Yogi Bhava....Lord Krsna

A fragment,

A fragmentary glimpse into yoga just suffices.

Your journey into eternity begins, blossoms.

It's a vortex, not the kind to swallow up one.

It's a state that Lord Krsna exhorts Not just Arjuna, but every one to be: 

"Yogi Bhava".

Gita verse 6.46:

"तपस्विभ्योऽधिकोयोगी

ज्ञानिभ्योऽपिमतोऽधिक:|

कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिकोयोगी

तस्माद्योगीभवार्जुन|| 46".

Transliteration:

tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī

jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ

karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogī

tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

Krsna keeps atop a Yogi all else - those performing various rituals just to get personal gain, wealth etc.,.

Yoga is a process where you engage in that that links you to the Supreme Consciousness.

Ask any Yoga sadhaga - practitioner,,

Even a beginner.

She/He would vouch that she/he felt a difference - divine one- that one couldn't convey it in words. It's step one to life's mission - Supreme Consciousness,  and on the yatra, journey, you are ever in that Consciousness.

A pertinent question: 

What's the use in just one engages in yoga sadana?

Adi Sankara answers in Bhaja Govindam:

सत्संगत्वे निस्संगत्वं, निस्संगत्वे निर्मोहत्वं।

निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं, निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ॥९॥

Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam,

nirmohatve niscalatattvam niscalatattve jivanmuktiH.- 9

Just a company of a good one suffices to light the goodness in the other.

And Rumi beautifully strings it:

All roads lead to Krsna's:

"Yogi Bhava".

Lord Krana... on Food

06 Sep 23.

This day we remember and celebrate Lord Krsna's Avatar day - Krana Jayanthi, Krsnashtami,  Gokulashtami etc.

And we offer Him in Naivedya, the Lord's food, a variety of following delicious snacks:

Seedai 

Murukku

And sweets

Besides

Butter.

After Naivedya offering, we distribute the same Lord's food as Prasad to all devotees.

Ironically, this day of Gokulashtami, as Sastra advices, we are supposed to observe vrata, fasting through out the day. On other Ashtami thithis, the Sastric prescription is to fast during the day.

We all know the upadesa, preaching that Lord Krana gave to Arjun. The upadesa is Bhagavad Gita. Many think this preaching was to boost and motivate the morale of dejected Arjun not to retreat but fight on. In fact, the treatise Gita is to elevate humanity and keep on the trajectory Godwards.

In the mundane turmoil, liberation is easier said than done.  It calls for strong shankalp, determination to observe discipline and practice.

Aiding such determination is our attitude towards the food we consume.  Lord Krana speaks on what type of food to consume, what not to eat, the quantity to eat and the quality of food as well.

Verse 8 chapter 17:

आयु:सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धना: |

रस्या: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृद्या आहारा: सात्त्विकप्रिया: || 8||

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ

rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛidyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda:

The foods that augment vitality, energy, vigour, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are savoury and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are liked by Saatvika.

Bhagavan Krsna on Aahaaraa…….Food?

 

Bhagavan Krsna on Aahaaraa…….Food?

Did Lord Krsna speak on Food too with Arjuna?

What didn’t He speak on?

His Gitopadesh virtually packed all disciplines and encapsulates the whole gamut.

Yes.

He did speak on Food also.

Chap.17, verse 8:

āyuḥ-sattva-balārogya-sukha-prīti-vivardhanāḥ
rasyāḥ snigdhāḥ sthirā hṛidyā āhārāḥ sāttvika-priyāḥ

आयु:सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धना: |
रस्या: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृद्या आहारा: सात्त्विकप्रिया: || 8||

āyuḥ-sattva – which promote longevity;

bala – strength;

arogya – health;

sukha – happiness;

priti – satisfaction;

vivardhanah – increase;

rasyah – juicy;

snigdhah – succulent;

sthirā – nourishing;

sthirā – pleasing to the heart;

āhārāḥ - food;

sāttvika-priyāḥ - dear to those in the mode of goodness.

What type of food do people in the mode of goodness prefer?

The Food that –

·        Promotes life span,

·        Increases virtue, strength, health, happiness and satisfaction.

How should such food be?

·        Juicy;

·        Succulent;

·        Nourishing;

·        Naturally tasteful.  E.g., tender coconut.

The preferred food is vegetarian.

George Bernard Shaw didn’t mince words when he said,

“I do not want to make my stomach a graveyard of dead animals.” 

Even out of vegetables, Jains and Krsna Conscious devotees shun garlic and onions too. No wonder you see many a restaurants display, “We serve Jain food.”

It is interesting to note the following don’t consume meat:

·        Horse;

·        Sheep;

·        Cattle.

They consume and live on grass.

Practically seen a number of Krsna conscious clients.  Despite their busy professional life, they do religiously follow chanting Maha Mantra, are so disciplined that they don’t stray even once in a while to non veg food. There is a drastic lifestyle change in them. They observe Fasting on Ekadasi days.

Hare Krsna. 

உள்ளுவதெல்லாம் உயர் உள்ளல்.

 உள்ளுவதெல்லாம் உயர் உள்ளல்.

தமிழில் மேலுள்ள உயர்ந்த கருத்தைப் படித்தும், கேள்வியும் உற்றிருப்போம்.

தேர்ந்த தமிழ் ஆர்வலரன்றி, ஏனையோர் அதன் பொருள் குறித்து ஆழ்ந்திருப்போமோ என வினவினால் விடையறியாதிருப்போம்.

புதிய வாசிப்புக்கள்.

புதிய பரிமாணங்கள் .

A LITTLE CONTEMPLATION..

What's that உள்ளுவது?

சற்றே ஐயன் திருவள்ளுவரின் குறளைக்  காண்போமா?

உள்ளுவது எல்லாம் உயர்வுள்ளல் மற்றது

தள்ளினும் தள்ளாமை நீர்த்து

(அதிகாரம்:ஊக்கமுடைமை குறள் எண்:596)

உள்ளுவதற்க்கு விளக்கம் மு வரதராசனாரின் பொழிப்புரையில் காண்போமா?:

எண்ணுவதெல்லாம் உயர்வைப் பற்றியே எண்ணவேண்டும்; அவ்வுயர்வு கைகூடாவிட்டாலும் அவ்வாறு எண்ணுவதை விடக்கூடாது.

எண்ணுவது = நினைப்பது .

நினைப்பது எது?

புலன்களை நாம் அறிவோம்.

காது  கேட்பதற்கு.

நா ருசிப்பதற்கு 

கண் பார்ப்பதற்கு 

மூக்கு முகர்வதற்கு.

தொடு உணர்வு .

ஐம்புலன்கள் தானா?

நினைப்பது எது?

ஐம்புலன்களும் நமக்குத் தெரியும்.

நினைக்கின்ற புலன் நம் பார்வைக்குப் புலப்படாது .

அது தான், நமது விசித்திர மனம்.

மனம் என்றதும் மற்றோர் குறளைப் படிக்கத் தோன்றுகிறது.

மனத்துக்கண் மாசிலன் ஆதல் அனைத்தறன்

ஆகுல நீர பிற "

                         குறள்  :34

மனத்துக்கண் _ உள்ளத்தில்

மாசிலன் _  குற்றம் இல்லாதவன்

ஆதல்  _  ஆக இருத்தல்

அனைத்து _ எல்லாம்,  அவ்வளவுடையதே

அறன் _ அறம்

ஆகுல _ ஆரவாரம், பகட்டு

நீர _ தன்மை உடையவை

பிற _  மற்றவை எல்லாம்

மீண்டும் மு.வ .

எளிமையான விளக்க உரைக்கு மு.வ.வுக்கு நிகர் மு.வ வே.

ஒருவன் தன்மனதில் குற்றம் இல்லாதவானாக இருக்க வேண்டும். அறம் அவ்வளவே: மனத்தூய்மை இல்லாத மற்றவை ஆரவாரத் தன்மை உடையவை.

Wrapping with Gita:

Chap 6. Slogan 5:

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet

ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: || 5||

uddharet—elevate; ātmanā—through the mind; ātmānam—the self; na—not; ātmānam—the self; avasādayet—degrade; ātmā—the mind; eva—certainly; hi—indeed; ātmanaḥ—of the self; bandhuḥ—friend; ātmā—the mind; eva—certainly; ripuḥ—enemy; ātmanaḥ—of the self

Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself, for the mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.

May thy thoughts be noble.

May thy life blissful.

Hare Krsna.

Even a little... effort helps

Are you worried? 

Are you worried? 

Worried that 

Yoga isn't possible to me. 

Sadhana needn't be

To the fullest at 

Initial stage itself. 

Just start

Start with the simplest,

Like 

Artha - half

Padmasana -

Lotus posture.

Have you noticed 

When you do 

Yogic squat -

தோப்புக்கரணம்,

Simultaneously gently

Crossing your arms

And holding 

Earlobes? 

Don't you feel 

The stretch? 

Repeat the Sadhana -

The practice. 

Even fragmentary practice 

Has its benefits. 

To the extent of 

The practice, 

So you get a

Glimpse into 

The nature of 

Atman. 

The fear of death 

Is

One such. 

So long Atman is

Understood

This fear, 

Fear of death, 

Fear of any kind 

Cease. 

B.G.2.4

If someone gives something to the Lord, 

he is not the loser;  he is the gainer by a million times. 

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते |

स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् || 40||

Transliteration :

nehābhikrama-nāśho ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate

svalpam apyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

Meaning :

na—there is not; iha—in this world; abhikrama—endeavoring; nasah—loss; asti—there is; pratyavayah—diminution; na—never; vidyate—there is; svalpam—little; api—although; asya—of this; dharmasya—of this occupation; trayate—releases; mahatah—of very great; bhayat—from danger.

Translation :

In this there is no loss of attempt:

Nor is there any adverse effect. 

The practice of even a little of this dharma 

Protects one from great fear. 

எல்லாம் அவன் செயல் - சர்வம் கிருஷ்ணார்ப்பனம்

19 August 2022

Janmashtami. 

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || 22||

ananyāśh chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate

teṣhāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmyaham

Lord:

"To the 

Devout - 

To the 

Core, 

Thinking 

No one else

But Me, 

I provide all

What they

Are supposed 

To have

And 

Security to all

What they 

Posses already."

Bhagavan Ramakrishna Paramahansar:

"When the devotee takes one stride towards the Lord,  He takes ten strides towards the devotee.  Such is His grace."

Sarvam Krishnarpanam

सर्वं श्रीकृष्णार्पणम्‌

Does God really incarnate ?

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |

अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 7||

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

It's an eternally nagging question. 

Even to a devout Bhakth. 

It's still a mystery 

Why God

Chooses to keep answers close to His chest.

Even while giving  above assurance to Arjun,  Lord Krsna says :

"Whenever unrighteousness, vice,  adharma rises its ugly head,  oh, Arjuna - Bharata in the shloka -, rest assured,  I,  sure, will incarnate and ensure virtue conquers all adharmic forces."

Then,  we can't help resisting the question, "isn't good people suffering?  Why God fails His mercy?" reverberates in our whole selves. 

The answer ever eludes. 

We are clueless. 

Some console themselves attributing all bad things to bad karma we might have done consciously or unconsciously. 

Well,

Does God really give up? 

Give up and let Bhakths suffer? 

No it doesn't seem so. 

Lord Krsna Himself may not incarnate when the time He ought to comes about. 

Here is an excerpt, so enlightening.

Courtesy :

Shri Sai Charita (Tamil) - Chap 4.

..... பகவானின் அவதார நோக்கம்.  பகவானின் சார்பாக ரிஷிகளும்,  ஞானிகளும்,  இப்பூவுலகில் தக்க தருணத்தில் தோன்றி,  அவதார நோக்கம் நிறைவேறுமுகமாகத் தமக்கே உரித்தமான முறையில் உதவி செய்கிறார்கள். 

When one sect tries to usurp the rights of others in any inappropriate manner,  when the dignity of the well read,  spiritual Gurus is slighted, when one boasts himself or herself of having all the knowledge,  when one consumes prohibited  ஆகாராதிகள்,  when people become addict to drugs and alcohol,  when in the guise of religion people do all wrongs,  when one religion engages in clash with the other,  மறையவர் சந்தியாவந்தனம் மற்றும் தங்கள் மத பழக்க வழக்கங்களைச் செய்யத் தவறும்போதும், யோகிகள் தியானத்தைப் புறக்கணிக்கும்போதும்,  focusing only on family and ignoring the true liberation - முக்தி என்னும் உண்மை  நெறியினின்று வழிதவறிப் போகும் போதும்,   ஞானிகள் தோன்றவே செய்கிறார்கள். தங்கள் மொழி,  செயல்வழிகளால் காரியங்களை நெறிப்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.

God's dictum,

Perhaps may be

'never give up'.

Never giving up 

Faith. 

Faith in Him.