GURU

Vefútgáfa  |  Uppfæra stillingar  |  Afskrá Líka við Tísta Áframsenda http://livingsolitude333.blogspot.com Devotion to Guru (Bhakti) - Part 6 By Sri Sri Muralidhara swamiji Posted by Ravishankar.G on 19 November, 2012 Radhe Krishna All, Contd..... A hen lays her eggs and sits on it to hatch it. By the touch of the hen the egg is hatched and the chickens come out of the eggs. Likewise, the Guru touches his disciples and this activates the spiritual fervour in them. Many young boys used to visit Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Suddenly these young boys would stop visiting him. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa would feel disturbed and when the boys visited him after a gap would question them, 'why have you not come here for a long time?' The young boys would explain, 'our elders at home do not like our visiting you. They say that by visiting you our studies would be spoilt. They refuse to permit us to come here.’ Sri Ramakrishna would tell the boys to somehow bring the elders at home - the parents or uncle or whoever it was who tried to stop the young ones from visiting him - to him. When those elders came to him, he would touch them while speaking to them. This touch would change their attitude and they would begin to visit Sri Ramakrishna! This is 'hasta diksha' (initiation by touch). The fish lays its eggs in the water and keeps moving hither and thither in the water. But, the fish keeps looking at the eggs laid. Though the very gaze of the fish the eggs are hatched. This is 'chakshu diksha' (initiation by look). The Guru looks at his disciple and this triggers off the spiritual fervour in him. Paul Brunton came to the presence of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi at the advice of Maha Periyava. He had a number of questions to be placed before Bhagavan. Bhagavan said to him that he would meet him in his room. Bhagavan went as promised and sat gazing at Paul Bruton. At the end of it, Bhagavan asked him, ‘you wish to place some questions before me. What are those questions?’ Paul Brunton said, "No! The need to question does not arise. All my questions have been answered." Such is the gaze of the Guru. A tortoise lays its eggs on land and moves over to the water. Staying in water, its thoughts rest on the eggs laid on the land. By the constant thought of the eggs by the tortoise the eggs get hatched. Similarly, the Guru thinks of his disciple and this takes the disciple higher in his spiritual path. One who has fallen into the gaze of the Guru has no escape just as a goat on which the mark of the Tiger's teeth has been made. !!! Will Continue !!! --------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------                                             Regards & Chant the Maha Mantra: Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Pl visit: http://www.namadwaar.org/home.php Determination (Between Worlds part 5) Posted by Christopher Stewart on 18 November, 2012 (« Akshobhya Buddha » by VanemTao) The last section of « Between Worlds » is entitled « Determination » and is intended to depict the intermediate state of rebirth, known as the « sidpa bardo, » the bardo of karmic becoming or transmigration. According to Wikipedia, this bardo features karmically impelled hallucinations, typically imagery of men and women passionately entwined, which eventually result in rebirth. The title of the section was chosen to reflect the main characteristic of this state, which is the determination of the dead's next incarnation. Basically, the person will experience the rebirth that corresponds to the hallucinations to which they feels attracted while in this state of consciousness. Thus, one who has learned to distinguish between what is truly beneficial and what is not in this present life will be able to enjoy a most beneficial embodiment in the next. The clip presents the end of « Deliberation » followed by the beginning of « Determination. » · « Between Worlds » is a composition that started as a song entitled « Requiem » which was written in response to the deaths of my father and maternal grandmother, both due to cancer, at the beginning of the 1990s. Inspired by « The Tibetan Book of the Dead, » the piece eventually developed into a suite in five movements intended to present the successive stages of the death process as described in Tibetan culture. Age of Wisdom Posted by Padmini Natarajan on 18 November, 2012                                              The modern era is described as having progressed from stone age, through iron age, industrial age, nuclear age and information age to the current status of knowledge age and is expected to mature as wisdom age. Clearly, we seem to be inching towards that destination however slowly.   The ancient story of the Mahabaratha is remarkable in as much as it includes concepts of heredity and chromosomes, which theories were supposed to be non-existent in those times. The birth characteristics are not pure but a combination of ancestral qualities. They are not derived from only the parents, but from several preceding generations. Probability plays a role in determining the presence and extent of desirable and undesirable qualities. This explains why every individual is different even within the same family. Each person's nature or guna is a combination of good and not so good traits (Satvik, Tamasik and Rajasik gunas).   There is little one can do about the circumstances of one's birth. Everyone has certain strengths and weaknesses of body, mind, likes, and dislikes from the time of birth. However, this need not be a damper. There are several real and fictional examples of persons who have conquered their handicaps. To quote just a few examples, Kalidasa is said to have overcome his ignorance and lack of background to provide some of the most brilliant literature. Valmiki and less known poets like Nandanar (16th century CE) in the South were also ordinary, simple people who metamorphosed into great men of verse and wisdom.     Hinduism, the oldest known religion, the mother of all religions, so to speak, has survived to this day braving all onslaughts effortlessly without any need to convert or defend itself from uninformed and motivated hostile propaganda. This was only perhaps because wisdom age was in existence long ago. This collective societal wisdom was reflected in all the scriptures and mythological stories. The Vedas, the Holy Knowledge, are a typical example of the collective works of different sages and wise men.   From ancient times a Hidu's life has revolved round the concepts of Sampradaya,  Shastra and Sanskara. Shastras are the codes of ethics, morals and code of human behaviour codified in the Vedas, Upanishads and illustrated in the Puranas. Knowledge about Brahman, the supreme identity and Dharma are the study of the scriptures. Samskaras are the rituals and oblations or sacrifices, which are performed in the life of a Hindu that gives him a higher sanctity. These rituals are performed from conceivement in the mother's womb, at birth, upto death and even beyond by him or for him.   Sampradaya is a part of a family or community's tradition, not written but handed down by example and practice. Rituals, prayers, pujas, customs and food habits of a family became the norm or the credo of that unit of human civilization. This encompassed a family unit, a village, a custom based on language or a geographical district, caste and creed.   Customs began to be adapted and adopted from others freely, reflecting an open mind and liberal attitude.  The strong influence of the Marathas in Tanjavur and the Chera Nadu's (Kerala) impact on  the adjacent kingdoms in South India, in terms of food habits, religious traditions and clothing are interesting cases in point. Carnatic music compositions were in Telegu and Sanskrit although it flourished mostly in the heart of Tamil Nadu, Tanjavur.   Down the generations, society has adapted and freely modified the original practices to suit the needs of times and places.  In the modern age, these again have changed to suit other cultures and religions. The religious practices are retained in some form. The practice of feeding the priests who performed the rituals, has given way to feeding the poor and needy. The daily hospitality shown to the atithi or guest and the wonderful custom of annadanam or gift of food revived as Sarvodaya, has found expression in donations of food and kind given way to community contributions and celebrations.   The blind adherence to rituals and sampradaya, without understanding or analysing their raison d'etre, the practice of these has led to agnosticism and a rejection of the shastras. The Wisdom of the sages has strangely enough discussed this disbelief too in the Vedas and Upanishads. Every custom and ritual has a logical explanation behind it. The fact is that, this explanation has been lost in the mists of time, become mere superstition and therefore, suspect in the eyes of the rationalists and sceptics.   Today, in marching towards the Wisdom age again, we need to explore ideas beyond the narrow interpretations of the rich ancient literature. We need to accept and cope with the rapid changes that are taking place around us every day.   The concept of 'Raja' and 'Praja' has given way to democracy where all are entitled to equal opportunities. Democracy in turn has created pressure groups wanting to exploit the society for their ends.   In these modern days, the four varnas as prescribed by Manu Shastra, have changed. The definition of a Brahmin then, is of one who is willing to learn, to change and improve the society and therefore who is the embodiment of wisdom. Anyone's birth is only an accident, but it is open to him to rise to the status of a Brahmin through achievements. This too has been accepted by the sages and has been documented in the Vedas.        Who then are the Shudras? Corrupt Politicians or Bureaucrats, Drug peddlers and Criminals, Black marketeers and Exploiters of the poor and weak, especially children, are the untouchables, who definitely are not "Harijans". Anyone, who like a leech sucks the vital fluids of society and lives like a parasite, off society, deserves to be called Shudra. Can we educate them into becoming Brahmins?   The time has come for reason, for a cool analysis of the situation, its evils and good aspects and working towards the remedy. In India we need to educate the people. The four R's will do for a beginning. Education will give the people empowerment, knowledge of their rights and other things will follow. Breyta áskrift | Afskrá

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