Live Session Tomorrow on Nirvana Shatakam - Part 4

 Live Session Tomorrow on Nirvana Shatakam - Part 4 

https://youtu.be/FQePM5PcRQ8

Sadhana Panchakam - Post 24

Sankara says Companionship with the noble ones should be cultivated.

 

Katha Upanishad declares that he who has not desisted from evil ways, who is not tranquil, who has not restrained his mind, not even he who has not composed his mind can ever reach the Self. 

 

Therefore company of the noble ones is recommended. Because as Bhagavat Purana says, saints are forbearing, compassionate and composed. They are friendly to all and inimical to none. Their company is to be sought for avoiding pernicious influence of desires.

 

Saints are those who have sadbhava (sath- bhava),  which Bhagavad Gita explains as sath, the Prime Existence, leading to steadfastness, sobriety and charity in performance of actions, and everything contrary leading to unwholesome actions. 

 

Noble people perform penance so that through that energy people may be enlightened (Bhagavat Purana). In Vivekachudamani, Sankara says, noble people having crossed over the perilous ocean – samsaara, and desiring well - being of the world and helping others to cross over the same. They live like the spring season, therefore one should seek their company.

 

Scriptures lay down that sath, the Prime Existence manifests in forms with essence posited therein, establishes it’s “Will” as the Cosmic Law being the spiritual and temporal principle which keep the manifestation in balance for which are provided dharma, the Perennial Principles, the ordained injunctions for initiating, promoting and culmination of karma - the performance of the actions. 

 

The elements in manifestation are expected to be in consonance with the ordained Will of the Divine and in balance with the Cosmic Law, for fulfilling   the task assigned to fulfill the divine intent and purpose.

 

The elements in manifestation which perform their actions following the ordained injunctions assist in maintaining the spiritual and temporal balance in creation, as Sun and the Moon follow their chartered Path, seasons follow one after another, the rains fall, the rivers flow and oceans filled the cycle gives rise to vapor to turn in to clouds, clouds to pour rains and begin the cycle again. 

 

Life begins with the seed, seed having been sown, becomes plants, the tree the flowers and the fruits bring the seeds again in the fruits to begin the cycle again. 

 

Every element in creation that is manifest is assigned the role when they are born according to their attribute (guna) and inclination (svabhava). 

 

Those who follow dharma - enjoined for them are known as the luminous ones, devas while those who disregard dharma - influenced by the organs of senses are known as non-luminous or asuras. 

 

Seers are, verily the luminous beings, the devas, on earth. Therefore, they take up the task which otherwise the Gods themselves would have to undertake or the Supreme God Himself descends for setting right the wrongs. 

 

Therefore, the vedic seers ever pray for good and noble thoughts to come to him from all side, recommends that human beings should for the sake of Wisdom, approach a Teacher who is learned in scriptures and well established in Brahman, with sacrificial fuel in his hand and Bhagavad Gita endorses saying that one should approach men of wisdom, seers of That Principle, through humble reverence, inquiry and through service, so that they may instruct them of the correct dharma.

 

Swami reveals newer dimension to “satsangh” in absolute terms and says,

 

“Tell me your company I shall tell you who you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the results also are bound to be transitory. You should develop friendship with Divinity, which alone is true and eternal. 

 

If you pose the question, "Where is God?" some people will say, "He is in me", pointing to their body. Body is not permanent. Hence, this is not a proper answer. (Swami holding a rose) When I say the flower is in My hand, the flower is smaller than Me. 

 

In the same manner, when you say God is in you, you are bigger than God! In fact, the whole world is in the hands of God. Hence, it is not proper to say that God is in you. You are in God. All are in God. The world itself is a manifestation of God. This is the Transcendental Truth. This is the changeless truth. 

 

The word Sivam symbolizes Truth. Here, Truth does not correspond to your body. It corresponds to the changeless and eternal Sath. Today, people go by the physical and worldly meanings and, as a result, spoil their mind.”

  

Love.

 

Sadhana Panchakam - Post 23

Dear All,

 

Now, Sankara takes us to the next stage of life "vanaprastha", in the next few verses.

 

What is Vanaprastha Ashrama?

 

Word as Retirement does not do justice, Retirement merely means “the end of one’s working life”. That is hardly a fair definition of Vanaprastha. At best it is half the definition. The literal meaning is “established in the forest”, which is clearly some sort of a symbol.  

 

The word ‘Forest’ indicates something untouched by the hand of man, something made by God Himself; it points to a life of solitude and seclusion; it signifies a return to our original home, back to Godhead, our original Source. 

 

Swami explains the same as FOR - REST. Putting all your worldly activities / attractions/ duties/ Artha, Kama to rest, putting your mind to rest, seeking solace in SELF and resting all the non-self!!!

 

A quick recap on what we learnt on vanaprastha ashram in the karma session

  

Markandeya Purana suggests that a householder, after he has taken care of his progeny, his parents, his traditions and cleansed his mind is ready to enter the third stage of life, or Vanaprastha. 

 

He must lead a simple life during this stage. The more he gives up the worldly delights, the closer he gets to the knowledge of his spirit, and more ready he is for the last stage – the Sanyasa Ashram, where he renounces everything and focuses entirely on spiritual pursuits

 

This is a stage of gradual transition of social responsibility, economic roles, a personal focus towards spirituality, from being center of the action to a more advisory peripheral role, without actually requiring someone to actually moving into a forest with or without one's partner.

 

The Manu Samhita says:

When a householder gets to see wrinkles on his body, white hair on his head, and his grandchildren, he should resort to the forest. He should be engaged in regular study, control his senses, keep friendly behavior with everyone, and have a tranquil mind. He must always give in charity, not accept gifts from others, and have mercy on all living beings 

 

*    Upto 50 years, one lives intensely exercising one’s mind for total comprehension and satisfaction.

 

*       Then, gradually, one will find that you are capable of living independently without bodily associations. 

 

*       Such a life is called the vanaprastha stage, which does not mean running away from the family. It is a kind of family life only, without the agonies and the emotional pressures caused by relations with people.

 

*             Mostly, what people do is that they go away to some holy places for some time, though they have not left the family. For three months in a year, the family man goes out on a pilgrimage, lives in a holy place, and entrusts the enterprise of taking care of the family to his grown-up children. 

 

*         Gradually, if this process continues for some years, you will find that you are in a position to live unconnected with family life, because the members of the family members either are taking care themselves or, if you are leaving your spouse behind, he/ she  is  taken care of by the children, who are well placed.

 

*     Then, you may increase your detached life into six months, nine months, then occasional visits to the family, only. 

 

*              The transition to this stage marks a profound shift in the goals of the person. From being focused on the material pursuits of wealth and pleasure, the yogi now looks inward toward moksha (spiritual liberation), Self-realization and unity with the Divine.

 

A monk from Chinyama Ashram explains thus:-

 

"Nature’s Plan – The Two Phases of Life

 

As the sun sets at the appointed time, so also the Active Phase of life has to set and a new phase of quiet dignified withdrawal begin. Take the example of traffic over a 24-hour period – there is a frenzy of vehicles during the peak hours of day; but as night approaches everything quietens down. 

 

With the clearing of traffic congestion, driving becomes less stressful. In life it is the same – as activity reduces, stress reduces and more thoughtfulness enters our life. The curtain falls on the active lifestyle, and gracefully lifts on a new quieter vista before us. This is Nature’s Plan, and those are wise who accommodate and adjust to it.

 

Throughout the world of living beings, we see the broad plan of Nature. If viewed positively and welcomed, the phase of withdrawal from activity in the world has great potential for our spiritual growth. Body-related life takes a dive, but the spiritual life comes to the fore. At the moment of death, it is all we take away with us.

 

By having a plan we get an idea of where we are heading. The whole train of life is heading Godwards. The seeker of God takes a closer look at the spiritual Goal of his life.

 

Let us see the transition graphically.

 

A. The Upward Curve:

 

The Brahmacharya and Grahastha Ashramas fall in this phase of life.

 

Modifications in this phase are i) Existence, ii) birth, iii) growth and iv) maturity.

 

This is the period of Expansion. In the first fifty or so years, our energy rises to its peak. We are active in body and mind, producing something and making our contribution to this world. There is an expansion at all levels in our expression in the world.

 

B. The Downward Curve:

 

The Vanaprastha and Sannyasa Ashramas fall in this phase of life.

 

Modifications in this phase are v) decay, vi) death and back to i) Existence. The modifications form a complete LIFE-CYCLE.

 

This is the period of Contraction. In the remaining years of life, there is a progressive withdrawal of energy from our bodies and senses, but not from the mind. We note that it still continues to function at full capacity. In fact, with less interference now from the body and senses, the mind’s function can become greatly enhanced in this phase.

 

If we can see this, then the downward curve can be accepted graciously, and we can live in accordance with nature’s plan. 

However, those who live at the body and sense level are bound to mistakenly see this phase as unfavorable, as full of hardships, as an impediment to development. They reject Nature’s plan and move further away from Truth."

Checklist for moving from Grihastha to vanaprastha ashram 

 

i) Start handing over responsibilities to others.

 

ii) Make arrangement for the children to be well-settled in life.

 

iii) Do more charity and thereby place a limit to our desires.

 

iv) Permit others the freedom to lead their lives according to their wishes.

 

v) Do not interfere in the affairs of the children, but be ready to help them.

 

vi) Come out of the fancies/attractions/charm/extrovert outbursts/ excessive socializing/ eagerness to look at your best/ “ my habits”, “ my nature”, “ my preferences” and embrace a totally changed life, as you are nearing your end eventually, you are in the downward curve of  decay-death, to be reborn again to clear your Karmas. 

 

The Grahastha life should be left back as clearly and as completely as Sri Rama left Ayodhya and proceeded to forest, never even looked back at Ayodhya, the place for which He was to become King next day!!

 

At 50+, you enter into the vanaprastha stage, it is / it should be as if you are reborn, to lead a new life, a life of renunciation and detachment. 

 

vii) Spend more time in silence–in contemplation and meditation.

 

viii) Spend more/most time in spiritual activities and reading of spiritual literature, to be precise, in SATSANGH.

 

ix) Be more serious than ever before in “Seeking the Self within”.

  

Love.