Vasanas, Thoughts, Actions

As per the Vedantic theory, all creatures in this cosmos are brought in because of its Vasanas.   These Vasanas  are formed as a result of the past actions.

In case of humans,  it could be the actions from his/her past lives.   Eliminating this Vasanas is the part of the evolution to species of higher maturity with increasing levels of awareness and knowledge about itself.   It takes multiple lifetimes to clean oneself of his/her vasanas.

The Vasanas feeds thoughts into an ego-centric and outgoing mindset (personality) and those thoughts drives actions in the outside world.   It is easier to control the actions by a person than controlling his/her mind.  So the best starting point for brahmacharya (dedicating onself into Brahman) is control of  his/her actions.   Even if there are any fanciful thoughts in the mind, let is pass and just be a witness. Do not get involved in it and abstain from acting on it.  If possible revert the mind flow back to Brahman or a Guru. The thoughts without actions dies a natural death.  When many such thoughts are inactive,  that specific vasana strain will also die.  This is the trick of attaining brahmacharya control.

Sw. Chinmayananda puts it so simply and beautifully in his explanation of verse 445 of Viveka Choodamani as below

“ A sadhak trying to lead a noble way of life should mentally have the presence of his Ideal or his teacher (Guru) always before him so  that his baser tendencies get weaker and he is always inspired to live the Ideal way of life".

Hari Om

Peaks of Vairagya, Bodha and Uparati

In verse 425 of Viveka Choodamani, Bhagwan Shankara touches upon the signs of attaining the peaks in Detachment (vairagya), Knowledge (bodha) and Withdrawl (uparati). These three characteristics are the pointers to a self-realized person. Sw. Chinmayananda explains these three definitions wonderfully as below

Vairagya (detachment) results from absence of desire and thereby the thoughtsin the bosom of a person. When materialistic sense objects no more attract a person and there are no more vasanas, vairagya finds its fulfillment. Annihilation of all Samskaras is the non-manifestation of all vasanas and sankalpas.

The culmination of bodha (knowledge) is the absence of ego. Knowledge leads to expansion of our mind to accommodate the universe as One and realization of Brahman as the one Unique Supreme Power (USP) which is the substratum of all in this cosmos. This helps in transcending the PFT (Perceiver, Feeler, Thinker) outlook and annihilation of the ego.

The renunciation of the PFT and resulting OET (Objects, Emotions, Thoughts) is uparati or complete withdrawl. When all agitations are quiet ended and there is no thought disturbance in the bosom, that is the state of uparati.

When the above three are attained, the person attains complete knowledge of infinite Bliss.

Hari Om.

Pravritti & Nivritti

The result of ignorance (agyana) is action (pravritti). Ego motivated actions due to avidya are called pravritti.
The result of knowledge (jnana) is freedom from actions (nivritti).

Ignorance at intellectual level is desire; at mental level is thoughts and at physical level it is actions(ego driven)

Hari Om

Happiness vs Bliss

Namaste.  In our sayings and writings, we seem to mix the usage of the words 'happiness', 'joy' and 'bliss'  interchangeably to indicate similar meanings.  Though in a normal situation, this may be correct, there are subtle differences in the meanings.

The mental pleasures and satisfaction attained due to achievement of a sensory activity through the BMI layers is called Happiness.  For example, we are happy for getting an object of our liking or a reward or recognition from our contacts.   It is a state of less or no agitation of mind and the scale moves to the positive side of the mental state.

When  a situation that goes beyond our bodily and mental levels and provides us a positive  satisfaction intellectually, it is Joy.  Example - when you propose and devise a creative idea and it is implemented and found very productive,  you feel a joy that is unexplainable, though physically & mentally you may have gone through many turbulences to bring that idea to fruition.

When the mind attains a state of equilibrium where there are no specific reactions to the situations externally - when all 'raga dveshas' have ended, it is called bliss.
Sw. Chinmayananda says in verse 420 of Viveka Choodamani:  "When there is the experience of Self within, there is peace - the peace that passeth all understanding".  This peace is not because of any objects outside, but because of the very essential nature of the Self in us.   This is Bliss.

Hari Om

Sleep vs Samadhi

In Viveka Choodamani verse 408,  Bhagwan Adi Shankara talks about the root of the universe being the mind and dissolving the mind is the only option to avoid the pluralism of outside world.  Sw. Chinmayananda wonderfully explains it as below  

"The mind turned outwards and gushing out is chitta. The manifestation of the world is from chitta only. If you want pure bliss and beatitude of Brahman,  you have to end this world. In order to do so,  quieten the mind in the contemplation of the supreme self which is your inner most core. Sit down and consciously withdraw your mind as though in sleep and experience that stage where there is no object , emotion or thoughts.   That conscious sleep is called Samadhi.   

In real sleep, there is no perception of the outer world, and hence no mis-apprehension, there is nevertheless a binding non-apprehension.  When you consciously sleep, there is no bon-apprehension either , only a complete apprehension of Reality.     

Wow.  Excellent analysis from Gurudev.

Hari Om.

Shivakara and shavakara

Namaste.  In verse 397 of Viveka Choodamani,  Sri Adi Shankara very poetically refers to the framework of BMI which is perishable as 'Shavakara' (matter that is lifeless) compared to 'Shivakara' which means the embodiment of auspiciousness and is the supreme immovable substratum in us that is non-dual, everlasting Truth.    It is a wonderful poetic reference to these words of 'Shavakara' and 'Shivakara' which may sound similar but poles apart in concept and meaning.  Sw. Chinmayananda adds further to this explanation saying that if we identify ourselves with the Body, Mind, Intellect (BMI), we suffer due to the sorrows of five pain-ridden stages of birth, growth, disease, decay and death physically as well as the attachments, ego from the mind and intellect layers.  Whereas then associated with the unchangable supreme Brahman (Shivakara), we are liberated from all sufferings.

Hari Om.

Viveka Choodamani Verses: 388 & 389

Have been reading the past few weeks, on the jewels from Adi Shankara from his book Viveka Choodamani.  It is an amazing compendium on the essence of spirituality and needs deeper thinking and analysis (mananam).  

In verses 388 & 389, Adi Shankara explains very clearly and in simple words that Self is the ‘Tri-murtis’ and all Devatas that Self is everywhere (all directions). 

The verse 388 says that Self is the Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, which depicts the forces of creation, maintenance and dissolution of the universe.  It also says other powers such as Indra, Varuna etc. that symbolize nature is also the universal Self.  Everything in this cosmos is Self and nothing exists except the Self.  It goes as below.

स्वयं ब्रह्मा स्वयं विष्णुः स्वयमिन्द्रः स्वयं शिवः । 
स्वयं विश्वमिदं सर्वं स्वस्मादन्यन्न किंचन ॥ ३८८ ॥

svayaṃ brahmā svayaṃ viṣṇuḥ svayamindraḥ svayaṃ śivaḥ | 
svayaṃ viśvamidaṃ sarvaṃ svasmādanyanna kiṃcana || 388 ||

The next verse (389) is more powerful in its meaning.  Sri Shankara here says that Self is inside and outside as well as in all the directions.

अन्तः स्वयं चापि बहिः स्वयं च
स्वयं पुरस्तात्स्वयमेव पश्चात् । 
स्वयं ह्यावाच्यां स्वयमप्युदीच्यां
तथोपरिष्टात्स्वयमप्यधस्तात् ॥ ३८९ ॥

antaḥ svayaṃ cāpi bahiḥ svayaṃ ca
svayaṃ purastātsvayameva paścāt |
svayaṃ hyāvācyāṃ svayamapyudīcyāṃ
tathopariṣṭātsvayamapyadhastāt || 389 ||

Typically we understand the directions as four – N, E, W, S, but our scriptures indicate space ‘above’ and ‘below’ too as the other dimensions of the directions.  So Self is in all the directions as well as inside us too.

Hari Om.

Being 'Alone'

Namaste.  I have been reading on the wonderful and insightful book of 'VivekaChoodamani' by Bhagawan Adi Shankara.  There are many many verses that requires deep thinking and analysis ('mananam') in the book given by Sri Shankara in his inimitable style. For normal humans like us who have been battling the materialistic way of life,  these 'gems of discriminating intelligence' (Viveka Choodamani)  would have been impossible to grasp, if it were not deciphered and explained in common man's language and examples,  as done by Gurudev Sw. Chinmayananda.  My humble Pranaams to such great and divine masters.

One of the many verses in VivekaChoodamani where Sri. Shankara provides direct instruction to the reader on the preparatory steps ‘yogic meditation’ is below:

"Yogasya pratamadwaaram vangnirodhoaprigrahaha

Niraasha ch nireeha cha nithyamekanthaseelatha" 

In this verse explained beautifully by Gurudev, Sri Shankara instructs the Vedantic student the steps to control the sense-organs and the restless mind.

Yogasya Prtamadwaaram :  The first gateway to enter the portals of 'Yoga' life is

Vangnirodha:  Control of speech

Aparigrahaha: Non acceptance of possessions (materialistic)

Niraasha: Without keeping any expectations on the fruits of the actions

Nireesha:  Giving up all ego-centric activities;

Nityam Ekanthaseelatha: living 'alone' concentrated on the Brahman

The last step above is very significant and kind of confusing to normal folks. As Gurudev says,  there is a difference between being 'lonely' and being 'alone'.  Being 'lonely' is remaining in a physical sense with no other living beings around; where as being 'alone' is to remain mentally concentrated on the Supreme in-spite of the surroundings.  Alone is not in the surroundings, but it is in one's own attitude within the bosom; to remain with all attention ('eka-antham') fixed upon that one Unique Supreme Power (USP).  Think!

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha, Hari Om.

It is all movie projections !

A movie is nothing but a powerful light projected onto a white screen through a colorful film.  Whatever is depicted in the film is shown in the screen. For the viewers in the dark hall,  the screen projections are their world at that time. If the scene is a calm picturesque village where all are happy, the world is happy.  If it is a scary scene, the world is dangerous etc.   However when the viewers take a break and realize all those are projections only, their perceptions of the world also changes.  They realize it has always been projections only.  The powerful light is the Unique Supreme Power (USP - Consciousness, Brahman) that is beaming all the time.  The film is our BMI (Body-Mind-Intellect) projections  of the world outside.  Remove that film (BMI projections) and you see only the single source of powerful light (Consciousness) that is visible everywhere (screen).  What remains at that time is Consciousness only.  Where the equipment is removed, the objects that are perceived through the equipment are also removed.   

Just as in the above example, Bhagawan Adi Shankara in Vivekachoodamani says "In that sense, the scriptures say that the Atman , the Self in you is Brahman, the Reality behind the whole universe."

Hari Om.

Be at a higher plane!

Our scriptures say that the world is only a 'Maya' due to the illusion of plurality which is unreal.  Behind the plurality, there is one single unchanged substratum which is the Brahman. Plurality is only the projection of BMI (body, mind and intellect).  In deep sleep, the BMI is temporarily shut down so there is no plurality.  However it is all ignorance during deep sleep, so no realization at that time.  The real Brahma Jnanam is the awareness (self-realization) with BMI active and working.

It is like making a journey to reach a certain place.  If travelling via road or rail, there is progress in the journey, but it is not smooth.  There will be movements, jerks, stops etc, that is felt on the trip.  If we are to avoid that, we need to be at a higher level.  If we travel at a higher level than the ground - for instance, by a helicopter, the journey will be a little more smoother than by road or rail.   If we go still higher - say a jumbo jet 747 plane at a much higher altitude,  it will be way smoother and faster.  We will not even realize the distance covered though we are progressing at a high speed. There may be turbulence once a while, but that is to make us aware of our constraints and continue our efforts for a smooth ride.

In the same thought,  let us raise ourselves to a higher plane of consciousness above the BMI layers - we will not feel the plurality and changes and our life path will be much smoother.

Hari Om.

Children and their talents

Developing the talent in children is like making way for a flowing water.  Kids are full of energy and talent, though not visible outside, just as water flow has the energy embedded in it.  Farmers cut pathways to make the water flow to the needed areas. They create the environment and ways to prevent any restrictions or hurdles in the flow.  They know the water cannot pushed physically into flow, it only splashes and goes waste.  Similarly depending on the talent and interest of the children, the right environment and opportunities should be made available. That is the only job of parents/guardians.  The flow and blooming of the talent takes place automatically.  The children should not be pushed to parent's tastes and interests.  Parents or guardians come from a different time period and probably from different place & environment, it is not the same as the current environment of the children.  As the celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore said "Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time",  do not force children to your thoughts.  Humans are born more intelligent and capable in every new generation, that is the rule of evolution.  So let them bloom in their own way!

Hari Om.

Intellect - Gross & Subtle

Of late there has been a lot of discussion on the need to educate and bring ethics and moral values in people. As much as this is correct and important,  I think this education has to run deeper into soul of each individual, not just at the peripheral level. Having the individual read books, watch videos & documentaries and laying down the court rules does only to a certain extent and limited time.  The transformation has to happen from the soul layer and change the IMB layers in that order- the reverse of BMI (Body, Mind, Intellect).  The Atman (soul) is the pure truth with no gunas (character) and no blemishes. Intellect (I) is the thinking layer close to it that is reflected from the Atman. The intellect advises the mind of the right & wrong, truth & untruth,  light and darkness, correct & incorrect etc. etc.  Mind (M) usually sways to the external influence of sense organs in the Body (B), but the individual has to train his/her mind to listen to intellect which preaches the truth as per the Atma.  Once the Mind is brought under control, it can easily control the Body and the related sense organs in the righteous way.  In this way , the entire personality is integrated and brought to moral ethics.

Sw. Chinmayananda brings out the above point wonderfully in his  analysis of Adi Shankara's VivekaChoodamani.  In the meaning for slokas 213-214, Sw. Chinmayananda says as below:

"With a gross intellect, we see only gross things.  The grosser the intellect, grosser the vision. Our intellect at this moment is so gross, so full of sensuality, that we no more see a woman going along, we only see "lust" moving on legs. When the mind is made a little subtle,  you see "beauty" going.  A little more subtle and you see a "living being". Make it as subtle as that of a philosopher's and you will see a "divinity" on the move.

How do we make our intellect subtle? Subtle intellect means that intellect which is not running headlong to crash into sense objects. That intellect that is not working under the pressure of its vasanas, the intellect which is fully redeemed from their deadening pressures, is a subtle intellect. Vasanas are removed through dedicated activity (Nishkaama Karma)."

Vrittis

Ego is Mind-Intellect identifying with the Body.  When we detach all the BMI layers and remain identified with our soul (Atman), there is no ego.  That soul is just part of the macrocosmic soul which is Brahman. Destroy the BMI layers and the individual soul merges with the universal Brahman

Sariravrittis, Manovrittis, Indriyavrittis:  All vrittis (disturbances) caused due to BMI.

The vritti (disturbance) at the body level (B) is pain; comfort is pleasure

At mental level (M) it is sorrow & happiness respectively

At intellectual level (I) it is loss & win respectively

Hari Om.

Yoga-Kshemam

Sw. Chinmayananda has very beautifully explained the meaning of the common usage ‘Yoga-Kshema’ in our scriptures.  In today’s world, all our energies are dissipated in two main directions – Procuring (Yoga, योग) and maintaining (Kshemam, क्षेमम).  We seem to spend all our effort, energy and time on procuring material pleasures or benefits and worrying about maintaining them our entire life.  Because of this, we do not seem to have the time  to engage in spiritual or welfare work (seva).

However, Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita in Ch, 9  emphatically says that for those true seekers who are dedicated in spiritual pursuits and attaining the Self (HIM),  HE (Lord) will take care of the ‘Yoga-Kshema’ work of HIS devotees.  This means, those who have transcended the body-mind-intellect (BMI) layers and have realized the Self in themselves (and in all) will not be interested or worried in the procurement and maintenance activities of life. It is something that automatically happens to such people without worry, just as body ages, hair grows etc.  It is ironically observed and found that if people go behind some goals specifically, they never seem to attain it (a specific position or win in politics or business profits etc.), however if they are dedicated to doing the 'Dharma' of their work and do not worry on others, these goals automatically come to them.
Hence, dedicate your life to Self realization and meditation; leave the rest in the hands of the GOD as it happens! 

Hindu philosophy - Dwaita, Visesha-Advaita and Advaita

Sw. Chinmayananda very nicely and convincingly explains the differences in the three schools of Hindu philosophy - Dwaita, Vishesha-Advaita and Advaita as follows in VivekaChoodamani (verse 160).  He says the differences should be considered as having been due to the difference in the type of students (people) the philosophers (of these schools) addressed during their respective times.

In Shri. Madhvacharya's period, many people were not mature in their spiritual awareness.  Thy identified with the external gross layer (body) and behaved as such in the outside world. For such students, the Supreme is different from their gross layers.  The Brahman is different from all three BMI layers, but the people of those period are probably not intellectually mature enough to understand it.  Hence for them, Dwaita school of thought where GOD is different from others are preached.

As the intellectual maturity of the people increased, they became more of the "thinking-feeling" entity and hence operated on the subtle levels of mind and emotions.   They realized there is a spark of divinity in them, but they considered themselves as their body-mind and divinity as separate.  For such students, Shri. Ramanucharya explained that "You are not separate from the Truth; You are part and He is the whole". This is 'Visishta-Advaita'.

In Shri Adi Shankaracharya's time, his students were highly matured, very spiritually inclined, who through sadhana and upasanas, developed a subtle intellect and able to understand as well as practice Viveka (discrimination) and Vairagya (non-attachment). For such students,  Shri. Shankara boldly declared 'Tat Tvam Asi' - You are That and That is you.  You (we) are all one with GOD - the Brahman.  This is the school of Advaita.

Hari Om

The Gunas

Peace, Joy, intelligence, intuition are all inherent in every human.  These all are Saatwik qualities that come in-born and exist in the soul due to the reflection of the supreme Consciousness (Atman). However, man tends to collect Rajasic (agitated) and Tamasic (dull) impurities from his vasanas (desires) and resulting interactions with the  outside world.  This results in the dimming of the Saatwik gunas (good character) in the personality of the man.  Through prayers, selfless services and meditation, when the Rajasic and Tamasic gunas are removed from the personality layer, the pure Satwik character shines forth,  making the person brilliant and capable in his work outside.

Hari Om

Concept of God

From a TED talk on faith and religion:   The ideal religious concept is not to show GOD as an individual demanding respect and ordering punishments. This individualized male/female GOD is only a concept for immature minds to follow cultural and ethical behaviors.  When a person looks out on the voluminous sky to find stars, planets and other millions of objects in space realizes how minor his ego and his individual 'space' is, how small his/her power is compared to the universe (Brahmandam), how insignificant his/her demands and creation are compared to the overall creations in this universe, there comes a humbleness and knowledge  to his personality.  The more the person dwells on this thought, the more it becomes clear there is some power behind all this universe which is way beyond the human understanding.  This awareness is spirituality and a concept that the unique supreme power behind all this is the true GOD.

Hari Om.

Control from instincts

Heard in a TV discussion about atrocities against women happening in India (and surely in other parts of the world too).  The participants discussed about rules and regulations to prevent it as well as educating men to respect women and not consider them as 'objects'. While I agree with above opinions,  I do think there is a huge psychological factor to be considered too. Humans descended from animals, so we all have animal instincts within us in one way or other.  One of the animal instincts is the sexual drive, especially in male species which is natural. This instinct projects up mainly due to our identification with our body (gross) layers. This can only be subdued by freeing oneself from the clutches of the body (flesh) layer.  The mind has to be elevated to a higher spiritual goal or idea . This is then the true education of men to respect not only women but everything in this universe. 

  

Hari Om.