Satvik Guna is the default in us

Namaste.  We have learnt all human beings are classified in three categories of Gunas (our nature)  - Satvik (Spiritual), Rajasic (materialistically active) and Tamasic (indolent and lazy).  By personality types, most people are a combination of these three gunas and it may even vary depending on the time and mood of the day.  

For instance,  the Satvik guna may be more visible in the early mornings when the mind is alert and sharp. This is the time of spiritual activities such as meditation, yoga etc.  or educational work such as reading, practicing etc.  That's why our ancient scriptures talk about 'Brahma muhurtham' which is the most ideal time for productive work and starts a couple of hours prior to sunrise.  The Rajasic and Tamasic gunas become predominant over the period of the day. Typically people are very active in their profession or business during the day when Rajas is active and they become tired and sleepy towards the end of the day when Tamas takes over our personality. 

However,  Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita says that Satvik guna is our inherent default nature.  Humans are born with Satvik nature and as they grow, the other gunas get attached due to vasanas (both existing and new) and work nature.  That's probably why it is said babies are godly in nature as they do not exhibit other tendencies and gunas.   However, the advantage of this condition is that reverting back to Satvik should be easier for all of us as it is our default nature.  We do not need to acquire Satvikata, as it is in us already, but covered by other gunas over and above it. We only need to remove those Rajasic and Tamasic nature from us.  

The famous Italian sculptor Michelangelo is quoted as saying "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. "   He said he just removed the un-necessary parts (Rajasic & Tamasic ?) from the stone block to create those wonderful work!  

So let us all work to restrict and reduce the Rajasic and Tamasic gunas in us.  As long as we are in human form, we may not be able to eliminate those - but we need to use them only as needed. Rest of the time, we should strive to be in Satvik guna all the time.  Sw. Chinmayananda says that is indicated by the statement 'Om Tat Sat' which means that Supreme (Brahman) is the only truth (default) in all.  Rest are artificial additions!

Hari Om.

Devas, Asuras and Rakshas of the world!

In the 15th chapter of BG, Sw. Chinmayananda describes the 5 types of people based on their 'Gunas' as below:

• Devas: People who are nobler in their thoughts, behaviour and actions.  They are mostly of Sattvic nature and look for goodness in all including themselves. Hopefully most of the humans in the world are 'supposed' to be of this type - that's probably why our scriptures talk of 33 koti (crore) types of Devas, the population of the world at that time (it has increased multifold now - so not sure if all are 'devas' now! 😊)
• Asuras: Those who are 'diabolically fallen' and think of working and gaining materialistic comforts and returns all the time.  They are mostly of Rajasic guna (rajoguna).  I think many people in business and politics in the in the world currently are of this type or Yakshas (given below) or combination of both.
  
• Rakshasas: Incorrigibly indifferent.  They are Tamasic guna and considered to be pleasure seeking and lazy.    Many  are well educated and know the facts and truths of life, but do not care or believe in it. They look for quick and easy wins and comforts of life.  Ravana is said to be of this type who was a knowledgeable man and a Shiva bhakta, but used his knowledge for unethical purposes.  Sakshara (sa-akshara) in Samskritam means "educated and well behaved". If sounded reverse, it becomes Rakshasa! 
• Yakshas: Yakshas are said to be family of Kubera who is considered as the richest person in our mythology. They are the group who are sought after by those who are highly materialistic and look for name and fame.
• Pretas: Supposed to be our ancestors who are at the lowest level of the ladder in terms of their passage to other worlds as per Hindu mythology. THey have just left the human form but their human vasanas still remain with them in the bhouthika levels (Sthula sarira).

Hari Om.

20 Virtues enumerated in Bhagavad Gita

 The 20 virtues explained in Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna:

1. Amanitvam: vanity-less-ness

2. Aadambitvam - un pretentiousness

3. Ahimsa: Non-violence

4. Santhi:  Peace, Calmness

5. Arjavam - straight forwardness

6. Acharya Upasana : Dedication and respect to Guru

7. Soucham - cleanliness

8. Sthairyam - consistency of purpose

9. Atma vinigraha - self control

10. Indriyartheshu vairagya:  Dispassion and detachment to sense organs generated activities.

11. Anahankara - no ego

12. Janma, Mrityu, Jara, Vyadi, Dukha, Dosha nu darshanam - recognizing life is all these sorrows

13. Asaktir anabhi svangaha: without attachments/identificatio to beings and things

14. Nityam cha Samachitvam - equilibrium at all times

15. Ishta- anishta upapashtitu - learn to live with both likes and dislikes

16. Mayi Cha ananya yogena - yoking your mind to me

17. Vivikta desa sevitvam: expose a few mins to be all alone

18. Arathir Jana samsadi: avoid crowds of people

19. Adyatma Jnana nityatvam - read scriptuures every day

20. Tatva  jananrtha darshanam: meditate on those value from the scriptures

Hari Om.

The Six roles of Paramatma (Self or Spirit) in every personality.

Paramatma the Supreme Self is ONE Spirit within,  but acts in 6 roles within our individuality depending on the ego that we exert:

1. Upadrishta: Only an onlooker, when our ego is 100%.  All our activities are commanded by our BMI based ego and we do not bother the Soul or Spirit within.

2. Anumanta: One who nods his head (either ways) when our ego is 80%.  Here the Spirit is given only a 20% authority.

3. Bharta: One who fills the cup of our success, when the ego is reduced to 60%. 

4. Bhokta: One who becomes the enjoyer in each one of us, when the ego falls to 40%

5. Maheshvarah: He who comes to rule (and protect) as the Lord of Lords when ego is only 20%

6. Paramatma: When that last bit of ego,  the final 20%, is also surrendered in the highest moods of contemplation ,  the individual has merged into that Reality.  That individual gliding from one plane of Conciousness to the other,  has become the Paramatman, the Supreme Self.

Hari Om.

Hari Om (Hurry Home!)

Namaste.  Sw. Chinmayananda in one of his BG talks gives an example of unending vasanas in a humorous way as below:

We all go for shopping with a list of things to buy.  These list of things are the initial vasanas.  However as we go from shop to shop (birth to birth) to satisfy these list of things (vasanas), we also knowingly or unknowingly add more to the list - so that list becomes endless. We seem to be caught up in the web of moving from one shop to another (one life to another) just to get these 'mostly unnecessary' items  (satisfy our unending vasanas)  that we ourselves created due to our ignorance and stupidity .  Once we realize the hollowness of it and are tired of it,  we try to finish the existing list carefully without adding anything new.  End of it we complete the list and go back home (attain Moksha/Sayujya).  

Gurudev funnily says that's why in Chinmaya Mission,  we all say 'Hurry Home' (Hari Om!) all the time! 

Hari Om!

Approach GOD with your mind of Sraddha (faith) and Bhakthi (devotion)

Bhakthi (belief) reinforced with jnanam (knoweldge) is Sraddha (Faith).

IN BG:  Lord Krishna asks all to approach him with an open mind of Sraddha and Bhakthi.  Nowadays people flock temples physically to circumbulate, ring the bell and ask for favours from the GOD.  However their mind is somewhere else - their homes, workplace market etc.  

Sw. Chinmayananda says the idols of God in Hindu temples are shown with the left hand waiting to accept your mind and right hand returning it to you after HIS blessing.  However very few people seem to be ready to hand over their mind.  Most only appear physically to demand favours and not approach the Supreme with their mind of Bhakthi and Sraddha.  So the Gods in our temples are always waiting endlessly for HIS true devotees anytime!

Hari Om.