If you are reading this blog or happened to be referred to it, the action by itself explains that you are initiated on this journey of "Gnyana -> Curiousity for knowledge" to unveil the hidden truths of human life. Ages ago sages, saints, rishis were also inspired towards finding the meaning of human life, the meaning of birth and death and the consequences of good and bad deeds. After eons of penance, introspection, watching others lives and probably by sheer grace of god, they understood several critical and non-negotiable elements as regards human life.
These are :
0) Good and bad Deeds of every species are diligently maintained in separate in-extinguishable counters (Called "Papa" and "Punya").
1) Any living species which dies (including humans) - would have a rebirth (Unless it attains Nirvana in the current Janma)
2) The form assumed by the species in subsequent births is determined by the Papa/Punya counters . There is a hierarchy of Janmas as described in vedas, and Manushya Janma figures out in the top (out of all the 84 lakh janmas possible). Manushya Janma is the only Janma wherein the species can understand the significance of Gods ways and attain Gnyana
3) At the end of ones "Janma", Punya counter is not set off against "Papa" counter , but both are maintained separately.One enjoys prosperities or good aspects owing to the presence of Punya counter and enjoys adversities or bad aspects owing to the
presence of Papa counter.
4) The sum total of the inherited Punya/Papa counter of old Janmas signifies "Sanchita Karma" (Karma denotes deeds). Out of this the mass of Papa/Punya which is selected for a persons enjoyment in the current Janma/Incarnation is called "Prarabdha Karma".Meaning the person is predisposed to enjoy this good/bad , no matter what , in this Janma. "Kriyamana Karma or Agami Karma", signifies the Karma which the being churnes out in this Janma. So, while no one can change the occurence of Prarabdha Karma (since its already launched and to be experienced) , the being can make sure that Sanchita Karma is extinguished by the good deeds and devotion towards god and influence Agami karma to the extent possible thru
righteous behaviour
Side Note: Read More Here : http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Karma/id/22810
5) Once a being attains Nirvana both the counters are nullified and the "Jeevi" is freed out of this eternal cycle of births,deaths, family, children, responsibilities etc. Nirvana as our ancestors figured out,is no childs play and calls for great amount of austere living over several janmas
For us to move forward on our thinking plane, in the subsequent posts, one should prima-facie internalise the above truths completely and whole-heartedly . These are the assumptions based on which one can understand the journey of Nirvana fully
Ok ,lets back out a little and ask the question as to why someone needs to think about attaining Nirvana. Are we not happy going through this cycle of birth , education, job, marriage, children , wealth creation , oldage and death? Are'nt these activities not giving us adequate enjoyment ? When several hundreds of people around us just think about getting a day accomplished, why should anyone think of loftier things like getting out of this Life-Death cycle? Is it necessary at all and would everyone get if one thinks.
Answer: No you neednt think. No one forces you. Indeed , If no attempt is made to influence this cycle thru any means, one would continue to assume various forms, perform various good/bad deeds, most of the times unknowingly , create a pile of good and bad deeds, without any realisation. If the proportion of Good deeds are more cummalatively, the journey continues till he gets "Manushya - Human" janma once again. Here too he gets a small realisation as to why one need to go through these tribulations , probably felt thru his own experiences or probably by watching the travails of his kith and kin. But if the realisation stops there and no meaningful action ensues, the cycle continues and he travels again thru millions of lowly Janmas, which lack any intelligence and an urge to come out of the rut
The idea hence,is to plant a sapling of "Gnyana" while in Human form itself (while you can still think), so that the "Sadhana" and "Nishta" that one performs during this Janma, can continue thru "Sad-Vasanas" even as he enters into various other forms eventually and ultimately , after several janmas, the efforts finally fructify by culminating into eternal enlightenment and permanent unision with paramatma
Side Note: A study of several instances wherein "Nirvana" is attained , reveals the above truth. One can read more on this in "Gajendra Moksham" and "Guru Charitra"
Thats the reason why elders say “Bahu Durlabham Maanusha Janma” . It is very difficult to get a manushya janma – to take human birth. A person is born as a human being because of ‘punya karma’ done in the previous births. He gets this birth as human being after undergoing millions of previous ‘Janmaas’ (births) as germs, insects, birds, animals etc. This is considered to be the last stage of the series of births one can have and that is why it is considered to be great to have
been born as a human being. “Sarvottamam Maanusha Janma” Human being is considered to be the great because of the uniqueness in attributes of creation both physical & metaphysical. In addition to “Manas, Pragnana, Buddhi” viz., emotive, reasoning &
intellectual brain, human beings possess “Ahamkara”- ego sense, Will power & “Chith” the source of innovative & intuitive power, which are unparalleled.
Thus equipped, a human being is in a better position to ascend to a much higher level. Other creatures like birds, animals etc., can make noises, can eat & procreate but they cannot go any further. They cannot understand God and hence they can neither think, speak, hear express their feelings/opinions about God nor they can sing in praise of God. But Human beings alone can do all that and derive a particular kind of pleasure and satisfaction, which no other activity can bring. Moreover, they can feel the existence of God, contemplate in the depth of their minds, and express their feelings about God in many ways
To be completed ..... Since this is a endless journey of understanding, reunderstanding, assimilation of the cosmic truth,I would urge the readers to provide their valuable comments on the article , thereby sharing divine knowledge
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Rat Race
In olden days, people didnt pray for materialistic desires or lavish lives, they actually prayed for "Anayasa Jeevitam and Sunayasa Maranam" - meaning "Smooth and Peaceful life and Painless, Natural Death" . They lead quite simple but inspirational
lives following rules of dharma.
We have come a long way from it. As we get bombarded with the high decibel marketing of various goods and services ,available very close to our neighbourhoods, there is an unknown compulsion and peer pressure, which propels us to indulge in a cat race to earn huge money to fulfill those desires, most of the times at the expense of our relationships (with parents,siblings,relatives,friends,society at large) and our own health.
But do we get satisfied having quenched our desires. No we dont get satisfied with what we have , we get more greedy, aspire for bigger, higher, larger, brighter things, increase the pace of making money (sometimes through illegal and unethical
ways), to finally procure them. This cycle , which always ends with discontentment and unease, continues, so long as we have energy left within us
And by this time we are too old to do anything. Your family realising your inability to make further moolah might not find time for you, since they themselves get busy in their money making possibilities. At this time you feel lonely. Throughout your life when you were energetic you never remembered god and felt it important to visit a temple and suddenly you realise how desolate and meaningless your life has been. Things for which you were behind, have become obsolete now, no one takes pride in you for procuring them. Suddenly , what has been a very successful life, becomes a
life worn out of materiastic pursuits and one which was un-enriched of spiritual outlook
Where did things go wrong. Why is this frustration and feeling of failure.
Jagatguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya says :
"bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM
govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
saMpraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati DukR^iJNkaraNe"
Meaning
Adi Sankaracharya is trying to bring home the point that human being has no other escape except immersing oneself in the thoughts of Lord, and praying with utmost sincerity, reciting the Divine Namas of the Lord rather than getting engrossed in anxieties to possess wealth or acquire social status or achievements.
The purport of these words is that any amount of knowledge cannot save the soul when death knocks at the door of this limited body. At that time, one has to leave behind one's material benefits and social status. These acquisitions will not help one
gain the knowledge of the Soul, which is permanent, when the impermanent body withers, it turns out to be a dead-wood.
It does not mean that one should shun away the pursuit of living for knowledge, but, at the same time, one should understand its limited capacity, and one should seriously try to acquire that knowledge which alone can save a person from the slavery of imperfections. We should remember the truth that it is a manifested world and it is impermanent.
Other than God or Soul,everything else is temporary. Death will snatch away the existence of the body and the manifested world. What is the use of all the acquisitions and secural knowledge then? So, while living in this secular world, or materialistic world, one should endeavour to understand and master the secret of purposeful life. One should identify oneself with the Lord, who can only
give solace to the parched materialistic lives. One should progress spiritually after each death, instead of getting deeper and deeper into mundane pleasures. It is rather sad that quite a few of us are of the opinion that spirituality is for those
who retired from employment or aged people.
The intellect, which has not been trained to remember God till one attains sixty years, will never resort to spirituality after that. Even if it does, for argument sake, what is guarantee that the cruel hands of death will not embrace one before that. So, one should understand the fallacy of this argument and train the mind from the childhood itself to start practicing recitation of the Lord's name with every breath that one inhales and exhales, otherwise it is just impossible to remember God's name at the time of death. It is, therefore, imperative that one should keep repeating the Divine Namas of Lord at every possible moment
lives following rules of dharma.
We have come a long way from it. As we get bombarded with the high decibel marketing of various goods and services ,available very close to our neighbourhoods, there is an unknown compulsion and peer pressure, which propels us to indulge in a cat race to earn huge money to fulfill those desires, most of the times at the expense of our relationships (with parents,siblings,relatives,friends,society at large) and our own health.
But do we get satisfied having quenched our desires. No we dont get satisfied with what we have , we get more greedy, aspire for bigger, higher, larger, brighter things, increase the pace of making money (sometimes through illegal and unethical
ways), to finally procure them. This cycle , which always ends with discontentment and unease, continues, so long as we have energy left within us
And by this time we are too old to do anything. Your family realising your inability to make further moolah might not find time for you, since they themselves get busy in their money making possibilities. At this time you feel lonely. Throughout your life when you were energetic you never remembered god and felt it important to visit a temple and suddenly you realise how desolate and meaningless your life has been. Things for which you were behind, have become obsolete now, no one takes pride in you for procuring them. Suddenly , what has been a very successful life, becomes a
life worn out of materiastic pursuits and one which was un-enriched of spiritual outlook
Where did things go wrong. Why is this frustration and feeling of failure.
Jagatguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya says :
"bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM
govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
saMpraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati DukR^iJNkaraNe"
Meaning
Adi Sankaracharya is trying to bring home the point that human being has no other escape except immersing oneself in the thoughts of Lord, and praying with utmost sincerity, reciting the Divine Namas of the Lord rather than getting engrossed in anxieties to possess wealth or acquire social status or achievements.
The purport of these words is that any amount of knowledge cannot save the soul when death knocks at the door of this limited body. At that time, one has to leave behind one's material benefits and social status. These acquisitions will not help one
gain the knowledge of the Soul, which is permanent, when the impermanent body withers, it turns out to be a dead-wood.
It does not mean that one should shun away the pursuit of living for knowledge, but, at the same time, one should understand its limited capacity, and one should seriously try to acquire that knowledge which alone can save a person from the slavery of imperfections. We should remember the truth that it is a manifested world and it is impermanent.
Other than God or Soul,everything else is temporary. Death will snatch away the existence of the body and the manifested world. What is the use of all the acquisitions and secural knowledge then? So, while living in this secular world, or materialistic world, one should endeavour to understand and master the secret of purposeful life. One should identify oneself with the Lord, who can only
give solace to the parched materialistic lives. One should progress spiritually after each death, instead of getting deeper and deeper into mundane pleasures. It is rather sad that quite a few of us are of the opinion that spirituality is for those
who retired from employment or aged people.
The intellect, which has not been trained to remember God till one attains sixty years, will never resort to spirituality after that. Even if it does, for argument sake, what is guarantee that the cruel hands of death will not embrace one before that. So, one should understand the fallacy of this argument and train the mind from the childhood itself to start practicing recitation of the Lord's name with every breath that one inhales and exhales, otherwise it is just impossible to remember God's name at the time of death. It is, therefore, imperative that one should keep repeating the Divine Namas of Lord at every possible moment
Cultural Decadence
Friends
The below article is an inspiration for me to start this blog today.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Are%20we%20culturally%20becoming%20decadent?&artid=2SG78Wrr8YA=&type=
Great article by the author and just at a time wherein the Indian culture is getting decimated inch by inch in a gradual and planned way (aka how slow poison acts). Part of the problem lies with us, as we dont understand the importance of our rich heritage and culture and part of the problem lies with the media which continuously bombards us with content inspired or lifted from the western media.
Incidentally if you happen to speak to the senior members of American society, they vehmently detest the way their own culture has deteriorated, how their sons and daughters adopted practices which they find difficult to get themselves out of!
The below article is an inspiration for me to start this blog today.
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?title=Are%20we%20culturally%20becoming%20decadent?&artid=2SG78Wrr8YA=&type=
Great article by the author and just at a time wherein the Indian culture is getting decimated inch by inch in a gradual and planned way (aka how slow poison acts). Part of the problem lies with us, as we dont understand the importance of our rich heritage and culture and part of the problem lies with the media which continuously bombards us with content inspired or lifted from the western media.
Incidentally if you happen to speak to the senior members of American society, they vehmently detest the way their own culture has deteriorated, how their sons and daughters adopted practices which they find difficult to get themselves out of!
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