existence.

 

Lakshmi Devi appeared as Goddess Sita. And everyone knows Sita is exclusively meant for Rama. What is the definition of love? Love means to assist Sita in her affair with Ram. Is that not what Hanuman, Sugriva, Lakshman, and the residents of Ayodhya did ? The only desire of the residents of Ayodhya was to see Ram and Sita happy.

 

They had no false ego. Their only desire was to see Sita and Ram together happy. So when they saw Ram and Sita happy, that gave them the most ultimate bliss, ecstasy and satisfaction in life. The residents of Ayodhya, their bliss, their happiness is incomprehendable by material minds.

 

But Ravana, he wanted to take Sita for himself. That is called Kama or lust. In Caitanya Caritamrita, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami describes - love is that natural inclination of the soul to want to give pleasure to God. But when the natural affection for God is misplaced, in trying to enjoy the property of God for our own selfish desire, then that love is transformed into lust. Love and lust is the same energy. Same inclination within us. Prema is when that energy is placed toward God. When it is placed anywhere else, it is called Kama or lust.

 

So Ravana was very tricky. He disguised himself and stole Sita. And of course we read from the Ramayan of Valmiki muni, how Lord Ram and His brother Lakshman looking for Goddess Sita made alliances with Sugriva and Hanuma and together with a great army, they attacked the island of Sri Lanka. And Ravana was so powerful that no one could defeat him. Between Ravana, Indrajit, Kumbhakarna and the other Rakshasas, even the demigods were totally robbed of any pride and were living in utter fear. They were totally unconquerable by any jivatma.

 

Ravana was the symbol of Kama. And know that any desire you have to enjoy separate from the Lord is due to the presence of Ravana in your heart. Lord Sri Ramachandra wanted to really show to the world, how powerful Ravana was, how powerful lust really is! Every time he cut off the heads of Ravana, another one grew. Doesn't that sound like our own material desires ? Every time you do someyajna, sacrifice, puja and you give up one material sinful desire and immediately another head grows.

 

 

Rama is the only one who has this arrow. That arrow cannot be obtained by any mortal, any jiva, any living entity. It is the exclusive power of Ram. That is why Lord Krishna says in the Gita that this material energy is very very difficult to overcome. But one who surrenders unto me I take the war in my own hands. I will conquer lust. I will conquer Ravana within your heart. For me it is not difficult. He says, after many births and deaths of practicing various religious systems in the world, the mystic processes of Yoga, when one finally comes to the point of knowledge, he finally surrenders to Vasudeva. Surrenders to Krishna. Surrenders to Rama. Knowing Him to the cause of all causes and the supreme of all that is. When you surrender to the Lord, you put your life under His protection. That is the difference between bhakti and other yoga systems.

 

The other yoga systems by meditation, pranayamayoga asanas, discrimatory power of jnana or knowledge, we are trying to conquer Ravana within our own heart. By any yogic process, by our own endeavor, it is impossible for any length of time to conquer Ravana within our heart. But Krishna says, through the process of Bhakti, one can understand Me as I am. Abandon all yoga processes, abandon all varieties of religion, and just surrender unto Me and I will protect you. I will take care of you. I will kill all the demons in your heart with My arrows. When we surrender to the Lord, Ram appears within our heart.

 

When we remember Krishna, when we remember Lord Ramchandra ji, He is non-different from that remembrance. The process of Bhakti is to always remember the Lord, to be His devotee, to always worship Him and to offer homage unto Him. Through this process Ram appears within our heart and with His mighty arrows, he shoots right into the heart of Ravana and all his heads and everything else falls and disappears from our life eternally.

 

Dussehra is the celebration of the grand victory of Lord Ramachandra over the mighty demon Ravana. And of course this is a factual historical event that took place in Sri Lanka, during the Treta Yuga, but know that it is also a lila that can take place within your heart when you take shelter of Lord Ramachandra. And therefore on this day, in preparation for this day, we should truly meditate on what this lila truly means to us, what it means to our life. The symbol of kama, Ravana who is dwelling in the heart of all living souls, and is the single deadly enemy of every living being can all be defeated by the mighty glory of Rama. By remembering Rama, He appears within our heart. By remembering Him, He kills all the demons within our heart.

 

Therefore, Lord Kapila explains in all the scriptures throughout the world, there are so many vows, so many rituals, so much philosophy but it is all meant to bring us to one simple conclusion. To always remember Krishna and to never forget Krishna. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said Krishna is like the sun. And maya, ignorance, with all of her consorts, all these demons are like darkness. In the presence of the sun, darkness cannot exist. When we remember God, with devotion in our hearts all the bad qualities, all illusion and all ignorance is dispelled.

 

 

 






juancas

LISTA DE REPRODUCCIÓN - PLAYLIST












  1. JESUCRITO I - viernes 13 de enero de 2012
  2. Mundo Religioso 1 - miércoles 28 de diciembre de 2011
  3. Mundo Religioso 2 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  4. Mitología Universal 1 (Asturiana) - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  5. El Narrador de Cuentos - UNO - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  6. El Narrador de Cuentos - DOS - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011

MEDICINA NATURAL, RELAJACION

  1. Medicina Natural - Las Plantas Medicinales 1 (Teoría) - miércoles 28 de diciembre de 2011
  2. Medicina Natural - Plantas Medicinales 1 y 2 (Visión de las Plantas) - miércoles 28 de diciembre de 2011
  3. Practica de MEDITATION & RELAXATION 1 - viernes 6 de enero de 2012
  4. Practica de MEDITATION & RELAXATION 2 - sábado 7 de enero de 2012



VAISHNAVAS, HINDUISMO









  1. KRSNA - RAMA - VISHNU -  jueves 16 de febrero de 2012
  2. Gopal Krishna Movies -  jueves 16 de febrero de 2012
  3. Yamuna Devi Dasi -  jueves 16 de febrero de 2012
  4. SRILA PRABHUPADA I -  miércoles 15 de febrero de 2012
  5. SRILA PRABHUPADA II -  miércoles 15 de febrero de 2012
  6. SRILA PRABHUPADA III -  martes 17 de abril de 2012
  7. KUMBHA MELA -  miércoles 15 de febrero de 2012
  8. AVANTIKA DEVI DASI - NÉCTAR BHAJANS -  miércoles 15 de febrero de 2012
  9. GANGA DEVI MATA -  miércoles 15 de febrero de 2012
  10. SLOKAS y MANTRAS I - lunes 13 de febrero de 2012
  11. GAYATRI & SHANTI MANTRAS - martes 14 de febrero de 2012
  12. Lugares Sagrados de la India 1 - miércoles 28 de diciembre de 2011
  13. Devoción - PLAYLIST - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  14. La Sabiduria de los Maestros 1 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  15. La Sabiduria de los Maestros 2 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  16. La Sabiduria de los Maestros 3 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  17. La Sabiduria de los Maestros 4 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  18. La Sabiduría de los Maestros 5 - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011
  19. Universalidad 1 - miércoles 4 de enero de 2012

Biografías

  1. Biografía de los Clasicos Antiguos Latinos 1 - viernes 30 de diciembre de 2011
  2. Swami Premananda - PLAYLIST - jueves 29 de diciembre de 2011

Romanos

  1. Emperadores Romanos I - domingo 1 de enero de 2012

Egipto









  1. Ajenaton, momias doradas, Hatshepsut, Cleopatra - sábado 31 de diciembre de 2011
  2. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO I - jueves 12 de enero de 2012
  3. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO II - sábado 14 de enero de 2012
  4. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO III - lunes 16 de enero de 2012
  5. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO IV - martes 17 de enero de 2012
  6. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO V - miércoles 18 de enero de 2012
  7. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO VI - sábado 21 de enero de 2012
  8. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO VII - martes 24 de enero de 2012
  9. EL MARAVILLOSO EGIPTO VIII - viernes 27 de enero de 2012

La Bíblia









  1. El Mundo Bíblico 1 - lunes 2 de enero de 2012 (de danizia)
  2. El Mundo Bíblico 2 - martes 3 de enero de 2012 (de danizia)
  3. El Mundo Bíblico 3 - sábado 14 de enero de 2012
  4. El Mundo Bíblico 4 - sábado 14 de enero de 2012
  5. El Mundo Bíblico 5 - martes 21 de febrero de 2012
  6. El Mundo Bíblico 6 - miércoles 22 de febrero de 2012
  1. La Bíblia I - lunes 20 de febrero de 2012
  2. La Bíblia II - martes 10 de enero de 2012
  3. La Biblia III - martes 10 de enero de 2012
  4. La Biblia IV - miércoles 11 de enero de 2012
  5. La Biblia V - sábado 31 de diciembre de 2011











Canales youtube: danielcap7, contreraspicazoa  canaldesolopredica  mayte37 
ElOcasodelaRealidad  NylaRossini
elmisionero3000  christianfilmclub  sergio13969586  MultiManuel37  89SuperJazzman  rusmeo
Revolutionministery  kokinb84
prenpeace2
jespadill


Canales tu.tv: de danizia, bizzentte, santiagooblias





















TABLA - FUENTES - FONTS


SOUV2BalaramScaGoudyFOLIO 4.2Biblica Font









free counters



Disculpen las Molestias






Planet ISKCON - 2010  ·  Planet ISKCON - 2011   ·  Planet ISKCON - 2012
Usuarios de FACEBOOKS




No hay comentarios:

Correo Vaishnava

Mi foto
Spain
Correo Devocional

Archivo del blog