MONKEY's topics - tribe.net

Glory of annadaana & Powerful and Rare Homas

rakesh — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:59:31 GMT

The glory of annadaana

Anna daanaat param daaann na butham na bhavishyati

Naatra paatra vichaa roshti nakaala niyamastaa

Among all the virtues annadaana is the highest virtue.

Annam prajapathi sakshat Vishnu shiva swayam

Tasmaat anna samam daanam na bhutham na bhavisyati

“there is no virtue like annadaana. Among all the various daanas annadaana is the most highest.’ . its verily the form of shiva and Vishnu

The merits of performing severe tapas, millions of japa and devata pujana are attain by just feeding a hungry person. The person who feeds the needy is like a person who gave them life.

Every single anna (rice ) contain in the food given to the poor and the needy will destroy the sin done in one birth!

The vedaas hail anna (food) as the form of Brahman as it’s the source of life. ( annam bramhethi vyajaanaat)This can be seen in thaitiriya Upanishad

Gaja duraga sahasram gokulam koti daanam

Kanakha rajata paatram medhini sakharantham

Upaya kula vishuddham koti kanya pradaanam

Nahi nahi bahu daanam annadaanam samaapa

The merit obtained by doing one single annadaana cannot be compared even to the daana phala of thousand elephants, horses and cattels, by giving a way thousands of gifts made of gold and silver, by giving the whole land and sea on earth, by conducting kanya daana (wedding) for 1 crore kanyas.

This shows the greatness of annadaana.

Annadaana is a very important part in mantra purascarana . where one has to perform dashamsa homa, dashamsa tarpana and dashamsa annadaana. Without annadaana mantra siddhi is not achieveable and the purascarana is incomplete.the whole benefit of the mantra siddhi is obtained through this annadaana. The reason behind this is, annadaana removes the shortcomings in the purascarana karma and makes it complete.it removes the bakti lobha, mantra lobha and kriya lobha.. And bestows perfection.

Our guruji always say “…. If u ask me whether a person who has done millions of japa and did severe tapas is higher or the person who has fed 100 people in his lifetime….. the answer will be the person who fed the 100 persons”

all the punya phalas promised in the scriptures are attained easily by feeding the poors and the sadhus. Normal persons who don’t know how to do worship, japa etc can get the similar benefit in multiple folds by just feeding the needy and the sadhus.

If u give money to a person he will not be satisfied, if u give gold, vastra etc… still the same…. He will want more…….but he can only eat until his stomach gets full. He himself will say enough and goes home satisfied.

Feeding the sadhus and shiva baktas ia a great blessings for mankind. Its like feeding shiva himself , as they are the human form of shiva. Its very rare to get an opportunity to feed a holy men. If got…. It shouldn’t be missed. Feeding a holy men can remove all our obstacles in life and spiritual path, and it blesses with wisdom. All past karmas are washed away the moment you feed a sadhu. Thats the power of annadaana!

Annapoorne sadha purne sankara praana vallabhe nyana vairagya siddhyartham biksham dhehi cha parvathi!

Please click the following link and join us in our annadaana seva in kashi.Various rare homas being conducted to raise funds for the annadaana programe. Devotees may participate in the homas and gain the benefit of the homa and doing annadaana in kashi kshetra. We need lots of helping hand in making this seva a success , as this cant be done by a single person.

http://jdayal2000.startlogic.com/store/index.html

hara hara mahadeva !!!!!!

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Obama seeks Hanuman's blessing

malcha — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:49:55 GMT

My friend Wil just forwarded this to me. How cool is this!

NEW YORK: It's unusual. But, it's a fact. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic party's presidential nominee, is seeking the blessings of Hanuman in his battle for the White House.

The 46-year-old senator from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in an epic 17-month long electoral battle for Democratic party nomination, carries a "tiny monkey god" apparently representing "Hanuman" with him for good luck.

A recent photo posted on Time's White House Photo of the Day collection shows the first ever Black-American nominee of a major US party for the Presidential elections carries with him a bracelet belonging to an American soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler's lucky chit, a tiny monkey god and tiny Madonna and child.

That "tiny monkey god," of course, appears to be a statue of the Hindu monkey god, Hanuman, says the posting but editors and the photographer has not identified it as such.

Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion.

In addition to a lucky penny, Republican candidate John McCain carries a lucky nickel, and a lucky rubber band, which he wears around his wrist. He also has a lucky sweater and a lucky hotel room in New Hampshire, says the caption on his photo.

"People give Clinton lucky items all the time on the campaign trail," said a Clinton spokesman.

"Recently, for example, she's received a lucky coin, a lucky handkerchief that a woman in Texas gave to her that she sometimes keeps in her pocket, and a lucky bracelet that a woman in Ohio gave her that she wears every day. She keeps all of them."

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Obama_seeks_Hanumans_blessing_in_his_race_for_White_House/articleshow/3113611.cms

posted in MONKEY - 8 replies

Prayer to the Mother

malcha — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:02:54 GMT

Salutations to the Divine Mother who exists in all beings in the form of intelligence, mercy and beauty. Salutations, O Sweet Mother, the consort of Lord Siva! O Mother Parvati, Thou art Lakshmi. Thou art Sarasvati. Thou art Kaali, Durga and Kundalini. Thou art the embodiment of all power. Thou art Para Sakti. Thou art in the form of all objects. Thou art the sole refuge for all. Thou hast enchanted the whole world. The whole universe is the play of Thy three Gunas. How can I praise Thee? Thy glory is indescribable. Thy splendour is ineffable. Protect me. Guide me. O Loving Mother!

O Adorable Mother! Thou hast generated this great illusion by which all people walk deluded in this world. All sciences have come from Thee. Without Thy grace, no one can get success in spiritual Sadhana and salvation in the end. Thou art the seed for this world. Thou hast two aspects, viz., the unmanifested aspect (Avyaktam), and the manifested aspect or the gross universe. The whole world gets dissolved in Avyaktam during Pralaya. Give me the divine eye. Let me behold Thy real majestic form. Help me to cross this illusion. O Kind Mother.

O Compassionate Mother! I bow to Thee. Thou art my saviour. Thou art my goal. Thou art my sole support. Thou art my guide and the remover of all afflictions, troubles and miseries. Thou art the embodiment of auspiciousness. Thou pervadest the whole universe. The whole universe is filled with Thee. Thou art the storehouse of all qualities. Do Thou protect me. I again and again salute Thee!

O Glorious Mother! Salutations to Thee. All women are Thy parts. Mind, egoism, intellect, body, Prana and senses are Thy forms. Thou art Para-Prakriti and Apara-Prakriti. Thou art electricity, magnetism, force, energy, power and will. All forms are Thy forms only. Reveal to me the mystery of creation. Bestow on me the divine knowledge.

O Loving Mother! Thou art the primal energy. Thou hast two aspects, viz., the terrible and the peaceful. Thou art modesty, gentleness, shyness, generosity, courage, forbearance and patience. Thou art faith in the heart of devotees and nobility in noble people, chivalry in warriors and ferocity in tigers. Give me strength to control the mind and the Indriyas. Make me worthy of dwelling in Thee. Salutations unto Thee.

O Mother Supreme! When shall I have equal vision and balanced state of mind? When shall I be established in Ahimsa, Satya and Brahmacharya? When shall I have Thy vision? When shall I get deep abiding peace and perennial joy? When shall I enter into deep meditation and Samadhi? O Radiant Mother! I have not done any spiritual Sadhana or service of teachers. I have not practised any Vrata, pilgrimage, charity, Japa, meditation or worship. I have not studied religious scriptures. I have neither discrimination nor dispassion. I have neither purity nor burning yearning for liberation. Thou art my only refuge. Thou art my only support. My silent adorations unto Thee! I am Thy meek suppliant. Remove the veil of ignorance.

O Gracious Mother! Prostrations unto Thee. Where art Thou? Do not forsake me. I am Thy child. Take me to the other shore of fearlessness and joy. When shall I behold Thy lotus-feet with my own eyes? Thou art the boundless ocean of mercy. When the philosopher' s stone turns iron into gold by contact, when the Ganga turns impure water into pure water, canst Thou not change me, O Mother Divine, into pure soul? May my tongue repeat Thy Name always.

-Swami Sivananda

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Happy Hanuman Jayanti To All!

Arun-once-was-ZyGoat — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:48:45 GMT

II Hanuman Mantra II
II हनुमान मंत्र II

Hanuman Mantra

MANOJAVAM
MAARUTATULYAVEGAM

JITENDRIYAM BUDDHIMATAAM
VARISTHAM,

VAATAATMAJAM
VAANARAYOOTHMUKHYAM

SRIRAMDOOTAM SARANAM
PRAPADHYE.

I surrender to Hanuman, the messenger of Lord Rama,
whose speed is as swift as the mind and as swift as the wind.
Who has controlled his sense organs and is the most intellegent
among the intelligent ones; who is the son of vayu and the chief
of the monket tribe

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Hanuman's Origin and Evolution of Name

malcha — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:54:29 GMT

There's a very nice new article about Shri Hanuman on the Exotic India website. Here is an interesting exceprt:

Hanuman's Origin And Evolution Of Name In Jain Literature

Jain texts have quite a different legend of Hanuman's birth. In Jain myths, Hanuman, Bali, Sugriva and other Vanaras are identified as Vidyadharas, a clan of supernatural beings. As has Paumachariyam, a text by Vimalasuri, a Jain monk, dated in between 2nd to 4th century, Anjana, Hanuman's mother, was the princess of Mahendrapur married to Pavanajaya, the prince of Adityapura. To avenge a pre-marriage remark of hers Pavanajaya had married Anjana but had not consummated his marriage. One night when on warfront he had an intense feeling to meet her. He instantly rushed to his palace, went to Anjana's chamber, remained with her the whole night indulging in love and all, and returned unnoticed to his camp before sunrise. Anjana conceived. Her in-laws, considering her corrupt, drove her out. Her own parents, believing the allegation, also turned her away. A cave gave her shelter where she bore her child. The other day, her maternal uncle Pratisurya of Hanuruhapura, hearing of the incidence, came to her and took her with the newborn to
Hanuruhapura. When yet on their way, the child slipped from Anjana's lap and Pratisurya's 'vimana' - aircraft, and fell on the earth. When landed, Anjana and her maternal uncle could not believe their eyes. The child with the thumb of his right leg in his mouth was in smiles and the rock he fell on was completely smashed. This tradition discovers in Hanuruhapura, where the child spent his early days, the source of his name as Hanuman.

Evolution Of Hanuman's Name In Other Texts

The evolution of Hanuman's name is differently traced in Brahmanical texts. It is said that a day after his birth the child, with hunger in eyes, looked upward and saw the sun. He took it for a ripe fruit, leapt towards it, grabbed it and put it into his mouth. It was the day of sun's eclipse by Rahu, the notorious planet. Rahu reached the sky but not finding the sun in its place went to Indra and charge-sheeted Anjana's son for hiding the sun and aborting nature's course. Finding the complaint genuine Indra hurled his vajra - thunderbolt, to punish
the child and get the sun released. Though Hanuman bore Indra's 'vajra' on his 'hanu' - chin, he fell from the sky. His chin was slightly hurt. Thus for spanning Indra's utmost power with his 'hanu' he got his Hanuman name. The incident, however, infuriated Vayu, his father. In protest, he stopped blowing, endangering life of all, man, animal and vegetation. All gods entreated Vayu to resume functioning. To compensate damage each god blessed the child with one of his attributes. Indra declared that hence onwards his 'vajra' would remain ineffective against Hanuman.

The incident is narrated in some texts with some variations. Despite that Indra hurled his 'vajra' on Hanuman, he did not release the sun. Hearing sun's cry for help Ravana rushed to its rescue. He began pulling Hanuman's tail which greatly annoyed him. The furious Hanuman released the sun but attacked Ravana. In a year long fight Ravana got defeated but Hanuman continued to strike on him. It was only after sage Visrava persuaded him that Hanuman let Ravana go. In Valmiki Ramayana, it is the sun, not Rahu, that runs to Indra praying for protection but Hanuman chases him there too, which annoys Indra and he hurls his 'vajra' on him.

To read the whole article, go here:
http://www.exoticindia.com/article/hanumana/

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

When a brain scientist suffers a stroke

malcha — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:28:08 GMT

This is an amazing video. Incredible. Beautiful. Jeannine posted it on the 100th and I'm passing it on.
Nirvana--it's right there in your right hemisphere. . .

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/when-a-brain-scientist-suffers-a-stroke/

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Hearticulture

malcha — Tue, 31 Aug 2004 17:42:54 GMT

(Another beautiful garden analogy from Sri Swami Sivananda.)

You must have a pure mind if you want to realise the self. Unless the mind is set free, unless the mind casts away all desire, craving, worry, delusion, pride, lust, attachment, likes and dislikes, it cannot enter the domain of supreme peace.

Mind is compared to a garden. Just as you can cultivate good flowers and fruits in a garden, by ploughing and manuring the land, by removing the weeds and thorns, and by watering the plants and trees - so too you can cultivate the flower of devotion in the garden of your mind, by removing the impurities of the mind (such as lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, etc.), and watering it with divine thoughts.

Weeds and thorns grow in the rainy season and then disappear in summer. But their seeds remain underneath the ground and as soon as there is a shower, the seeds germinate and sprout. Even so, the vrttis (modifications of the mind), manifest on the surface of the conscious mind, then disappear and assume a subtle seed-state in the form of samskaras or impressions. The samskaras again become vrttis, either through internal or external stimuli.

If you want to keep the garden clean you will have to remove not only the weeds but also the seeds that lie underneath the ground, which will eventually germinate otherwise. Even so, you have to destroy not only the big waves of the mind, but also the impressions which are the seeds for birth and death, if you want to enter the superconscious state.

Those who have removed the impurities of their minds by japa (repetition of God's name), service, charity, pranayama (yoga breathing), etc., will enter into meditation as soon as they sit for meditation. The pure, ripe mind at once burns with the fire of meditation.

Without the help of meditation you cannot obtain knowledge of the self. Without its aid you cannot grow into the divine state. Without it you cannot liberate yourself from the trammels of the mind and attain immortality. Tear the veil that covers the soul, by practising regular meditation.

Self-realisation is the aim of life. The means to it are living an ethical life and ceaseless meditation. Spiritual duty is far more important than worldly duty. Live to seek God. Live to serve humanity. Fulfill God's will. You will be blessed. You will be happy.

Serve - Love - Give - Meditate - Purify - Realise
Goal of life is God-Realisation
- Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Hanuman foot print and Golden Lanka

indiabazaar — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:20:12 GMT

Todays Breaking news is .. Indian Scientiest found the proof of Golden Lanka and also foot prints of Lord Hanuman...
will update more news in two days..
ajay

posted in MONKEY - 5 replies

Consequences of Anger

malcha — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:55:10 GMT

"A terrible fit of anger shatters the physical nervous system. It produces a lasting impression on the inner astral body. Although the effects of a fit of anger may seem to subside in a short time, the vibration or wave, continues to exist for days in the astral body. A slight unpleasant feeling that lasts in the mind for five minutes, may produce a deep inflammation of the astral body. It may take several weeks or months even for this ulcer to heal.

Now, have you realised the disastrous consequences of anger? Do not be victims of anger. Control it by love, mercy, sympathy, vicara (enquiry) and consideration for others. Even slight annoyance, or irritability, affects the mind and the astral body.

Aspirants should not allow these vrttis (thought-waves) to manifest in the mind-lake, as they may burst out as big waves of anger at any moment, if you are careless or weak. There should not be the least disturbance in the mind-lake it should be perfectly calm and serene. Then only you will find meditation possible.

It is difficult to control anger. Anger is a manifestation of sakti (energy). At first, try to reduce its force. and its frequency of duration. Endeavour to attenuate or thin out this formidable modification of the mind.

Do not allow this modification to assume the form of a big wave on the surface of the conscious mind. Nip it in the bud when it is in the form of irritability. Divert the mind. Entertain divine thoughts. Do vigorous japa (repetition of God's name) and kirtan (chanting). Repeat some prayers or slokas (verses) from the scriptures.

Develop the opposite, divine qualities. Develop patience, love, forgiveness - anger will die by itself, gradually. Blessed are those high-souled people who can control their anger by pure, strong will and intellect.

Be serene. Serenity is like a rock. Waves may dash on it but they cannot affect it. Waves of irritation may break on this rock of serenity but they cannot affect it. Meditate daily on the ever- tranquil atman (self). You will attain this sublime virtue of serenity gradually."

-Swami Sivananda

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Training of the Mind

malcha — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 08:29:54 GMT

"If a pebble in our shoe torments us, we expel it. Once the matter is understood, it is just as easy to expel an intruding and obnoxious thought from the mind. Thoughts are the sources of all actions - they are real karma, real action. If, right at the beginning, you can root out all evil thoughts, you will not do any evil actions. You will be free from misery and anxiety.

Watch the thoughts with vigilance. Once the tossing of the mind vanishes, the mind will be very calm and you will get good meditation. Free yourself from the clutches of the mind, and liberation will come by itself. Those who have even a little control over their thoughts and speech will have a calm, serene, beautiful face, a sweet voice and brilliant, lustrous eyes.

Conserve all mental energy. Use it for spiritual purposes. Do not store useless information in your brain. Learn to unmind the mind. Then only you can fill the mind with divine thoughts. As all the dissipated mental rays are collected you will gain new mental strength. Useless thoughts impede your spiritual growth; obnoxious thoughts are stumbling blocks to spiritual advancement.

In untrained persons four or five kinds of thoughts occupy the mind at one time. These may be thoughts of the household, of business, of the office, of the body and so on. If you watch carefully you will see that many thoughts are inconsistent and that the mind wanders aimlessly.

Entertain only thoughts that are useful and helpful. These are the stepping stones to all spiritual progress. Every thought must be of a constructive nature; it must be positive and definite. Mental images must be well-defined. Every thought must bring peace and comfort to others and never bring pain or unhappiness. Then, you are a blessed soul on earth.

Always watch your mind. Be vigilant. Be alert. Do not allow waves of irritability, jealousy, anger, hatred and lust to arise in the mind. These are the enemies of meditation, peace and wisdom. Suppress them at once by entertaining sublime thoughts. Evil thoughts which have already arisen may be destroyed by originating and maintaining good thoughts, by repeating any mantra, by doing any good actions, by abstracting the mind and by enquiring, "Who am I?" or by will-force."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 4 replies

Mental Factory

malcha — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 07:34:07 GMT

"Now I will take you to the most wonderful mental factory. It is very close to you; it is a wonder of wonders. Even a rank materialist, if he is very sincere, will be turned into a perfect theist, instantly, if he closes his eyes for a moment and seriously reflects on the working of this marvellous factory. The Kena Upanishad opens with the following lines : "Who is the director of this mind? Who gives light and power to this mind?" It goes on "Brahman is the mind of minds, the prana (life) of pranas, the eye of eyes, the ear of ears."

What a bold philosophy. At once it raises man to an unerring solution for all the different problems of life. The four mahavakyas (great utterances): "Prajnanam brahma (consciousness is the absolute); aham brahma asmi (I am the absolute); tat twam asi (that thou art); ayam atma brahma (the self is the absolute); infuse power and joy into the hearts of all hearers. They produce drastic changes in your life. Then you will laugh at the vain pomp, the empty glory and the artificial and miserable life of a rich man.

The eyes and the ears are the gate-keepers of this mental factory - they are the 'way in' and mouth is the 'way out'. Eyes and ears bring inside the mental factory matters for manufacture. Light and sound vibrations are brought inside through these two avenues. First of all they are made into 'percepts' by the mind. They are then presented to the intellect. The intellect converts these 'percepts into concepts' or ideas. These ideas are expressed by the outside gatekeeper, the organ of speech.

The external physical eyes and ears are mere instruments. But the real visual and auditory centres are in the brain and in the astral body - these are the real senses. Understand this point well. The intellect receives these materials from the mind and presents them to the purusa or atman (the self), who is behind the screen.

The mind is the head clerk of this mental factory. He has ten clerks, the five jnana indriyas (senses) to bring news from the facts outside. The facts are placed by the mind before the intellect, who places them before the purusa (inner self). A message comes back from the purusa to the buddhi (intellect). Buddhi decides and determines, and then gives the answer back to the mind, for execution. The five karma indriyas (organs of speech, hands, feet, genitals and anus) execute the order of the mind who is their master."

-Swami Sivananda

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Utilize the Subconscious Mind

malcha — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 03:33:54 GMT

"The mental processes are not limited to the field of consciousness alone. The field of subconscious mentation is of a much greater extent than that of conscious mentation. Messages when ready, come out like a flash from the subconscious mind to the surface of the conscious mind, through the trap-door in the subconscious mind. Only ten per cent of the mental activities come into the field of consciousness. At least ninety per cent of our mental life is subconscious.

We sit and try to solve a problem. We fail. We look around. We try again and again but we fail. Suddenly the idea dawns that leads to the solution of the problem. The subconscious processes were at work. The subconscious mind is your constant companion and sincere friend. Even in sleep it works without rest. It arranges, classifies, compares, sorts the facts and figures and works out a satisfactory solution.

With the help of your subconscious mind you can change your vicious nature. By cultivating healthy, virtuous qualities you can overcome the vicious nature. If you want to overcome fear, mentally deny that you have fear. Concentrate your attention on the opposite quality, the ideal of courage. When courage is developed, fear vanishes by itself. Positive overpowers negative. You can establish new habits, new ideas, new tastes and new character in the subconscious mind, just by changing the old ones.

All actions, enjoyments and experiences leave their impressions in the subconscious mind, in the form of subtle impressions or residual potencies. Samskaras are the root cause for life and the experience of pleasure and pain. Revival of samskaras induces memory. The yogi dives deep inside and comes in direct contact with these samskaras.

He directly perceives them through inner yogic vision. When you desire to remember something , you have to exert. You have to go down to the depths of the subconsciousness and then pick up the right thing from a curious mixture of multifarious, irrelevant matter. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

God Realization

malcha — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 04:44:33 GMT

"Divine love overflows to others once it has filled your heart. Love God with all your heart and your - neighbour as yourself - this is the secret of God-realisation. Love breaks down all barriers. Love is an open sesame to an infinite realm of bliss immortal. The learned talk of God but the poor love Him in their hearts.

Beyond logic, beyond intellect, beyond reason is the feeling of love and the embodiment of love - which is God. Argue not. Realise Him. Talk to Him with the language of the heart.

Do not gauge the Lord's love and mercy by the material prosperity He gives you. Infinitely more valuable is the spiritual treasure He bestows upon His true devotee. Love is the dew-drop of divine grace.

Cosmic love is the threshold to the limitless domain of Brahmic bliss. Cosmic love is synonymous with supreme self-sacrifice or egolessness. In all beings lives the one God, - the supreme being, the eternal Lord. Therefore bow to all beings with reverence, faith and devotion.

Feel that another's difficulty is yours and relieve him of his difficulty. Then alone you will grow in cosmic love. Love is an actual substance that you can use with confidence. Love is a positive, concrete thing.

Love vibrates in the form of service, charity, generosity and benevolence. There is unity of life. Love of one's self is the true love of all life. All patriotism, love of one's own nation, one's own race, one's own religion, are but limited kinds of love. Human love is but the stepping-stone to divine or universal love.

Love all. Behold the one common consciousness that indwells all beings, that is immanent in all names and forms. Spread the message of divine love, light and worship wherever you go. Love knows no fear. Love is the greatest power.

Love is the divine force of this universe. The purer you make your heart, the greater will be the power of your love. Be kind, be compassionate, be humble, be tolerant, be good, be just, be natural. Love the eternal in every being. Make no distinctions between one
being and another."

-Swami Sivananda

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Singing God's Name

malcha — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:28:56 GMT

"Bhakti (devotion) in essence is two-fold. On the one hand there is an intense attachment towards God, nurtured by deep emotion and, on the other, an earnest urge of love for him. When these two elements are combined we find bhakti to be either an attachment emerging out of love or love manifesting itself as attachment.

The essential feature in bhakti is that this feeling is in relation to the highest - the supreme lovable one who is real and imperishable - and not in relation to the objects of the world that are transitory and therefore unreal. Such love or devotion assumes various forms of expression and goes by different names. Narration in poetry or prose, singing the glory of the Lord, and more popularly, singing the name of the Lord are some of them.

A harmonious, rhythmical note produces a distinctive image. This is not imagination - for every sound there is a particular image. It has been scientifically proven that certain sounds produce certain particular figures over some distinct surface. So it is reasonable to believe that the respective names of God, associated with their respective forms, can also produce their images on the mental surface. Through continuous repetition, the name forms a deep-rooted impression in the mind of the repetitioner, who ultimately attains God-vision.

God and his name are identical and inseparable. He dwells where his name is sung. The whole atmosphere is sanctified by his name - peace, purity and bliss prevail there. His name carries the message of love. His name frees the soul from affliction, unrest and bondage. His name knows no barriers, no distinctions. His name purifies the vicious lower self and elevates it to sublimity, to universal consciousness and transcendent God-head.

Bhajana is meditation on God. Life without bhajana of some sort is useless my dear friends. Life without worship is dull, dreary. It is a mere burden on this earth. All religionists do their own bhajana in their own way. The goal is the same; the paths are different. The object of doing worship is to attain infinite, eternal peace, immortality and freedom from the wheel of birth and death."

-Swami Sivananda

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Ram Ram Ram Sitaram!

malcha — Tue, 22 May 2007 02:09:00 GMT

"The name is a verbal expression of the conception of the Supreme Being, who is known by different names and forms, in different climes and times. The supreme is infinite but as it is not always possible for the common man to conceive of what is beyond the perception of the finite mind, this infinite truth is symbolised as forms, symbols or objects, that vary according to each one's respective tendencies or modes of perception.

Though in the initial stage there is difference and distinction among the various names and their associated objects, ultimately, when the habit of repetition of the name is formed and the divine consciousness is kept ever awake, then there remains no distinction between the name and the associated idea or object. The intuitive knowledge of the supreme reveals itself in the name itself - for the basis of all names and forms is the one primal being who manifests himself under different names and forms, as different faiths and tendencies, as different sects and races, in different times and places.

There is an unfathomable depth, intense sweetness and charm in the Lord's name. It is beyond the futile explanation of the limited intellect. It is a thing knowable only through experience. The music first thrills the nerves, harmonises them and then mysteriously acts upon the mind. The sincere devotee loses himself in divine ecstasy. The worldly mind cannot grasp or perceive this state of intense emotion. The Lord's name is all bliss and when it is chanted, the mind merges in its bliss. It loses its individual entity in bliss. It becomes one with the bliss itself.

Without the name of the beloved none may hope to cross the sea of samsara (worldly existence). The Lord's name is the lasting medicine against any kind of ailment. You cannot be overtaken by sorrows, sins, troubles, sicknesses if you take refuge in the Lord's name. Repetition of the Lord's name dispels all fears and evil thoughts. He who repeats the name of the Lord has all his desires fulfilled. So sing the holy name. If you are attached to the Lord you will be released from all attachments which bind you and pull you down. This constant repetition gives infinite strength."

-Swami Sivananda

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Universal Love

malcha — Sun, 13 May 2007 14:08:40 GMT

"The only Sara Vastu (true substance) in this world is Prema or Love. It is eternal, infinite and undecaying. Physical love is passion or Moha or infatuation. Universal love is divine love. Cosmic love, Visva Prema, universal love are synonymous terms. God is love. Love is God. Selfishness, greed, egoism, vanity, pride and hatred contract the heart and stand in the way of developing universal love.

Develop universal love gradually through selfless service, Satsanga (association with Mahatmas), prayer, recitation of Guru Mantra, etc. When the heart is contracted through selfishness, man loves his wife, children, a few friends and relatives only, in the beginning. As he evolves, he loves the people of his own district, then the people of his own province. Later on, he develops universal love. All the barriers are broken now. Heart expands infinitely.

It is very easy to talk of universal love. But when you want to put it in actual practice, it becomes extremely difficult. Petty-mindedness of all sorts comes in the way. Old, wrong Samskaras (impressions) which you have created by your wrong mode of life in the past, act as stumbling blocks. Through iron determination, strong will-power, patience, perseverance and Vichara (right enquiry), you can conquer all obstacles quite easily. The grace of the Lord will descend on you quite easily. The grace of the Lord will descend on you if you are sincere, my dear friends!

Universal love terminates in Advaitic unity or oneness or Upanishadic consciousness of seers and sages. Pure love is a greater leveller. It brings equality. Hafiz, Kabir, Mira, Gouranga, Tukaram, Ramadas, all have tasted this universal love. What others have achieved, you can also attain.

Feel that the whole world is your body, your own home. Melt or destroy all barriers that separate man from man. Idea of superiority is ignorance or delusion. Develop Visvaprema, all embracing love. Unite with all. Separation is death. Unity is eternal life. Feel that the whole world is Visvabrindavan. Feel that this body is a moving temple of God. Wherever you are, whether at home, office, railway station or market, feel that you are in the temple. Consecrate every act as an offering unto the Lord. Transmute every work into Yoga by offering its fruits to God. Have Akarta, Sakshi Bhava (feeling that you are just a witness), if you are a student of Vedanta. Have Nimitta Bhava (feeling that the Lord is the doer), if you are a student of Bhakti Marga. Feel that all beings are images of God. Isha Vasyamidam Sarvam - this world is indwelt by the Lord. Feel that one power or God works through all hands, sees through all eyes, hears through all ears. You will become a changed being. You will enjoy the highest peace and bliss. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 4 replies

Don't Touch Ram's Bridge!

malcha — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:59:38 GMT

Hello friends,
I saw this excellent article about Ram's Bridge, which people are considering demolishing to create a shipping lane, on Ajay's Learn-Hindi yahoogroup and I wanted to pass it along. The second link is to a petition to sign to save the bridge. It is amazing to me that anybody would consider demolishing it.

http://dharmagraha.blogspot.com/2007/03/dont-touch-ramas-bridge.html

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?ramsetu

Jai Shri Ram!
Jaya Jaya Hanuman!

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Hanuman "six bija" mantra

Devi das — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:05:45 GMT

Is there anyone here who knows this mantra and is able to provide it?

Thanks

Chris

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

How to spiritualize your actions

malcha — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 04:18:47 GMT

"Take stock of the past year. Turn back the leaves of your spiritual diary. Mark your spiritual progress. Note how far you have advanced in cultivating virtues, like humility, courage, truthfulness, cosmic love, purity, etc., and in the control of the senses.

Even if there is a set back in certain things, nil desperandum. March forward, O adhyitmic (spiritual) hero. Look not back. A brilliant future is awaiting you.

God is the source of all happiness. All beings abide in Him. He is an embodiment of peace, wisdom and bliss. He is truth, love, beauty and goodness. All beings abide in Him.

God is one, God and His laws are one. God is love and law. God is pure spirit. God is the path and the goal. God alone is your real father, mother, friend and guru.

Realise God now and here and be happy for ever.

The deeper a man's love of God is, the greater is his spiritual knowledge, in due proportion to his capacity and depth of love.

The final consummation of the love of God is union with God.

Love of God is inborn in a man by virtue of his spiritual evolution.

May you live in God.

To realise God is your duty. God realisation is your birth right. Develop strong yearning for God realisation.

Have confidence in your self. Be self controlled. Be fiery in your determination. Stick to your resolves tenaciously.

Cultivate a very strong faith in God. Do total self-surrender and obtain His grace.

May you be established in God consciousness.

I shall tell you about the nature of the atman or Brahman.

The supreme self or atman abides in the chambers of your heart. It is the substratum of this world, mind, prana (life), body and senses.

It is satchidananda. It is immortal, infinite, eternal, ever pure, ever free, perfect and independent. It is one without a second. It is truth and wisdom. It is formless and attributeless."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

The Foundation of Ethics

malcha — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:21:03 GMT

"Put yourself in the place of others. Learn this great secret. What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others. The doctrine of unity of the Atman (the self), is the foundation of morality.

No one tries to harm himself. How can one, who knows that each and every being is his own self, harm anyone?

Share what you have with others. This is vedanta. Aparigraha (non-covetousness) is a very important item in the practice of yama or self-restraint, in raja yoga of Patanjali. Aparigraha is non-receiving of gifts, it is freedom from covetousness. This leads to purity of thought and independence.

The purer you are, the nearer to God you will be. A pure heart is the most essential thing required for good health of body and mind, and for attaining God-realisation. Religion resides only in the pure heart. Only the simple can be pure. He who is pure in heart attains God-realisation.

Humility is a fundamental virtue. It is the secret of the saints. He who lives the life of humility and simplicity earns the supreme bliss of eternity. Humility is freedom from self-conceit.

Obliterate the sense of "I-ness". Obliterate the idea of, "I am doing" or, "I will do". You are on the way to infinity. You will take the plunge into the ocean of divine wisdom and love.

You are not the doer. Do not think of the good deeds you have done and do not even expect any thanks for what you do. If you help a man,
never remember it and if a man helps you, never forget it.

Spiritual life and devotion to God are essential for preventing a feeling of frustration in life. In the realm of perfection, harmony, peace and freedom, is the abode of Brahman. Reach this abode through purity, love, and meditation. Go to the source of life itself. You will know everything."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Love All

malcha — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:09:22 GMT

"Love is happiness. Love is life. Love is energy. Love is immortality. Love is wisdom. Love never fails. Love is success. Love is victory. Love is eternal sunshine. Love alone creates and unites.

Love is the moving principle of all forms of fellowship. When you realise your oneness with a man, you can really love him whole-heartedly. The world can only be united for common welfare through unselfish, pure, divine love.

Love dissolves hatred and animosity. Love promotes understanding. To love all as one loves oneself is the succinct statement of dharma.
Universal love is the mark of saintliness. Without love there is no life.

God resides in all creatures. God is immanent in all forms. Therefore love all. Be compassionate to all creatures. This gives the greatest joy to God. Love all in the one love divine. Modern civilisation is complicated and artificial. Simple folk live in a world of love and peace. Let no one hate another or harm another.

Look not at the defects of your neighbours. Look at your own shortcomings and imperfections. Love one another. When these principles govern an individual's life, then man is happy, peaceful and joyful.

Love is the basis of all real and permanent happiness, of all real and permanent peace. Love is the supreme gift; it is the greatest thing in the world. Love never fails. Perfect love casts out fear. Love lends impetus and incentive to life. It makes one daring, courageous and strong.

Love makes one generous, unselfish, patient, merciful and forgiving. Love discloses the most sublime meaning and purpose of life. Love makes one have good-will towards his neighbour, loyalty towards his friends, and it gives compassion for the enemy. To love is to suffer. Love and suffering always go together. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Sita, Rama and Hanuman!

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:39:23 GMT

anyone interested in the new tribe?
http://tribes.tribe.net/sitarama

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Analects of Sivananda

malcha — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 15:33:34 GMT

"Solitude is the soul's best friend. Silence is better than argument. He is really blessed who can suit his temper to any circumstances. Grief destroys strength, health, intellect and wisdom. Conquer grief through discrimination, enquiry, and the meditation on the atman (self).

Worry is a waste. Avoid it. Rather sing, pray, meditate, enquire, cogitate and discriminate. Dive into the Bhagavad Gita. You will become fearless. You will rise above all worries.

Idleness is the enemy of peace of the soul. Stop complaining. Be thankful that there is a perfect law of health to which everyone has access. Obey that law and be happy. Practise asanas - especially siddhasana, sarvangasana and sirsasana this will enable you to get control over the vital energy. If your mind is cool and your heart is full, then the entire world will be cool too.

Replace doubt, despair and hate, with faith, hope and love. Have plenty of common-sense. Think quickly and carry out your decisions resolutely in times of emergency. Change is painful but ever needful. God chooses the meek and the innocent to achieve his will.

Many talk like philosophers and sages - but they live like fools. Veil after veil has to be lifted. The illusions of life are to be torn away before life divine can be attained.

Life is a perpetual struggle. It is a perpetual dying until you are face to face with God. Man is verily the sacrifice. Nature is the ladder on which we climb up to the Lord. Do not have a sad face - you will affect others.

Be cheerful always. Rejoice. Radiate joy and cheer. Radiate health and light. Let your eyes ever shine with the light of supreme love. The reality of love-tears is not in the eyes but in the heart of love.

"God is Truth. God is Love. God is Peace. God is Bliss. God and God's law are one. The Law and the Law-giver are one. God is the law himself, he never breaks his laws. God and his law abide everywhere and govern everything. Glory to God. Glory to God."

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Himalaya Jyoti

malcha — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:30:30 GMT

"1. Countless may be the books you have read; of what avail are they? Many may be your chari¬table acts, building of rest houses; of what avail are they? Far are you from God, if there be not faith and devotion in your heart.

2. A sage or a saint does not teach by words but by actions.

3. Temptation is at first like a ripple, then like a wave and finally like an ocean. Nip it in the bud. Destroy the ripple. Be eternally vigilant.

4. You are the heir apparent of God. Why do you beg from door to door? Why do you starve in the midst of plenty? All things are thine. Sun is thy brother. Moon is thy sister.

5. There are two inclinations in man. One prompts him to do good and the other impels him to do evil. There is an eternal fight within, between good, and evil. Meditate. You will gain strength to conquer evil. Pray. You will get help from God to fight against evil.

6. Temptation is at first like an ordinary visitor of your house, then like an ordinary guest, then like a distinguished guest, and finally like the proprietor of the house. Beware. Be eternally vigilant. Slay this temptation, your arch enemy of peace, through discrimination, dispassion, meditation, prayer and enquiry.

7. In the material world you grow by acquisition, in the spiritual realm you grow by renunciation.

8. Kind hearts are gardens. Kind thoughts are roses. Kind words are flowers. Kind deeds are fruits.

9. Love divine gives; does not demand. Love endures; does not inflict the least pain. Love cons¬tantly flows towards the object of love. Love does not expect even reciprocity of feelings. Love serves spontaneously at every opportunity. Such love is its own reward. This true love is all conquering because it is divine and beyond all worldliness and sense-gratifications. Cultivate this love. Pray. You will attain God-realisation.

10. Renunciation and meditation are the two great wheels on which the Yogi rolls forward to the peak of spiritual perfection and illumination.

11. There are five-year plans, grow more food campaigns, grow more forest schemes and so on; but there is no plan or scheme for spiritual culture, Yogic discipline, building character, etc., which are the fundamental need of the hour.

12. Character and culture are the two great wheels on which the nation rolls forward on the path of progress and enlightenment.

13. By the practice of Pranayama, Japa and meditation, the body, nerves and mind become more sensitive. You are easily disturbed by sound. You feel any pressure acutely. Persist in your Sadhana. Pray. You will gain strength and peace.

14. Obedience, humility, and service will annihilate egoism.

15. "The end of Knowledge is service," so says the Karma Yogi. "Bhakti is independent. It does not want the help of knowledge," so says a bhakta. "Bhakti is an auxiliary to knowledge," so says the Vedanti.

16. A Yogi rules the stars. A worldly man is ruled by the stars.

17. "Be good. Do good." This is life divine.

18. Train yourself in the language of God. Silence is His language.

19. Immortality is thy birthright. Realise this now and here.

20. He who is desireless is the richest man in the world."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Become Dynamic

malcha — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 21:01:24 GMT

"If a man feels even a little bit for his present deplorable condition; if he attempts even to show a slight improvement; if there is a little receptive attitude; then he can be corrected and he can make progress on the path of yoga. If he is obstinate and pigheaded, if he is absolutely self-willed, if he deliberately shuts his eyes or hardens his heart against the truth or divine light - then no one can help him.

The aspirant should give his full consent, he should consent with all his being (sarva bhava) for the change of his lower nature into divine nature. He must make total, unreserved, ungrudging self- surrender to the Lord or the guru. He must have the true spirit and he must have persistent endeavour. Then only the real change will come.

Yoga can be practised only by those who are very earnest about it and who are ready to annihilate their little ego and its demands. There are no half measures on the spiritual path. Rigid discipline of the senses, and the mind, rigorous tapas (penance) and constant meditation, are necessary for the attainment of God-realisation.

The hostile forces are ever ready to overwhelm you if you are not vigilant, if you give the least sanction, or the smallest opening for them. Yoga cannot be practised if you cling to your little self, your old habits, your old unregenerate and self-assertive lower nature.

You cannot lead a double life. Pure divine life, the life of yoga, cannot co-exist with a mundane life of passion and ignorance. Rise above the petty human level to the higher level of divine consciousness.

You cannot claim freedom for your petty mind and little ego if you want to become a yogi. The lower nature with its retinue of arrogance, ignorance, and turbulence, stands in the way of the descent of divine light.

Know the truth, the absolute. Then you are saved, you are liberated, you are enlightened, you are free. You can know Brahman only by becoming Brahman. To become Brahman is to identify yourself with the supreme soul which constitutes your divine nature. The river joins the ocean and becomes one with it. The drop mixes with the sea and becomes one with the sea."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

A Word to Scientists

malcha — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:43:20 GMT

"Scientists have invented sputniks, bombs, radio, wireless, aeroplane, but do they know the science of Atman or their Inner Self? A scientist wants to reach the moon and settle down there more comfortably, but what does he know of himself? Today scientists fly in the air like bird, dive deep into the ocean like fish. But they know not what lies hidden in their own hearts—the Immortal Self.

Oh beloved scientists! You have enormous powers of mind and will. Practise Yoga and attain Atma-Jnana!"

-Swami Sivananda
(who was, as you know, a doctor)

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Striving for Perennial Happiness

malcha — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 23:05:36 GMT

"It is in the nature of man to strive for happiness but all the happiness which he can gain by his actions is only of limited duration. The enjoyments of the senses are transient and the senses themselves are worn out by too much enjoyment. Further, sin generally accompanies these enjoyments and makes men unhappy beyond comparison.

Even if the pleasures of the world are enjoyed as much as their nature permits, if they are as intense, as varied and as uninterrupted as possible - old age still approaches and with it, death. And the enjoyments of heaven are in reality not more enviable than these pleasures of the senses. They are of the same nature although more unmixed and durable, and they come to an end for they are gained by actions. Actions are finite and their effects must also be finite.

In one word, there is necessarily an end to all these enjoyments and what avails us to strive for pleasure which we know cannot sustain us beyond the moment of enjoyment? It is therefore the nature of the man to look out for an unchangeable, infinite happiness (ananta sukha) - which must come from a 'being' in which there is no change if such a being can be found. It is only from him that man attains an unalterable happiness. And if this be so, this 'being' must become the sole object of all his aspirations and actions.

This 'being' is not very far - he resides in your heart. He is the saksi caitanya (witness consciousness) who witnesses the activities of your buddhi (intellect). He is the nirguna Brahman of the Upanishads.

TRUE BEING. True being is that which knows no bounds, neither physical nor intellectual. It is unbounded, spiritual being. The nature of approach must befit the nature of the object approached. The pathway can be known only when the destination is known. The indivisible, absolute and conscious nature of the reality signifies that life on earth should be lived according to rigid laws - laws of dispassion towards external existence and active awareness of the self as an unlimited being. It also shows that all forms of physical and even intellectual indulgence are deviations from eternal truth. It shows that every desire for objectification of consciousness is suicidal in the real sense."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Hanuman Jayanthi Celebrated today at Malibu Temple

maha — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 17:11:17 GMT

Puja at 10:00 a.m. (probably more like 11:00) followed by 108 rounds of chanting the HANUMAN CHALISA!
Prasaad is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

The temple is off of Las Virgenes Road just near the entrance to Malibu State Creek Park (the first Left after you see that sign if you are headed towards Malibu from the 101 Fwy.)

JAI HANUMAN!
Lily

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Hanuman Puja?

Theresi — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 05:07:36 GMT

I have been with my close friend the other day. We are in Diwali season now. We went to the temple on Saturday to the Lakshmi puja. Today she said is the day devoted to Shiv. Tomorrow she said is Hanumanji's day. What can I do for a simple puja to him?

posted in MONKEY - 11 replies

Most Important Sadhana

malcha — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:55:48 GMT

"Man is a mixture of three ingredients. These are the human element, the brutal instinct and the divine ray. He is endowed with a finite intellect, a perishable body, a little knowledge and a little power. This makes him distinctly human. Lust, anger and hatred belong to his brutal nature.

The reflection of cosmic intelligence is at the back of his intellect. So he is an image of God. When the brutal instincts die, when this ignorance is rent asunder, when he is able to bear insult and injury, then he becomes one with the divine.

A thirsting aspirant is one who practiCes self-denial. He always tries to feel that the body does not belong to him. If anyone beats or cuts him, either his hand or throat, he should remain quiet. He should not speak even one single harsh word - because the body is not his. He starts his sadhana (practice) saying: "I am not this body. I am not this mind. Chidananda Rupa Sivoham."

One harsh word throws a man off balance and a little disrespect upsets him. How weak he has become, despite his boasted intellect, his high position in society, his degrees, his diplomas and titles.

Bear insult, Bear injury. This is the essence of all sadhana. This is the most important sadhana. If you succeed in this, you can very easily enter the illimitable domain of eternal bliss. Nirvikalpa samadhi (superconscious state) will come by itself. This is the most difficult sadhana. But it is easy for those who have burning vairagya (dispassion) and true yearning for liberation.

First you must become like a block of stone. Only then you will be established in this sadhana. Now nothing can affect you. Abuse, ridicule, mockery, insult, persecution - none of these can have any influence on you.

Life is God in expression.
Life is joy.
Life is the flooding bliss of the spirit.
Life is the fight for fullness and perfection.
Life is a battle for attaining supreme independence."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

free Bhakti University

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 04:13:34 GMT

http://bhaktiuniversity.com/bhakti/

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Time is a Trick

malcha — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 04:21:50 GMT

"Time is the mode of the mind. It is a mental creation. Time is a trick of the mind. It is an illusion. Brahman is beyond time. It is eternity. Go beyond time and rest in the timeless, eternal, imperishable Brahman.

'Up and down', 'within and without', 'high and low', 'big and small', 'thin and stout', 'virtue and vice', 'good and bad', 'pleasure and pain', 'here and there', are all relative terms. They are mental creations only. Up will become down and down will become up. This stick is small when compared to that big stick, but that big stick will become small when compared with an even bigger stick! Within will become without and without will become within.

What is good at one time is bad at another time. What is good for one man is bad for another man. What is dharma for one is adharma for another and, what is dharma at one time is not dharma at another time.

Brahman is neither thin nor stout, neither big nor small. In Brahman there is neither within nor without, neither virtue nor vice, neither pleasure nor pain, good nor bad. It is a homogeneous essence of bliss and knowledge where there is no play of the mind, neither time nor
space, east nor west, past nor future, Thursday nor Friday.

Tomorrow becomes today and today becomes yesterday. Future becomes present and present becomes the past. What is all this? This is a creation or trick of the mind only. In God, everything is in the present only; it is here only.

There is neither night nor day, yesterday nor tomorrow in the sun. It is the mind that has created time and space. When you are happy time passes quickly. When you are unhappy time hangs heavily. All this is only a relative world.

Life is not a question of creeds but of deeds well done. No life is free from difficulties. It is a series of conflicts. Face them boldly through the grace of the Lord and the power of his name. Change is the law of life. Truth is the law of life. Love is the fulfilling of the law of life. Death is the gate to another life. Life is endless."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Jai Bajrang Bali...

Theresi — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:17:09 GMT

Does anyone know the rest of this little chant...
My BF uses this all the time. When we are fooling around, he-I-and my daughter have wrestling and fun fighting matches, and he always calls on Hanuman to help him, and there is three lines to his battle cry..Jai Bajrang Bali...Tere nau Chali...something....
I am not spelling it right, but I think the second line means...your boat or ship is leaving and the third line calls to break the enemies legs or neck, I don't remember...He is in India right now, and no access to internet. But sometimes I am going into difficult situations, and call on Hanuman with this chant, but don't remember the last line...

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Am I the I?

malcha — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 17:10:06 GMT

"You say, "This is my body" this indicates that you are different from the body and the body is your instrument. You are holding it just as you hold a walking stick in your hand.

In sleep you exist independent of the walking stick in your hand (body). In dreams you operate through the astral body without having any concern for the fleshy body. Through ignorance you have identified yourself with the physical body and mistaken it for the real 'I' which is everpure, all-pervading, self-existent, self-luminous and self-contained, which has neither beginning nor end, which is changeless, beyond time, space and causation, and which exists in the past the present and the future.

Prana (vital force) is not 'I'. It is the effect of rajas (energy). It is inert. It cannot welcome a man while you are asleep, though it is flowing. It increases and decreases. You say, "My prana" this shows you are different from prana. It is your instrument only. You can control the breath by pranayama. The controller is different from the controlled (prana). Prana is not 'I'.

Mind also is not 'I'. It gropes in darkness. It borrows light from a higher power. It gets puzzled and confused. During shock and fear it becomes insentient. It is the effect of satva. It is your instrument. You say, "my mind" therefore mind is different from 'I'. It is full of changing deas. It has a beginning and an end. You can control the mind and the thoughts the controller is different from the controlled (mind). It is as much your property, and outside of you, as your limbs etc., or dress, chair, etc. In sleep there is no mind yet you wake up with a feeling of continuity of consciousness. There is no mind in delirium or coma yet 'I' remains. Mind is a bundle of thoughts and all thoughts are centred around the false egoistic little 'I'. The root thought of all these thoughts is the 'I' that is full of vanities.

Talking of myself, I always speak of 'I'. The sheaths in which I am happy, old, black, a sanyasi (monk), etc., are incidents in the continuity of the 'I'. They are ever changing and varying but the 'I' remains the same unchanging amid the changing. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

new ram dass site

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:01:05 GMT

Hari Om

since ram dass is healing and won't be travelling in the near future, he is hosting satsangs and lectures from his home in maui. check out the new site www.ramdass.com.

prema,
ramapriya

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Hanuman Bridge to Sita: Myth or History?

yochi — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:17:46 GMT

Many of you may already may have heard or seen the NASA Shuttle image of a mysterious ancient bridge between India and Sri Lanka, as mentioned in the Ramayana. A friend recently pointed it out to me and I dug around a little. I thought I'd put it out there for those who have not heard about it.

The truth is out there...

http://www.rense.com/general30/nasa.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/772283/posts
http://www.enotalone.com/article/6314.html

Bridge Over The Sea

Hanuman was restless. Constantly thinking of Rama and Sita, his mind was immersed in the depths of contemplation. He was sure that solution to this problem must be available as Rama was with them. But what would be the solution! He did not yet know. Can they all swim across the sea, no. Can they all fly over the sea, no. Engrossed in such deep thoughts and constantly taking the holy name of Rama, he threw a stone in the water in front of him. To his utter disbelief he saw that the stone was floating over the water!!!

He threw another stone and was puzzled that it sank down in the water, it did not float. He could not fathom the secret of this peculiarity: One stone staying afloat and the other sinking! He tried many times but in vain, all the stones subsequently sank down to the bottom of sea. He brought this peculiarity to the notice of his associates. But nobody could explain why one particular stone was floating when it should also have sunk. Angad, Sugreeva, Jambuwanta all tried but no stone remained afloat.

Then Hanuman took the name of Rama and also threw a stone, unintentionally though. And it stayed afloat! The mystery opened up its secret in the intelligent mind of Hanuman. "Oh, I see" shouted Hanuman in ecstasy, "Look brothers, when I throw a stone after taking the name of Rama it floats, and when I throw it without taking his holy name it sinks."

Everyone tried the same thing. And to their joy they all found stones remaining afloat when thrown in the name of Rama. Soon they decided to construct a floating bridge over the sea from Indian coast to the shore of Lanka. Rama also decided to contribute his share of labour. Therefore he threw a stone after taking his own name, but to his amazement the stone he threw did not float. Hanuman was watching this mysterious play of the Lord with great amusement. He came to Rama, bowed down in reverence, and said,

"O Rama, how can the one survive whom you reject? You are throwing this stone away, how can it float! it is surely doomed and would sink down and down. There is no liberation for any person (as well as non-living thing) who is denied your grace. Without your support nobody becomes fit to cross this ocean of worldliness! Taking your name is, However, sufficient to prevent drowning of mortals like us"

http://www.geocities.com/neovedanta/ramayana19.html

posted in MONKEY - 8 replies

Vedantic significance in Ramayana

kalkin — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 06:11:04 GMT

I know this isn't exactly about Hanuman, but since it's the story he's mainly conected with................

"In Ayodhya, ( yudhdha means conflict, Ayodhya means where there is no conflict ) to the king Dasharatha ( = one who has conquered all the ten indriyaas ) was born the Supreme Lord, Sri Raama (= 'That One' who is revelling in every form - ' sarve ramanti yasmin iti Raamaah ' ) as a baby.

Raama grows up in Ayodhya (without any conflicts ) and then goes out of Ayodhya with sage Vishwamitra to protect the yagnaas......................

Rama gets married to Sita. Janaka is her father. Janaka found her while ploughing the mother earth,............, most improbable place to come out from. Ultimately, she goes back to mother earth. So here is someone who came from no-cause and goes back to no-cause, and this is called, in vedaanta, as ' Maaya '.

Thus Raama, the Atman, the self, gets wedded to Maaya...........Once ' Self ' gets wedded to Maaya, the Ego, ' I ' can not remain in Ayodhya. Conflict must necessarily start. Thus he goes to jungle with Sita. Jungle means the forest of pluralities, conflicts, in which you and I live today.

There, as long as Sita was looking at Raama, living in Raama, for Raama, ( Ego thinking of God only ) she never knew the difference between Ayodhya and forest. But one little moment she turned her attention outwards and there stood the Golden deer - the delusory golden deer.........................

And once we see that delusion, we do not want God, we want that delusory thing only. Sita got stung by the desire, rejected Ram, sent him away saying, " I want that Golden deer ". Rama goes. The deer is killed no doubt, but it starts crying out and Sita asks Lakshmana also to go. He hesitatingly goes..........

It is at this time that Ten-headed monster, Ravana, comes in the guise of a sanyasi Bhikshu. See the anti-thesis. Dasharatha, who has conquered the ten indriyaas, is in Ayodhya, and Dashamukha is in Lanka. We are like Ravana. Our attention is constantly turned outwards through the ten indriyaas. Materialism enters the bosom of a seeker in a deceitful form. Ravana, the extrovert man, with lusty living came to Sita in a deceitful form. He comes and takes her away and Sita becomes a prisoner in Lanka.

Her fall from Ayodhya to Lanka is the fall of man from greatness of divinity into the present condition of guilt, sorrow, agitation, worries and suffering. Thus you and I are Sita now in Lanka.

What did she do there ? We must also go thro the same discipline. She refused to co-operate with materialism all around. When she says ' NO ' materialism can not touch her. She remained under Ashoka tree. Shoka is sorrow and Ashoka is sorrowless. Though there is sorrow in all our minds, we refuse to recognise it. There under the Ashoka tree she contemplated on Ram with a sense of total surrender, recognising and realising the terrible mistake that she made and remained there. When we thus remain contemplating on Ram, every seeker will get intimation from the Divine, Sri Ram, that ' I am coming '. Hanuman reaches her and gives her the Symbol. Her hope increases and she is confident that Rama is coming. She awaits the arrival of Rama.

As Sita weeps for him, Rama also expresses sentimental emotions. Valmiki wants to communicate to us that when we cry for God, he responds. How will he go there ? He is in jungle. The only army he can have is monkeys'. We find so much of criticism in Western literature that monkeys can not make an army. But here it has to be monkeys. Human minds and thoughts are the only ally for the Lord , the Spiritual Self, for I and you to reach that state. Monkeys and human minds have the same qualities of ' chanchalatwa ' and ' asthiratwa ' ( lack concentration and attention ).

These monkeys can never be the ally of the Lord as long as they are ruled by Vali, the incorrigible lust. As long as our minds are ruled by lust we are not ready to do Ram's work. So Vali is to be destroyed and see who comes to the throne - Sugreeva. Greeva means the reins of horses. Sugreeva - the total self control ! Under Sugreeva the monkeys are available to do Ram's work and together they build the bridge - the bridge of contemplation to reach the realm of Ravana - the realm of pure materialism, to destroy the extrovertedness, destroy Ravana and take Sita to Rama.

Sita, the ego, when comes face to face with Rama, the Self, the ego disappears. Just as ' the dreamer I ' disappears before ' the waker I ' . Sita thus disappears. It is Kapila muni who tells Rama that he can not go back to Ayodhya and bring about Rama Rajya without a queen. Hence the Kapila muni makes a delusory Sita with whom Rama returns to Ayodhya and rules for a short time. All men of Realisation, having realised the Truth, always come back to the world for a short time to serve as Saints, Prophets. We can not work in the world without an ego. But here, it is not a true ego, but an illusory ego. When he thus rules, Luva and Kusha are born. Similarly when a Jnani works in the world, a Bible or a Koran , a Gita or an Upanishad will necessarily emerge out of Him.

Then he gives up the world . There is no compulsion on him to give up because it is already an illusory one. It is not a real one. He gives up the world and there ends the masterpiece.

Thus Raamayana, from Ayodhya to Lanka is the process of an individualised Ego , coming into the present state of misconception that I am a limited, individualised ego, and the return of Rama back to Ayodhya from Lanka is the man's piligrimage fulfilled in the Realised Self. There after they live in the world for a short time serving the mankind and then the story ends.

Thus there is a spiritual background to the entire story fo Ramayana. That is the reason why it is so popular. The average man is happy with the story. To the mediocre man, the idealism that Rama stands for is a great education. But even the man of Realisation enjoys Ramayana , because he sees in and through the story , the entire Vedantic Wisdom, echoing and re-echoing as a melody Divine."

~Swamy Chinmayananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

The Riddle of the World

malcha — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 23:07:47 GMT

"You yourself have made your life complex. You have entangled yourself in this quagmire. You have multiplied your wants and desires. Every day you are forging new links in the chain of bondage. Simplicity has vanished. Luxurious habits are daily developed. People are dying of starvation; there is depression and unrest everywhere. There is devastation by earthquake. The divorce courts are increasing. One nation is afraid of another nation. Life has become a matter of uncertainty. It has become a mass of confusion and bewilderment; it has become stormy and boisterous.

You can escape from these troubles and difficulties if you lead a life of dispassion, selfrestraint, purity and selfless service, if you develop cosmic love, if you make a habit of developing the right point of view, right thinking, right feeling, right action, with the right mental attitude and if you practise meditation and devotion.

If you have no sustained vairagya (dispassion) you will find no improvement or progress in spirituality. Vows, energy, austerities and meditation will leak out like water from a cracked pot. You have spent eight hours in sleep and the rest in idle gossiping, telling lies and deceiving others. How can you expect spiritual good or immortality if you do not spend even half an hour in the service of God, in singing his name and in divine contemplation?

Is there pain or pleasure in this world? If there is pleasure then why do young educated men retire into the forests? If there is pain why do young men run after wealth, position and women? Mysterious is maya (illusion)! Mysterious is moha (delusion)! Try to understand the riddle of life and the riddle of the universe. Acquire viveka (wisdom). Have satsanga (holy company). Enquire into the nature of the atman. Study the Yoga Vasishta and the Upanishads. Then you will have a comprehensive understanding of the problems of life. There is not one iota of happiness in this world.

Real freedom is from birth and death. Real freedom is freedom from the trammels of flesh and mind. Real freedom is freedom from the bonds of karma. Real freedom is freedom from attachment to the body, etc. Real freedom is freedom from desires and from egoism."

-Swami Sivananda
I bow to you.

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Philosophy of Om

malcha — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:58:02 GMT

"The sound produced in the flowing of the river Ganges, the sound that is heard at a distance, the sound that proceeds from the bustle of the market, that is produced by the fly-wheel when it is set in motion, that is caused when it rains, or there is a conflagration, or thunder - it is all Om only. Split any word and you will find Om there. Om is all-pervading, like akasa (space), like Brahman, the absolute. Om is the symbol of Brahman. It is the word of power. It is the sacred monosyllable. It is the essence of the vedas. It is the boat to take you across to the other shore of fearlessness and immortality.

The word Om is the most appropriate name of Brahman. By its application, by its chanting, he becomes propitiated. Om is emblematic of Brahman, as images are of material objects. When you hear the sound 'tree'. you at once understand it has a root, a stem, branches, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc. Similarly too, when you hear the sabda (sound) Om it denotes satcidananda Brahman -existence absolute, knowledge absolute, bliss absolute.

Sabda (word) and artha (meaning) are inseparable. All collections of words (speech), terminate in one sound - Om. All objects are denoted by sounds, and all sounds merge in Om. The whole universe comes out of Om and is absorbed into Om. Hence Om is very important. Om should be worshipped. Om should be chanted loudly. Om should be repeated mentally, with deep meaning and feeling. Om should be meditated upon.

Watch the breath. When you inhale, the sound 'so' is produced. When you exhale, the sound 'ham' is produced. You are naturally uttering 'soham' - I am he -- or - he am I - with every breath. The breath reminds you that you are in essence identical with the supreme self. In 'soham' the s and the h are consonants. If you delete them you get 'oam' or 'om'. Consonants depend on vowels for their existence. S and h represent names and forms, or this universe which is phenomenal or relative or empirical or dependent existence. Om is the only solid reality. Om is the soul of your breath.

As soon as you sit for meditation chant Om loudly, three, six or twelve times. This drives away worldly thoughts from the mind and removes vikshep (tossing of the mind). Later you may take to the mental repetition of Om. "

-Swami Sivananda

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How to Transmute The Emotions of War Into Light

malcha — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:44:18 GMT

My friend Mara posted this in her blog today. It is wonderful and I wanted to share it with you all.
(Thank you Mara)

"How you respond to the current situation makes a difference, not only for you and your family, but also for the planet. If you choose, you can help us birth more light onto the earth."

A Personal Message From Marty Varnadoe Dow,
Author of How To Soar Through Life With Power And Grace eCourse!

The Great Spiritual Transformation

As the world tumbles further into crisis, we are entering a time of great spiritual transformation. Many religions have predicted these volatile times. The good news is that crisis, if used correctly, offers unusual opportunities for spiritual growth. This world crisis could be the crack in the cosmic egg that catapults our planet into its next stage of spiritual evolution.

The possibilities are great, but, in crisis, there is also danger. Without proper action, these series of events could take us into further chaos and darkness. Some have predicted that the experiences of humanity will differ depending on how individuals choose to react to the possibilities that lie before them. One spiritual teacher envisioned that it will be as though there were two separate realities on earth. One reality will be gaining in light, love, harmony, and joy each day; the other reality will increase in darkness, fear, and struggle.

I believe that ultimately humanity will survive this crisis and evolve into a race of light beings. In an effort to assist in this transition, we are requesting your help. How you respond to the current situation makes a difference, not only for you and your family, but also for the planet. If you choose, you can help us birth more light onto the earth.

Transmuting the Energy in Emotion (Emotions)

Emotions are running high everywhere. Emotions are simply energy in motion. During this time of crisis, the emotions of the race mind are coming to the surface to be transmuted/transformed into light.

Your emotional response to what you see and hear is not just about the current situation. Often, the current events stimulate memories of hurts from your personal history and sometimes tap into pockets of cumulative pain in the collective mind.

In other words, the anger or fear experienced and expressed by so many people worldwide is not just about what is happening in Iraq or what is happening in their personal lives. At these times of crisis, people tap into collective thought forms and residual pockets of repressed emotions belonging to the race mind or collective unconscious.

Unfortunately, we (humanity) have a long history of abusing one another. Every race, culture, nationality, religion, tribe, and community has contributed to this pattern of oppression, revenge, violence, hate, anger, pain, suffering, and greed. We have created much repressed energy that has become stagnant within the collective consciousness.

No group is innocent. We, as a collective, are ALL guilty. It does no good to point the finger of blame. This finger pointing pattern only increases the problem and causes more division in the consciousness of humanity.

The good news is that during these volatile times of crisis, these old emotions come to the surface where they can be released and transformed. We, as individuals, have a choice to contribute to the transmutation of this repressed energy, now in motion, birthing it into light, or we can stimulate the energy in motion, creating more of the same by joining in the frenzied expression of anger, blame, or hatred.

The Opportunity Is Yours

Please join us in birthing more light on the planet, helping us step into a higher level of functioning as we enter this time of great spiritual transformation.

I encourage you to choose to rise above the human response to the situations in your life and world. Instead of the old patterns of anger, fear, judgment, and pain, hold the energy in motion into the light of God's love.

Whenever you feel fearful, judgmental, or angry, take time to transmute it. Here's how:

* Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and imagine that you can sense all this emotion as energy.

* Visualize a Divine flame in your heart center.

* Imagine that this is the love of God that dwells within you.

* In your mind's eye, see yourself holding these old patterns of response in the light of this flame.

* Imagine that the energy is being transmuted into light and released back into the collective unconscious as love, forgiveness, faith, and hope.

* Combine these images with a feeling of joy and release them into the universe knowing that they will manifest those things you have visualized.

Activities For Your Daily Life

* Stop blaming others. You are the creator of your reality. Create what you want!

* Practice the spiritual law of forgiveness every day.

* Determine to think positive thoughts instead of fear based thoughts.

* Send love to everyone you meet or think about.

* Use the spiritual force of love to solve every problem you encounter.

* Pray for a swift resolution to the war in Iraq.

* Hold a vision of a world at peace where people everywhere are treated with love and respect.

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Realize Thy True Nature

malcha — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 18:47:49 GMT

"First, learn to know yourself, the true value of your own character. Then alone you will be able to serve humanity and benefit people. You re taintless, tranquil, pure consciousness; you are beyond nature. All this time you have been duped by illusion, maya. Know one individual (yourself) correctly and you can know teh whole world. To know thy self, is to know God. Seek perfection, freedom and eternal bliss in the atman or self, by the self and through the self. Talk only of the atman. Purify, meditate, lose yourself in Brahman or the absolute and you will find your self, you will know your self.

Nobody doubts his own existence, though he may doubt the existence of God. Find the truth, the source of your own self and then you will know everything. The more you know the more you will grow in humility. I climbed the peak of vedanta and merged in the Light of Lights. How can I express it? To express the unspeakable all words are feeble. I am the witness, the eternal, pure, infinite, internal self. I am Siva Himself. I am changeless. None of the things of the world have touched me, will ever touch me. I have no moods I am beyond moods. I am the blissful atman. The light which illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon, the stars and also yonder lamp, is bliss eternal. That light am I. Om.

If you find you need a place of perfect security and peace then come, sit in my heart and be one with me. There is a central harmony within you, a wisdom, a spirit of wholeness which is divine. That is immortal atman, your own innermost soul or self. Dwell in this atman. Realise this atman and be free for ever. The atman or supreme self must be realised. This is practical religion.

Open the eye of your heart,
Enjoy the vision of the Lord.
Break the seal of your ego,
Realise the eternal bliss of the self.
Clean the dirt of your mind's mirror,
Behold the beauty of the majestic atman.
Sit on the horse of brahmakara vrtti.
Reach your destination; the home of eternal peace.
Still the waves of the mind,
Take a dip in the ocean of bliss,
Shut up your mouth and the mouth of the mind
And enjoy the peace of supreme silence."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Song of 18 "ities"

malcha — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:26:41 GMT

"Serenity, regularity, absence of vanity,
Sincerity, simplicity, veracity.
Equanimity, fixity, nonirritability,
Adaptability, humility, tenacity,
Integrity, nobility, magnanimity,
Charity, generosity, purity.
Practise daily these eighteen 'ities',
You will soon attain immortality.
Brahman is the only real entity,
Mr. So and So is a false nonentity,
You will abide in eternity and infinity,
You will behold unity in diversity,
You cannot attain this in the university."

-Swami Sivananda

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The Secret of Love

malcha — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 01:04:57 GMT

"Subtle and profound is the path of love. It is like the edge of a sharp razor, but the true lover treads it easily. His grace renders his path smooth. There is no asking or bargaining there; it is all sacrifice and selfsurrender. It is the outpouring of the heart's love at the lotus feet of the Lord. Egoism is burnt in the fire of love. Desires are destroyed in the flame of love. Two have become one now. The lover plunges himself In the ocean of divine love. He immerses himself In the sea of divine joy. He offers his all in the Lord's service, his tan (body), man (mind), dhan (wealth). This is the secret of this love."

---Thus sayeth Sivananda

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Take a Dose of Divine Drug

malcha — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:35:21 GMT

"O Man! Take a dose of this mysterious drug. The wonderful drug that grows within, the drug that cures the disease of death, the drug of life, light and bliss, the drug that bestows immortality. The divine drug, the drug of grace, the drug that makes you dance in joy. The rarest drug that dispels the darkness, the loveliest drug that is precious, the only drug that removes grief, the drug that kills the six passions, the drug that makes you fearless, the drug that puts you into samadhi.

It is the silent drug Bhumi, thy innermost atman, that is my strength, joy and cure-all, that is the potential immortal elixir."

---Thus sayeth Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Shower Thy Grace

malcha — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 22:51:39 GMT

"O Lord, if thou art the sun, I am thy ray.
If thou art the ocean, I am the drop.
If thou art the lotus, I am the petal.
If thou art the tree, I am the leaf.
There is no other Lord like thee.
Thou art the ocean of compassion.
I have no qualification and yet Thou hast blessed me.
By singing Thy name I have broken all fetters, I have cut Yama's noose.
Sivananda sings to obtain Thy grace."

---So says Sivananda

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Here Rains Nectar

malcha — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:35:59 GMT

(I know I posted this before, but it was over a year ago and it is such a wonderful poem. Just the title brings tears to my eyes and I'm not PMS.)

My heart drinks the nectar now.
I have plunged myself in that ocean of joy.
I have drunk the cup of immortal bliss.
There is neither doubt nor sorrow here.
The terror of death is no more.
There is the sweet fragrance of the soul, the music of the soul sounds itself.
Supreme freedom reigns here; Brilliant Effulgence streams forth.
There is the unstruck, sweet melody of harmony.
This is the sorrowless land of an old man. The thirst of the five senses is quenched here.
Here the rain of nectar pours and pours.
The sacred stream of the Jamnaganga flows here perennially.
The round of births and deaths ceases here.
Come, come my sweet companions,
visit this limitless domain but once
And see my supreme Lord's Durbar (court).

---So says Sivananda.

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Work Work Work

malcha — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 00:32:28 GMT

"Do not talk of vedanta and Brahman. Work, work, work! There is too much talk and vedantic gossiping. Enough of tall talk and gossiping. Give up lecturing and pedantry. Become a practical vedantin. Be good to others, even at the point of a bayonet. Show your strength and courage now. Develop a soft heart that can melt at the sufferings of others. This will lead you to the realisation of unity. I want fiery young men--brave, dispassionate and wise, with iron will and ferro-concrete body and nerves, who can pulverise the Himalayas, who can sip the waters of the ocean, who can devour death like a pickle, who can swim across the Pacific, who can uproot Mount Everest, who can swallow the ball of fire!"

---Thus sayeth Sivananda

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The Glimpse and The Goal

malcha — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:53:59 GMT

"When you get a flash of illumination, do not be frightened. It will be a new experience of immense joy. Do not turn back. Do not give up meditation. Do not stop there. You will have to advance still further. This is only a glimpse of truth. This is not the whole experience. This is not the highest realisation. This is only a new platform. Try to ascend further. Reach the bhuma (the infinite). Now alone you are proof against all temptation. You will drink deep the nectar of immortality. This is the acme or final state. You can take eternal rest now. You need not meditate any further. This is the final goal.

You have within yourself tremendous powers and latent faculties of which you have really never had any conception. You must awaken these dormant powers and faculties by the practice of meditation and yoga. You must develop your will and control your senses and mind. You must purify yourself and practise regular meditation, then only can you become a superman or God man.

Every human being has within himself various potentialities and capacities. He is a magazine of power and knowledge. As he evolves he unfolds new powers, new faculties, new qualities. Now he can change his environment and influence others. He can subdue others' minds. He can conquer internal and external nature. He can enter into superconscious state.

The wise cut asunder the knot of egoism by the sharp sword of constant meditation. Then dawns supreme knowledge of the self or full illumination or selfrealisation. The liberated sage has neither doubt nor delusion. All bonds of karma (action) are rent asunder. This is the masterkey to open the realms of eternal bliss. It may be tiring in the beginning, because the mind will be running away from the point (laksya) every now and then. But after some time it will be focused in the centre. You will be immersed in divine bliss."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Develop Your Perception

malcha — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:07:04 GMT

"Organs deteriorate if you do not use them properly - just as hands and legs are atrophied by disuse and are developed by muscular exercise, etc. There is intimate connection between sight and memory, and between hearing and memory.

He who has acute sight, keen perception, good powers of observation and hearing - he will have a good memory. In the internal astral body there are counterparts of these. They are called astral senses. A yogi hears through astral ears and sees through astral eyes. Thus he can hear sounds from distant lands, he can see objects in distant localities. This is called clairvoyance and clairaudience.

Generally people are very careless. They have no wish to learn higher things and have a fund of knowledge. Keep a watch very close to the ear; hear the sound attentively. On the second day put the watch a little further away. Listen to the tick-tick sound. Every day increase the distance, training yourself to hear the sound. Then plug one ear with the index finger of your hand. Train the ears alternately.

Here is another exercise. Close both ears through yonimudra; try to hear the anahata sounds that emanate from the heart lotus. You will hear ten varieties of sounds, such as: flute, mridanga, veena, conch, bells, thunder, humming of a bee, drum, etc. Allow the organ of hearing (ear) to shift from one sound to another and carefully differentiate the various sounds. Eventually fix the ear on one sound. Try the gross sounds first and then go to the subtle sounds.

There is another exercise. Fix the ears on the pranava dhvani (Om sound) that emanates from a river, ocean or the wind. It will be heard like 'bhum' or a long 'Om'. Train your ears to hear this sound. Do this exercise at 4 a.m. or at 9 p.m. when the noise of the town has died down.

Keep your ears keen. Differentiate the sounds of various kinds of birds, beasts, children, factories, motor cars, aeroplanes, cycles, shrieks, yells, snores, sobbing, crying, laughing, mocking, joking, etc.

The mind may be there, the instrument may be perfect, but if the mind is not functioning perfectly, you cannot see or hear properly. Perception is possible only when the mind is linked with the external instrument (ear, eye, etc.). "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Japa is Important

malcha — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 23:45:16 GMT

"Japa is an important anga (limb) of yoga. In the Gita you will find : "Yajnanam japa yajnosmi - among yajnas (religious practice) I am japa yajna". In kali yuga (dark age) the practice of japa alone can give eternal peace, bliss and immortality. Japa ultimately results in samadhi (communion with the Lord). Japa must become habitual and must be attended with satvic (divine) bhava (feeling), purity, love and faith. There is no yoga greater than japa yoga. It can give you all siddhis (powers), whatever you want, bhakti (devotion) and mukti (freedom).

Japa is the repetition of the mantra (mystic formula). Dhyana is meditation on the form of the Lord and His attributes. This is the difference between japa and dhyana: there is meditation or dhyana with japa (japa-sahita): there is meditation or dhyana without japa (japa-rahita). In the beginning you should combine dhyana with japa. As you advance the japa drops away by itself - meditation alone remains. At an advanced stage you can practise concentration separately. You can do whatever you like best in this respect. Om is both saguna and nirguna (manifested and unmanifested) Brahman. If you are a devotee of Rama you can repeat Om Rama for the manifestation of the manifested Brahman.

The name (nama) and the object (rupa), signified by the name, are inseparable. Whenever you think of the name of your son, his figure stands before your mental eye - and vice versa. Even so, when you do japa of Rama Rama or Krishna Krishna, the picture of Rama or Krishna will come before your mind. Therefore japa and dhyana go together. They are inseparable.

Whilst you are doing japa of any mantra, think that you are really praying to your ista devata (chosen, beloved divinity). Think that your ista devata is really listening to you, that He is looking at you with merciful or graceful eyes and that, with open hands, He is giving you full abhaya dana (asking you to be free from all fears whatsoever) with a view to giving you your desired objects. Entertain this bhava.

Do the japa with feeling. Know the meaning of the mantra. Feel the Lord's presence in everything, everywhere. Draw closer to Him when you repeat His name. Think He is shining in the chambers of your heart. Think that He is witnessing the repetition of the mantra, just as He is the witness of your every action."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 7 replies

Mental Health is VItal

malcha — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:54:40 GMT

"Good health is the prerequisite for spiritual pursuits. The practice of yoga asanas for even fifteen minutes a day will help to keep good health. Become quite fit and you will be hale and hearty. Without good health you cannot wage war against the turbulent senses and the boisterous mind.

Body, mind and spirit constitute man. There is an intimate relation between body and mind. The body is the mould prepared by the mind, for its own enjoyment. Spirit is the substratum for the body and the mind. Mental health is even more vital than physical health. The spring of loveliness flows from health.

Every joy that enlivens your heart comes from health. Lack of cheerfulness contributes to physical ill-health. If one is always cheerful and entertains good and divine thoughts, he will not suffer from any disease. He will have perfect health at all times.

Allow your body to respond freely to the action of natural agents. Put yourself in tune with the source of all health, power and strength. The cosmic force for well-being will then in-fill you. This is the ultimate factor behind all therapeutics. This is the secret to bear in mind. Use it for the background for the treatment of your
ills, both bodily and mental.

With your being harmonised with the all-pervading cosmic being, you will cross the ocean of worldly existence by vigorous spiritual sadhana (practice). And, through His abundant grace and blessing, may
you attain health and long life.

In one's endeavour to utilise one's power in the quest of truth, the health of the body is of great importance. Man always talks of good health but does little or nothing about it. You must have a body that is fit, strong and healthy - then alone you will have a mind that can work to the full capacity.

Health and strength can be yours with a little positive thinking, careful regulation of personal habits, observance of nature's laws and daily meditation. The source of all health and healing is thy self. The power to overcome all conditions lies in you. Persistently assert your ever perfect spiritual nature. Feel thyself to be an ocean of perfect health, strength and vigour. Allow the mind to dwell on this continuously.

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Yoga of Self-Surrender

malcha — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:21:07 GMT

"Repeat this formula very often and with intense faith: "The Lord is my strength, my support and my stay." Thus you will derive strength, power and peace.

God knows what is best for you and He does what is best for you. His ways are mysterious - know His ways and become wise.

Slay egoism and desire, they are the enemies, the obstacles of self- surrender. You may accuse God and say: "He is not just; He is cruel. Vicious persons are thriving I am virtuous and yet I suffer. There is no God." Later on you will realise that He has done the best thing for you.

Do not pray to the Lord for the removal of sufferings. Pray to Him to grant you power of endurance and patience to bear all calamities. A devotee remains unaffected by adversities, trials and tribulations. He knows and feels that they are all karmic purgations and are the real messengers of God. He welcomes them calmly.

A devotee alone gets troubles and adversities; because this is his last birth many karmas have to be worked out and he must be united with the Lord in this very birth.

God gives immense strength and patience to His devotee to bear troubles and calamities. The devotee is ever calm and cheerful - he is not affected by them as his mind ever dwells in the contemplation of the Lord. He is not body-conscious.

Murmer not. Grumble not. Even a leaf cannot fall without the will of God. What is destined to take place as willed by God, takes place. Face the difficulties, the battle of life with a smile. Become a brave soldier. Difficulties come to intensify your faith, to strengthen your will and power of endurance and to turn your mind
more and more towards God.

Pain is the great eye-opener. It is your silent teacher. It will make you remember God. Kunti prayed "0 Lord Krishna, give me pain always so that I may ever remember you." The more troubles and adversities you get, the stronger and firmer will be your faith in God. They will mould you into a divine being. Welcome them.

Seek God's grace through self-surrender and He will show you the way. Transient are all mundane things! Evanescent are all earthly forms! Seek the immortal and attain bliss eternal. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Sitayana

malcha — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 15:22:02 GMT

Here is a very cute animated flick of the Ramayana from Sita's point of view. I haven't watched it all yet, just the first clip and the Hanuman scene, but what I saw is very cute. Thanks to Jai Uttal for passing this along.

http://www.ninapaley.com/Sitayana/

Ram Ram Ram
Sita Ram Ram Ram

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Hanumath Pancha Ratnam

kalkin — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 06:47:21 GMT

~Hanumath Pancha Ratnam of Adi Sankaracharya~

Veethakhila vishayecham, Jathanandaasru pulakamathyacham,
Seethapathi dhoothakhyam,Vathathmajamadhya bhavaye hrudhyam. 1

I think about the son of Vayu in my mind,
Who is devoid of all desires of enjoyment,
Who sheds copious tears of joy,
Whose hair stands erect at His thought,
And who is the great emissary of the Lord of Sita

Tharunaruna Muka kamalam, karuna rasa poora poorithapangam,
Saajeevanamaasase manjula mahimana manjana Bhagyam. 2

All my life I yearn to see that Hanuman,
Who is the good fortune of Anjana,
Whose face is as red as the rising Sun,
Whose glances are full of the mercy,
Who brought back the dead in the battle,
And whose fame is great.

Sambhara vairi saradhigamambudala vipula lochanadhaaram,
Kambu gala niladishtam bimba jwalithoshta mekamalambhe 3

My only refuge is Hanuman,
Who had reddish lips like the Bimba fruit,
Who is the enemy of the arrows of Manmatha,
Who has broad eyes like lotus leaves,
And whose neck is like a conch.

Dhoorikrutha seetharthi, prakati krutha rama vaibhava spohoorthi,
Daritha dasa mukha keerthi, puratho mama bhathu Hanumatho Murthy. 4

Let the form of Hanuman ,
Which drove away the sorrow of Sita,
Which made known the prowess of Rama,
And which destroyed the fame of ten headed Ravana,
Shine before me.

Vanara nikaradhyaksham, dhanava kula kumudha ravikara sadruksham,
Dheena janavana dheeksham pavana paka ambuja madraksham. 5

I Saw Lord Hanuman,
Who is the result of penance of God of wind,
Who is the leader of all monkeys,
Who is similar to the Sun God to water lily,
To the hoards of Rakshasas,
And who is he protector of the suffering humans.

Ethath pavana suthasya stotram,
Ya patathi pancha rathnakhyam,
Chiramiha nikhilan bhogan bhukthwa,
Sri Rama Bhakthiman Bhavathi.

He who reads these five gems,
Which are the poems of praise of,
The son of God of wind,
Would become a devotee of Lord Rama,
And would enjoy his life for a long time.

Aum! Shanti!

posted in MONKEY - 5 replies

New To Tribe

LaDonna — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:30:17 GMT

I'm just posting to introduce myself. I am LaDonna. I have recently had the fortune
of being in a place that had a Hanuman temple and was able to learn about him.
I would enjoy being apart of tribe to learn even more. My guru, Baba Hari Dass is
a big Hanuman devotee. Om.

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Depression and Devotion

malcha — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:47:39 GMT

"Every aspirant in the spiritual path becomes a victim to the mood of depression in the beginning. You have to overcome this mood through discrimination, reflection, singing God's name, prayer, etc. This mood is like a passing cloud. It will pass off if you are vigilant. Do not mistake emotion for devotion.

Whenever you get into a mood of depression, sing God's name vigorously; sitting alone in your room, sing with a melting heart. You may sing silently if you wish. This is an easy way to drive away this undesirable mood.

Try to control all wild outbursts of weeping. This is a weakness, a negative state. But do allow the pearl drops of divine love or ecstasy to trickle down your face occasionally, when you are in a profoundly prayerful or meditative mood.

Shed the tears of pure, divine love when you are alone, when you are in communion with the Lord. Do not weep in the presence of others. The rare pearl-drops of divine love are the outcome of the melting of
the heart by the fire of devotion and the fire of painful separation from the Lord.

Sometimes a man feigns to be a devotee. He sheds false tears to make his neighbours think he is a great devotee. On account of sympathetic action, his neighbours also begin to weep - but there will not be one
iota of devotion in their hearts.

Devotion is a very rare gift from God. Weeping itself is not a criterion by which to judge the devotional nature of a man or a woman. Do not mistake the crocodile tears of a hypocrite bhakta (devotee) for the genuine pearl drops of divine love which inspire and elevate bystanders. One may not weep outwardly and yet he may be a genuine, silent devotee.

Identify yourself with the emotionless state or Brahman, and rest peacefully for ever.

Satvic (peaceful) emotion is quiet. Rajasic (passionate) emotion is terrible. Tamasic (dull) emotion is confused. Rajasic and tamasic emotions are of a turbid nature and therefore cannot receive a reflection of the blissful nature of atman. Rajasic and tamasic emotions present a reflection of intelligence but not of bliss. Satvic emotions present a reflection of both blissfulness and intelligence."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Training the Mind

malcha — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 23:08:35 GMT

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Ram Dass needs our help

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 02:09:05 GMT

available also on wayne's website
http://www.drwaynedyer.com/articles/be_here.php

BE HERE for him, NOW
Wayne Dyer talks about spiritual teacher and friend Ram Dass

One of the truly great men of our time needs our help. I write these words to encourage your generosity and support. Back in the 1960's a Harvard professor named Richard Alpert left behind the hectic world of academia and traveled to India - there he was to meet his spiritual teacher who gave him a new purpose to fulfill along with a new name. He of course is Ram Dass.

His guru told him love everyone, feed people and see God everywhere. Ram Dass became a person who lived out this mandate - he did what so many of us could only dream. He connected to his spirit and devoted his life to serving others.

In 1969 he wrote and published the signature book on spirituality and applied higher awareness, Be Here Now. In keeping with his commitment to love everyone and feed people, he donated all of the royalties and profits to foundations that did just that. With millions of dollars at stake, Ram Dass simply chose to live his life as a man of service to God.

After years spent in India in pursuit of a higher more enlightened consciousness for himself and for our troubled world, he returned to the United States to lecture throughout the country. He spoke to packed venues wherever he went, and as always he donated the proceeds to such causes as would keep him in harmony with his mandate to serve. He co-founded the Seva Foundation and his writing and lecture fees were primary sources for this compassionate and inspired work.

To me Ram Dass was and is the finest speaker I have ever heard, period! He was my role model on stage; always gentle and kind, always speaking without notes from his heart, sharing his inspiring stories and always with great humor. I tell you this from my own heart; I could listen to his lectures for hours and always felt saddened when they would end. He was the voice for Applied Spirituality - his life was the model. When he was threatened by having his own private sexual preference exposed, in a time when a closet was the only place that was even mildly safe, Ram Dass called a press conference and proudly announced his preference to the world. He paved the way for tolerance and love when no one else would dare to do so.

Most of us could only dream of defying the conventional life and living out our inner callings to promote a cause that was bigger than our own lives - to leave the security of a guaranteed career - to leave a country where comfort was ensured; all to live in a foreign land with few conveniences, traveling and meditating for a more peaceful world. It is what St. Francis did in the 13th century and what Ram Dass did in our lifetime.

When Ram Dass' own father, who had largely criticized his son's unconventional lifestyle, was close to death, Ram Dass devoted himself to 100% service in those final years. He fed his father, he bathed his father, he placed him on and off the toilet until the day he died. Why? Because he felt this was his mandate. He wanted to experience true service on a 24/7 basis and know firsthand the joy that comes from giving one's own life away in the service of others. Always, for over 30 years, Ram Dass was in the service of others.

In 1997 Ram Dass was struck by a semi-paralyzing stroke and became wheelchair bound. Still he wrote of his adventure in a powerful book titled, Still Here. He continued to travel, though he could no longer walk and continued to speak to audiences, though he spoke from a slowed down body, but still he did it to serve others.

Now it is our turn... Ram Dass' body can no longer endure the rigors of travel. He has come to Maui, where I live and write. I speak with him frequently and I am often humbled by the tears in his beautiful 73-year-old eyes as he apologizes for not having prepared for his own elderly health care - for what he now perceives as burdensome to others. He still intends to write and teach; however without the travel - we can now come to him. Maui is healing - Maui is where Ram Dass wishes to stay for now!

He is currently living in a home on Maui, which he doesn't own and is currently in jeopardy of losing. I am asking all of you to help purchase this home and to set up a financial foundation to take care of this man who has raised so much money to ensure the futures of so many others. To live out what Ram Dass has practiced with his actions. Please be generous and prompt - no one is more deserving of our love and financial support. In the end these donations will help ensure that Ram Dass and his work will reach another generation or remind a current generation that it is in giving that we receive.

If there has ever been a great spirit who lived in our lifetime, literally devoting his life to the highest principles of spirit, it has been Ram Dass. I love this man; he has been my inspiration and the inspiration for millions of us. It is now time to show him how we feel by doing what he has taught all of us to do - Just , BE HERE for him, NOW.

To make a donation, please either enter an amount below,
or send via mail to the address provided:

Ram Dass Charitable Fund
c/o Hay House
P.O. Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018

jai hanuman!

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

My Task is Complete

malcha — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:31:16 GMT

"My purpose is achieved. The entire circle of birth and death is over. I have realised the perfect bliss of the atman. I have known myself to be Brahman. I am free. I am perfect. I am independent. I enjoy bliss. I enjoy the bliss of the immortal soul.

I am brimful of perennial joy. A self-effulgent light burns in my heart. I have broken all illusory relationships. Now there is no husband, no wife. Now there is no cousin and no grandfather. It is all one homogeneous essence of bliss only. Now my task is complete.

I am free from doubt. I am free from delusion. Why should I study the scriptures? I rest in my own essential nature. Now, where is the necessity for meditation? I act like any other human being. I bathe, I sleep, I sing, I answer the calls of nature, I work, I write, I walk, I eat and I talk. And yet, I do not perform any action at all.

I am the witness of all these processes. I am identical with Brahman. These acts are not obstructions to me. All these dealings are perfectly harmless. I am not susceptible to viksepa (the disturbance of the equilibrium of the mind).

Where is the necessity for samadhi for me? Viksepa and samadhi are functions of the mind only. I have obliterated the mind. I am continuously experiencing the satisfaction which results from samadhi.

Let people have any opinion of me. Let them glorify me. Let them vilify me. It matters little. "Sivoham. Sivoham. Sivoham. Sivah Kevaloham."

I have risen above ignorance. I have risen above my knowledge of this seeming universe. It is not only escape from misery and grief. I enjoy the joy eternal, the joy unspeakable, the joy supreme, the joy unbounded.

What is this joy that I feel? Who shall measure it? I know nothing but joy limitless and unbounded. "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

The Mind Becomes the Body

malcha — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 03:38:59 GMT

"The body with its organs, is no other than the mind. The physical body is the outward manifestation of the mind. Mind is the subtle form of the physical body. The mind, contemplating on the body, becomes the body itself. Then, enmeshed in it, is afflicted by it. All bodies have their seat in the mind. Should the mind be paralysed, the body will not evince any intelligence.

The mind performs all actions very speedily in the linga sarira (subtle body) and fluctuates hereby. But the gross body knows not anything and is inert. Should this gross body be dissolved, the mind quickly assumes a fresh body. This physical body is the mould, as it were, of the mind. It is made by the mind for the outpouring of its own energy, for its own enjoyment. Thereby it gains different experiences of this world through the organs of knowledge or perception.

The body is really our thoughts, moods, convictions and emotions objectivised, made visible to the naked eye. Every cell in our body suffers or grows, receives a life impulse or a death impulse, from every thought that enters the mind. You tend to grow into the image of the thing you think about most. When the mind dwells on a particular thought, a definite vibration of matter is set up. This tends to repeat itself, to become a habit.

The body follows the mind and imitates the changes. Every change in thought makes a vibration in your mental body and this, when transmitted to the physical body, causes activity in the nervous matter of the brain. And this activity in the brain and nerve cells causes electrical and chemical changes in the body.

Vedanta also adds : "See and feel Brahman everywhere. ignore the names and forms." This teaches you to develop atma bhava (feeling that the self is all) or Brahma bhava (feeling that Brahman is all) by vicara (enquiry) and right thinking and meditation.

When an idea exclusively occupies the mind, a mental state or bhava, corresponding to the nature of the idea comes in. Think of your enemy - the inimical bhava will manifest.

Think of mercy and universal love - prema (love) bhava or karuna (compassion) bhava will manifest. Think of universal service - seva (service) bhava will manifest. Think of Lord Krishna and his lilas - Krishna-prema bhava will manifest. Feeling always accompanies thinking it is like fire and heat - inseparable."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Song of Vibhuti Yoga

malcha — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:28:58 GMT

"Bhajo Radhe Krishna, Bhajo Radhe Shyama Soham Soham, Sivoham Soham.
Om Om Om Om Om, Om Om Om Om Om. I am neither mind nor body, immortal self I am, I am witness of three states, I am knowledge absolute.
(Om Om.....)

I am fragrance in jessamine, beauty in flowers,
I am coolness in the ice, flavour in coffee.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am greenness in the leaf, hue in the rainbow,
I am taste-buds in the tongue, essence in orange.
(Om Om.....)

I am mind of all minds, prana of all pranas,
I am soul of souls, self of all selves.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am atman in all beings, apple of all eyes,
I am sun of all suns, light of all lights.
(Om Om.....)

I am Pranava of all vedas, Brahman of Upanishads,
I am silence in forests, thunder in all clouds.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am velocity in electrons, motion in science,
I am effulgence in the sun, wave in the radio.
(Om Om.....)

I am support of this world, soul of this body,
I am ear of all ears, eye of all eyes.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am time, space, dik and the controller,
I am God of gods, guru and the director.
(Om Om.....)

I am melody in music, in rag and raginins,
I am sound in ether, sakti in virya.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am power in electricity, intelligence in mind,
I am brilliance in fire, penance in ascetics.
(Om Om.....)

I am 'reason' in philosopher, 'will' in jnanis,
I am prem in bhaktas, samadhi in yogis.
(Bhajo Radhe Krishna...)
I am That I am, I am That I am, I am That I am, I am That I am.
(Om Om.....)"

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Vishnu

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:25:04 GMT

Would any one be familiar with a “tenth avatar” predicted, when Vishnu – the 2nd of the Divine Triad is to come as a man on a white horse overthrowing his enemies and rooting out all evil from the earth? In which of the Hindu Sacred books could one find it?

posted in MONKEY - 33 replies

New Here/Offerings to Hanuman

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 02:38:26 GMT

Hello,

I am new here. I am somewhat familiar with Hinduism and Hindu deities, but not too much indepth terminology or practice. I am curious what offerings can be made to Hanuman, and how one would honor him, get his attention, or thank him in a traditional way. What does he like?

I am also curious as to some other things associated with him. When is his festival? His colors, etc.?

Thanks!

Badger

posted in MONKEY - 6 replies

God Realization

malcha — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 17:47:46 GMT

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

I am Thine O Lord

malcha — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 23:11:50 GMT

"Do not bother about taking care of your body. God will save it if he needs it for further service. Surrender it at his feet and rest in peace. He will take care of it. A real devotee says, "Let me take millions of births; it does not matter, but let me be attached to the lotus-feet of Lord Hari. Let me have spontaneous devotion to the Lord. Let me be endowed with purity, spiritual strength, the spirit of selfless service and other divine virtues."

If you simply say, without real inner feeling, "I am thine, O Lord," this will not constitute real integral self-surrender. This should come right from the core of your heart. You must be prepared for a radical change. You should not stick to your old habits, ways and motives. You should not expect that everything should happen in the way you want. You should live to carry on the divine purpose. You should not think of those ambitions which the mind likes to gratify. You should not think of using divine grace or the divine force for your own purposes - then the irrepressible ego will assert itself in various ways and refuse to give up its old habits.

The ego tries to get everything from the divine but it totally declines to give itself to the divine. That is the reason why aspirants do not make any substantial progress on the spiritual path
even after doing sadhana (spiritual practice) for several years.

There is no loss in self-surrender. You get from the Lord everything. You enjoy all the divine aisvarya (wealth of divine attributes) of the Lord. The whole wealth of the Lord belongs to you. Siddhis and riddhis (psychic powers) will roll under your feet. You become one with the Lord. You are freed from all wants and desires and cravings. The spiritually hungry and the really thirsty aspirant who yearns for the vision of the Lord, turns towards the divine and is quite willing, eager and happy to consecrate his body, life and mind and soul at the feet of the Lord.

The first stage of self-surrender is only a firm resolve to surrender oneself to God, or to his receptor. A sadhaka (seeker) who has dedicated his life for the service of his teacher or the service of humanity or for attaining self-realisation, is not bound by the actions he performs subsequent to his self-surrender.

Self-surrender becomes perfect only after God-realisation."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Worship

malcha — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 19:50:40 GMT

"A devotee repeats the mantra (mystic formula) of the Lord during worship and touches his heart, his head, tuft of hair, arms and hands. There is caitanya (consciousness, power) in every letter of the mantra. Through repetition of the mantra and the touching of the parts of the body with the repetition of the mantra, the aspirant is gradually divinised. There is spiritual awakening. Spiritual currents are generated - tamas (inertia) and rajas (impurity) are destroyed
and he is filled with pure satva (purity). He becomes identical with the object of worship. He attains the same world of, or proximity with, or the same form of, or absorption into, the Lord.

For a sage there is no such thing as insentient matter. Everything is Vasudeva or caitanya. The devotee actually beholds the Lord in the idol. But the worship does not stop there. The sadhaka (seeker) is taken step by step to higher stages of devotion and samadhi (or communion) through the worship of the idol. Though he worships the idol, he has to keep before his mental eye the all-pervading Lord. He has to feel the Lord's presence in his heart and in all objects
also.

The ways and rules of worship, described in the Hindu scriptures are scientifically accurate and highly rational. It is only ignorant people who have not studied the scriptures, who have not associated with the devotees and great souls, that vilify worship of idols or murtis.

The aspirant who worships the idol in the beginning, beholds the Lord everywhere and develops para bhakti (supreme devotion); he beholds the whole world as the Lord. All ideas of good and bad, right and wrong, etc., vanish. His vision baffles description. Glory to such exalted devotees who are veritable gods on earth, who live to lift others from the quagmire of samsara (world-existence) and save them from the clutches of death.

Tulsidas realised the all-pervading essence. He had cosmic consciousness. He communed with the all-pervading, formless Lord. And yet his passion for Lord Rama, with bow in hand, did not vanish. When he went to Brindavan, and saw the murti of Lord Krishna, with flute
in hand, he said: "I will not bow my head to this form". At once the form of Lord Krishna assumed the form of Lord Rama. Then only Tulsidas bowed his head. Mira also realised her identity with the all-pervading Krishna and yet she never tired of repeating, again and again, "My Giridhar Nagar".

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Human Nature into Divine Nature

malcha — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 22:19:53 GMT

"God is a mystery, Mind is a mystery. The world is a mystery. How sankirtan transmutes human nature into divine nature, how it overhauls the old vicious habits, how it changes the mental substance, how it transforms or metamorphoses the impure nature into pure nature, and how it brings the devotee face to face with God - this also is a mystery.

Science and reason can hardly explain the 'modus operandi' of sankirtan (chanting). Reason is an imperfect instrument. A man of weak intellect can be defeated by one who has a stronger intellect. Reason cannot explain many of life's problems. Intuition transcends reason; it does not contradict reason.

There is great sakti (power) in every word. The very utterance of the word 'hot pakouri' (a tasty savoury) brings saliva to the mouth. If you speak about 'faeces' when a man is taking his meal, he will immediately vomit. When such is the case with ordinary words, what to speak of the names of God? Every name of God is filled with various divine potencies and nectar.

One objector says. "If I say, 'sugar-candy, sugar-candy' can I get it? How can I see God if I simply say 'Rama, Rama'?" In the case of sugar-candy, sugar-candy is outside, but God resides in the very chamber of your heart. He is close to you. By repeating "Rama, Rama", the mind becomes one-pointed. It melts in silence and, in the heart, you will get the darsan (vision) of God. The Name of God is as good as God himself. God is chaitanya (consciousness, energy) and so is his name. It is not so with other objects or names of objects.

There is a man in sound sleep. The prana (life) is there; it is awake, he will not respond if you call, "Prana prana". But just call him by his name and he will hear you and will get up from his sleep. Such is the power of the name. The name is nothing but chaitanya (consciousness) personified."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

God and his Name are One

malcha — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 18:41:36 GMT

"What a lot of joy the repetition of His name brings! What a lot of power it infuses into man! How it changes the human nature marvellously! How it exalts a man to the status of divinity! How it destroys old sins, vasanas (tendencies), sankalpas (thoughts), whims, fancies, depressing moods, sex-impulses, and various samskaras (psychological impressions)!

How sweet is God's name! What a tremendous power it possesses! How it transforms quickly the asuric (diabolical) nature into satvic (divine) nature! How it brings you face to face with the Lord and makes you realise your oneness with him (para bhakti - supreme love)!

The name of God, chanted correctly or incorrectly, knowingly or unknowingly, carefully or carelessly, is sure to give the desired result. Every name is filled with countless potencies (saktis). Its glory is indescribable. The efficacy and inherent sakti of the name of God is unfathomable.

Just as fire has the natural property of burning inflammable things, so also the name of God has the power of burning sins, samskaras and vasanas and bestowing eternal bliss and everlasting peace on those who repeat it. Just as burning quality is natural to and inherent in fire, so also the power of destroying sins with their very root and branch, and bringing the aspirant into blissful union with the Lord through bhava-samadhi (culmination of devotion) is natural to and inherent in the name of God.

O man! Take refuge in the name. Nami (God) and Nama (name) are inseparable. Sing the Lord's name incessantly. Remember the name of the Lord with every incoming and outgoing breath. In this present age japa (repetition of God's name) is the easiest, quickest, safest and surest way to reach God and attain immortality and perennial joy. Glory to the Lord! Glory to his Name!"

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

What is a simple, direct and immediate technique for overcoming fear?

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 08:20:51 GMT

What is a simple, direct and immediate technique for overcoming fear?
Not a theory, or a philosophy, not something that has to be built up or worked on over time, but something one can do right in the moment to confront and penetrate fear.
What is the best way to work with fear right in the moment that fear is there, and especially at that time that it is gripping one to the point of being disabled?

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Waiting for Thunder

malcha — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:45:06 GMT

In the first memory,
In the time far behind,
In the first gaze and the first touch,
There was a whisper,
A motion,
A secret side

Like before a thunder,
A hurricane,
A storm
There was a silence,
saying stories to come

I am sitting
And I am waiting,
And I feel it,
Oh God,
I feel it,
And my heart is trembling,
My body is exited
But my soul is calm like it knew for a long time
About the time to come

There is a thunder,
There is a rain,
There is an ocean rushing my direction
And my soul is opening up,
My body is ready to fly, to swim to climb

I am waiting . . .

Shervin
June 5. 2006

(reposted here from Hafiz Tribe with Shervin's gracious permission)

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

The Supreme Remedy

malcha — Wed, 31 May 2006 18:53:52 GMT

"When allopathy, homeopathy, chromopathy, naturopathy, ayurvedapathy and all other 'pathies' fail to cure a disease, the divine namapathy alone can save you. The name of the Lord is a sovereign specific, a sheet-anchor, an infallible panacea and a cure-all for all diseases. It is an ideal or supreme 'pick-me-up' in gloom and despair, in depression and sorrow, in the daily battle of life or the struggle for existence. There is a mysterious power in the name. There is an inscrutable sakti (power) in God's name! All the divine potencies are hidden in the Lord's name. It is the cream or the quintessence of Chyavana-Prasha, Makaradhwaji almonds, Vasanta-Kusumakara or Svarna-Bhasma or gold oxide. It is a mysterious, ineffable divine injection.

You can take this medicine or nama-japa (repetition of God's name) yourself, for curing any disease. You can administer this marvellous medicine to other patients also in your house or elsewhere. Sit by the side of the patient and repeat, with sincere devotion and faith, the name of the Lord, like Hari Om, Sri Ram, Om Namahsivaya, and sing his names also: "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare; Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare." Pray for his mercy and grace. All maladies and agonies will come to an end. Do the treatment of nama-japa for at least two hours in the morning and evening. You will find the miraculous effect within a short time. Both the doctor and the patient should have perfect faith in the Lord's name, his mercy and grace. The real doctor is only Lord Narayana. Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the three worlds (who expounded the ayurvedic medical science), has himself declared: "By the medicine of the repetition of the names, Achyuta, Ananta, Govinda, all diseases are cured - this is my definite and honest declaration." In all treatments Lord Narayana is the real doctor. You find that even the world's best doctors fail to cure a dying king. You might have also heard of many instances where patients ailing from the worst type of diseases are cured miraculously, where even the ablest doctors have declared the case hopeless. This itself is clear proof that there is the divine hand behind all cures.

The divine name will eradicate the disease of birth and death and bestow on you moksa, liberation or immortality."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Is this true? Can this be said for most of us here?

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 19:30:23 GMT

Most all of us that have a "spiritual" tint to our lives share these experiences:

1) That we have at some point in our life, in some way or other, encountered another being or beings who put us beyond doubt that there is a better way of being, not just better but monumentally better. That that state is their ordinary state of being. And we acquired a concept or word to describe this "higher" state: enlightenment, liberation, sahaj-samadhi etc.

2) We have had at least one if not more experiences ourselves, although temporary, which have given us a taste that also put us beyond doubt that such a state of being exists.

3) The desire to actualize that reality in a lasting way is strong enough that it defines our life greatly if not completely.

Is this not Bodhichitta?

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

The Bhagavatam & Bodhisattvacharya

Tue, 30 May 2006 14:19:54 GMT

The Story of Rantideva

In the glorious days of old India,
when men loved to know the Lord and walk in his ways unceasingly, there lived a patriarch whose virtues were extolled in heaven and on earth. He was a king and had a large family and retinue, but it never occurred to him that they might ever come to want. For was it not true that all the necessities of life would be brought to his door if he trusted in the Lord and served his fellow beings, looking upon them all as the veritable image of Hari, the Lord of the universe?

And, strangely enough, food, clothing, and all that he needed used to come to him, though he never toiled like other men. The king was quite satisfied with what he obtained by depending thus upon the Lord, and he shared his benefits with all around him. His hospitality was famous, for never would he say nay to anyone, however low his caste might be, who came to him for food or drink. The sympathy of the good king for all beings knew no bounds. He tried in every way to supply their wants and felt grieved when he had not the power to do so. Thus years rolled on, and the king was glad to think that the Lord Hari had made him the refuge of the destitute and the needy.

But there came a time when the king himself was in want and what he had was not enough for himself and his dependents. It was indeed a period of great trial for him, but he kept on relieving the distress of the poor, as formerly, and placed his entire confidence in the Lord. The scarcity grew worse, but he would not think of feeding himself and those that he called his own before he had satisfied the hunger of the poor who came for his help. Thus, many a day, the virtuous king had to go without food, but he was happy to think that by depriving himself he could serve his suffering fellow-beings.

The famine grew worse still, and there came a day when he found he had nothing to offer to the needy who came to his door, nor anything with which to feed himself and his family. Nothing came to him, even though at this time he rested his faith more than ever upon the Lord. And now he, with all his dependents, fasted day after day, but never did he relinquish his belief in the power and righteousness of Hari. Forty-eight days he had thus lived without any food, when a pot of porridge, made of flour, milk, and ghee, was brought to him. By that time the king and his people could hardly move, so much overcome were they by the hunger, thirst, and weakness of body occasioned by their fast.

Now just as they were about to take their meal, who should appear but a hungry Brahmin, much in need of food. The king, receiving him with respect as the image of Hari, gave him part of the porridge. When the Brahmin, satisfied, went away, immediately there came in a Sudra, who also begged for food. The king straightaway satisfied the Sudra with a portion of the remainder of the porridge. Then entered a Chandala, accompanied by dogs. From his wretched tale it appeared that he and his dogs had not had any food for many days. The king gave him a hearty welcome, and saluting him and his dogs as Hari, offered him the rest of the porridge. Now there was nothing left for the starving king and his family excepting a little drink. At this juncture a man of even a lower caste than a Chandala entered and asked the king for a drink, as he was dying of thirst. The noble king, seeing him faint with thirst and exhaustion, addressed him in these gracious words: “I desire not of the Lord the greatness which comes by the attainment of the eightfold powers, nor do I pray him that I may not be born again; my one prayer to him is that I may feel the pain of others, as if I were residing in their bodies, and that I may have the power to relieve their pain and making them happy.” So saying, the king gave the man to drink, and noted at once that his own fatigue, hunger, thirst, and the unrest and despondency of his mind, had all disappeared; he had thus, by ministering to the wants of another, restored himself.

Now the rulers of the different spheres, who could shower wealth and power on those that worshipped them, and in particular the greatest of them all, Maya – the creative principle of Vishnu, and the mistress of the universe – appeared before the devoted king and told him to worship them all, in order that he might attain the riches of this world and so become free forever from the wants from which he had been suffering so sorely. The king saluted them as the different forms of Hari, his only beloved, but asked for nothing, since he had no desire for the things of this world, even though he had suffered from the want of them. He rested his heart on Hari, loving and worshipping him without any thought of selfish gain. Then Maya, the queen of the world, finding him thus determined not to worship her for what she had offered, disappeared, together with her attendants, like a dream.

Through the great love which he had for his fellow-beings this noble king Rantideva became a yogi, and realized Hari, the one indivisible ocean of existence, wisdom, and bliss, the Soul of all souls, knowing whom one attains to everlasting blessedness and becomes free from all wants and doubts. As a result of the exemplary life of this great king, his followers also devoted themselves to the worship of Narayana, and ultimately they too became yogis.

(This is one of my favorite stories from the Bhagavatam)

- - -

Bodhisattvacharya
Shantideva

3(6) By whatever positive force I’ve built up
Through all of these that I’ve done like that,
May I remove every suffering
Of all limited beings.

3(7) So long as wandering beings fall sick,
May I serve as the medicine,
The doctors and their nurse,
Until they’ve been cured of their illness.

3(8) May I eliminate the pain of hunger and thirst
With a shower of food and drink;
And, in the times of the middle eons of famine,
May I myself change into food and drink.

3(10) To fulfil the aims of all limited beings,
I give, without sense of a loss,
My body and likewise my pleasures,
And all my positive forces of the three times.

3(11) Giving away everything (brings) nirvana,
And my mind is (aimed) for realising nirvana.
As giving away all comes together (with death),
It’s best to give (now) to limited beings.

3(12) Having given this body to all those with limited bodies
To do with as they like,
It’s up to them to do what they want:
Let them kill it, revile it, always beat it, or whatever.

3(13) Let them toy with my body,
Make it into a source of ridicule or a joke.
Having given away this body of mine,
For what should I hold it dear?

3(14) Let them do whatever to (my) body,
So long as it doesn’t cause them harm;
But may it never turn out to be meaningless
For anyone to be focused for any time on me.

3(15) If anyone, who might be focused on me,
Develops an angry or unkind thought,
May that always turn into a cause
For fulfilling all of his or her aims.

3(16) And may everyone who speaks badly of me,
Or does something else that’s of harm,
Or likewise hurls ridicule at me,
Become someone with the fortune for a purified state.

3(17) May I be a guardian for those with no guardian,
A pathfinder for those who are on the road,
And a boat, a ship, and a bridge
For those who would cross.

8(119) So, I shall not turn away from what’s difficult to do,
Since, through the force of familiarity like this,
That very person whose name I was even afraid to hear
(Can become) someone, without whom, I can have no joy.

8(120) Thus, anyone who wishes to give safe direction
Swiftly to himself and others
Needs to practice the most sacred secret:
The exchange of self with others.

8(125) “If I were to give, what would I have to enjoy myself?”
Such thinking of my own self-aims is the way of clutching ghosts.
“If I were to enjoy it myself, what would I have to give?”
Such thinking of the aims of others is a quality of the divine.

8(126) Paining others for my own self-aims,
I’ll be tormented in joyless realms and the like;
But paining myself for the aims of others,
I’ll acquire all glories.

8(127) Through the wish for just myself to advance
Come the worse rebirth states, low status, and stupidity;
But transferring that very (wish) to others
Brings the better rebirth states, honor, (and intelligence).

8(128) Ordering others around for my own self-aims,
I’ll experience being a servant and worse;
But ordering myself around for the aims of others,
I’ll experience being a lord and better.

8(129) All whosoever who are happy in the world
Are (so) through the wish for the happiness of others;
While all whosoever who are miserable in the world
Are (so) through the wish for the happiness of themselves.

8(130) But what need is there to elaborate more?
Just look at the difference between the two:
An infantile person acting for his own self-aims
And Sage (Buddha) acting for the aims of others.

8(131) For those who haven’t exchanged their happiness
For the sufferings of others,
Buddhahood will be impossible to attain
And there will be no happiness even in samsara.

8(134) Whatever violence there is in the world,
And as much fear and suffering as there is,
All of it arises from grasping at a self:
So what use is that terrible demon to me?

8(135) If I don’t fully drop (such) a self,
I won’t be able to drop my suffering;
Just as if I don’t fully drop a fire,
I won’t be able to drop being burned.

8(136) Therefore, for the sake of quelling my own suffering
And for quelling the sufferings of others as well,
I shall give myself over to others,
And take (others) on as myself.

8(140) Creating in lesser beings and so forth (the sense of) a “me”
And creating in yourself (the sense of) others,
Meditate on envy, rivalry, and arrogance (like this),
With a mind free from prejudiced thoughts

8(155) O mind, countless eons have passed
In your obsessive quest for your own self-aims;
Yet, with such enormous exhaustion as that,
All you’ve procured is just suffering.

8(161) So, deprive yourself of your happiness
And take onto yourself the sufferings of others.
Investigate what’s the fault of this “me,” by asking,
“When does this one do anything (for others)?”

8(162) Any mistake that others might make,
Transform it (by seeing it) as the fault of this “me”;
But any, even minor mistake that this “me” might make,
Openly admit it to many people.

8(163) With declarations that the renown of others is superior,
Let it outshine the renown of this “me”;
And like the lowest of servants,
Set this “me” to (doing) what’s of benefit for all.

---

This is one of my favorite sutras.
My favorite verses are: 3(14)(15)(16) & 8(29)(30)(31)
I only wish I was able to practice them better.

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Keep Singing !

Wed, 24 May 2006 03:57:21 GMT

Maharajji often foiled our attempts at meditation. Many times when we’d be sitting there, someone would start meditating and Maharajji would send over his two “meditation spoilers.” One was his driver and the other a little boy who was the driver’s friend. He would send them over to shake people out of meditation. One time we were all sitting there and he said, “Okay, meditate,” and after about a minute he started telling jokes and making everyone stop. Another time Maharajji called us into his office and told us to start singing. We started singing but no one was really into it so after a while it died down, and then he yelled from the other room, “Keep singing.” We picked it up again and it died down again, and he yelled, “Keep singing.” And finally after about three hours the singing caught on and got really great. When it ended everyone just naturally fell into meditation, and as soon as that happened we heard from the other room, “Take dinner,” and we were all ushered into the other room. We were never able to cling to that meditation space.

(from Miracle of Love)

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

What seems to be a hindrance, what seems to be a problem is revealed as our gift, as our place of opening

Tue, 23 May 2006 09:58:05 GMT

It seems I’m saying something foolish. For if this castle is the soul, clearly one doesn’t have to enter it since it is within oneself. How foolish it would seem if we were to tell someone to enter a room he is already in. But you must understand that there is a great difference in the ways one may be inside the castle.

Our koan today is likewise foolish, and likewise necessary. Necessary because until that “place in the room” is realized, we don’t do the work we’re here to do with full intensity, and life suffers. Whether the work is cleaning up the muck from the river, building a Zen center, or mowing the lawn, it won’t get our full attention if we’ve not “entered where we are.” It’s that half-hearted, “half-assed” way of being that this training can make whole. The wholeness of not only our individual lives, but of this whole planet depends on that entry into this real, raw moment. It is the only right action. It is the only imperative. That’s what this koan deals with, and what every koan deals with. Let’s not miss that. Too much is at stake to do this in some dull and distant way.

Here is some background to the meeting of Aryasinha and Basyasita in our main case, drawn from the accompanying commentary:

The father of the young successor introduced his son, Sita, to the present Buddha, explaining that the boy was born with is left fist clenched. The strange condition, he said, still persists. Aryasinha then explained the hidden karmic cause of this strange condition: “In a previous existence, I was a simple Buddhist monk. I received a small crystal of perfect Nondual Wisdom, offered to me by the Naga kings of the Western Ocean. I entrusted this priceless wisdom treasure to a certain young man named Basia, who guarded it with great loyalty.” Aryasinha then demanded of Sita, “Now give me back that original gem.” Immediately Sita’s left hand opened, for the first time since birth, releasing a clear stone.

In this, Aryasinha decisively pointed the next Buddha toward the open door of Mahamudra, the inexhaustible treasure of the eye that discerns everywhere only ultimate teaching.

What seems to be a hindrance, what seems to be a problem is revealed as our gift, as our place of opening – what we’re here to do. It is said that: “Mahamudra dawns only when one lets go every precious treasure, both from this conventional world and from the Dharma realms, only when one melts and lets go every responsibility, no matter how sacred.” The koan rests and springs to life in this jewel, the “thing” each of us carries around as our excuse, our complaint, the story of our life. How can you let go, the koan demands, without losing the wisdom that unique experience has given you?

Implicit is the possibility. How can you be free from the causes that are affecting how this moment is experienced, without blithely and irresponsibly denying their reality?
Implicit is the fact that Buddha after Buddha, generation after generation has done just that, has been that free. Now the jewel is in this hand. Will we ease the grip, let go of the control, let the light radiate?

In the stages of spiritual training, we begin with letting go of thoughts and, in a certain sense, that’s the easy part. As we begin to work with thoughts, we also begin to recognize the irrelevance of most of the material possessions we carry around with us. Most of us find some level of simplicity that feels appropriate and begin to let go of the gathering up, the having, and the identity that has developed from having lived with all our “stuff.” We then begin to accumulate spiritual experience, spiritual capacities and insights, techniques and postures. That’s when the true work begins.

Master Seng Ts’an thaught that “the Great Way is not difficult for those who are unattached to their preferences.” This is a beautiful and intricate line because of what it doesn’t teach. It doesn’t teach that the Great Way is not difficult when you have no preference. That might be true, but it isn’t particularly helpful. What it does teach is to be alert to attaching, to the sense of having to have something or some condition in order to be whole. To see how our attachments function is much more subtle, and quite often embarrassing. Of course, most of us will prefer comfort over discomfort, kindness and respect over meanness and disrespect, and we usually prefer to get our way. I watch this attachment and suffering in our dog, Lobo, when he wants me to go out with him and I can’t because I’m working. I’ll let him in, and he’ll sit there for a minute or two, and then whine to go out. I’ll let him out, and he’ll stand outside for a few minutes, and then whine to come in. He wants a situation that isn’t happening: both of us outside. Fortunately, he eventually chooses his life, and will find a bone to chew, or a dream to run and play inside of, napping away while moving his feet in pursuit of some sleep-imagined chipmunk.

The Great Way is not difficult for those who are unattached to their preferences;
Cling to a hairbreadth of distinction and Heaven and Earth are set apart.
If you want to realize the truth, don’t be for or against;
As vast as infinite space, it is perfect and lacks nothing.

And so we sit still during zazen, not because stillness is better than movement, but in the profound and simple commitment to this moment as it is. From that commitment, right action is realized. That commitment takes us into the real work of clarity, and to dealing with the foggy nature of attachment. The implications of being stuck in a way of seeing, in a point of view we don’t recognize as one of many, are manifold, and often destructive. It is really important that we appreciate the revolutionary power of practicing that commitment.

Master Keizan speaks of the endless, vast implications in the commentary to this case, saying: “Even though there are myriad of forms and thousands of basic categories, they are all simply the original Mind Light.” Mahamudra is abiding continuously not only within but as this primordial radiance; it is neither meditation practice nor mental insight. It neither grasps conceptual and perceptual appearances nor abandons them. It neither speaks nor avoids speech. That is the jewel in the hand, opening endlessly.

But does it live? “No conscious being,” Keizan says, “is fundamentally deficient of buddhahood.” To begin to work with this koan we need to consider what realizing this innate sufficiency might do to how we live. What are the responsibilities that suddenly become the vital activity of this life if we realize that no being, including the being saying “no being,” including the eye that sees all beings, is deficient in Buddha-nature? What’s our work – our activity – if that is the truth?

The koan commentary continues: “Mahamudra is a non-teaching because it has let go of the jewel of Buddha wisdom. There is no separate path to buddhahood and therefore no separate path to such a goal taken by separate conscious beings. Even to chant the Heart Sutra, ‘no path, no wisdom, and no goal,’ is still instinctively to clasp the crystal of Prajnaparamita in our hand.”

In koan after koan, monks come forward into the teaching room and say, “I’ve let go of it all.” And the teacher says, “Let go of that.” “I am poor and destitute,” the student comes forward and says. The teacher says, “Shame on you. There you are, having drunk three full glasses of the greatest wine, claiming your lips are dry.” Year after year of practice, we’ll think we’ve dealt with the hard part, gotten past it, let it go. Now we’re cleaned out, now we’re ready. Immediately the next koan, the next jewel appears, and we kill its light like a kid gripping a firefly. This is the time to let go, not yesterday, and not tomorrow. I’m always learning this (and thinking I won’t need to learn it again.)

How can we guard the jewel passed from Buddha to Buddha? A commentary on the koan reveals the way: “Aryasinha requests Basiasita to guard well the incalculable treasure, Mahamudra, but not in any sense of defending it from intruders by keeping it locked or hidden away, for by its very nature Mahamudra always remains immediately accessible, fully revealed. No one and nothing can stain it. Guarding it means refusing to hold onto it.”

This koan invites us to entertain the possibility that, perhaps, our life is not a mistake. Perhaps, our clenched fist disability is actually where the unseen jewel, the radiant light, of our life is contained, if we let go of our ideas. That letting go is the beginning of freedom, the guarding of the mind-light mahamudra with our lives. The closing poem from the koan shows the fire of that kind of life “bursting” forth. Don’t let it lie flat on the page as a poem of ink and paper: let the blood poem live in your way of seeing, speaking, acting –

The ancient springtime mind-light, original
Before blossoms or leaves,
Shining, bursting, blazing from bare limbs,
Blending with all, benefiting all,
Great mind-seal mahamudra.

(Bonnie Myotai Treace. Mountain Record)

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Aids to Bhakti

malcha — Mon, 22 May 2006 02:35:21 GMT

"People put the question: "How can we love God whom we have not seen?" Live in the company of saints and hear of the divine sport of God, study the sacred scriptures. Worship Him first in His several forms as manifested in the world. Worship any image or picture of the Lord or the guru. Recite His name, sing His glories. Stay for a year in Brindavan or Ayodhya, Chitrakute, Pandharpur, Benares, or Ananda Kutir. You will develop love for the Lord.

Every act must be done that awakens the emotion of bhakti. Keep the room of worship clean, decorate it, burn incense, light a lamp, keep a clean seat, bathe and wear clean clothes. Apply ash and kumkum (sacred red powder worn on the forehead by devotees). Wear a rosary, either that made of beads symbolising the third eye of Siva or that which is made from the stalks of the holy basil. All these produce a benign and elevating influence on the mind inspiring it and generating piety. They help to create the necessary attitude or feeling to invoke the deity that you want to worship. The mind will be able to concentrate easily.

Practice of right conduct, keeping company with the holy, repetition of God's name, remembrance, singing of the names of the Lord, prayer, worship, service of saints, residence in places of pilgrimage, service of the poor and the sick with divine feeling, observance of duties, offering of all actions and their fruits to the Lord, feeling the presence of the Lord in all beings, prostrations before the image and saints, renunciation of earthly enjoyments and wealth, charity, austerities and vows, practice of ahimsa (non-violence), truth and celibacy all these will help you to develop devotion.

Desire obstructs the growth of devotion. Devotion to the Lord increases in intensity when mundane desires are renounced. Renunciation is the very essence of devotional love. Divine love has no element of desire in it.

Devotion cannot co-exist with desire of any kind, not even the desire for liberation. The devotee wants God and God alone, and His loving service. The devotee loves God and serves Him and His creation. He does not strive consciously for liberation which God confers on his devotee unsolicited."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

Flower of Flowers

malcha — Tue, 16 May 2006 22:57:38 GMT

"Divine love (or prema) is the flower of flowers. It is the rarest of all flowers and it is cultivated in the hearts of all devotees. Prema or bhakti is intense love, or the highest form of devotion to
God. it is supreme attachment to the lotus-feet of the Lord. It springs from the bottom of the devotee's heart. In it there is no effort, there is only genuine, natural, spontaneous longing to meet God.

Just as a fish cannot live without water, just as the sunflower cannot live without the sun, just as the chaste wife cannot live without her husband, so also a true devotee cannot live without God -
even for a moment.

Bhakti or prema is of the nature of nectar. It gives freedom to the devotee and makes him perfectly and fully satisfied. It takes him to the feet of the Lord.

There are three things which are indeed rare and are due to the grace of the Lord. They are human birth, the longing for liberation and the protecting care of a perfected sage.

The man who, having by virtuous actions in previous births, obtained a human birth and a good intellect, is foolish indeed not to exert for self-realisation. He verily commits suicide, for he kills
himself by clinging to things unreal.

There is no hope of immortality by means of riches. Such indeed is the emphatic declaration of the srutis (scriptures). The scriptures declare: "Na karmana na prajaya dhanena tyagenaike amrtatva masasuh" - "neither by rituals, nor by progeny, nor by riches, but by renunciation alone can one attain immortality."

Mere giving up of objects will not constitute real renunciation. Dear friends, remember this point well. Real tyaga (renunciation) consists in renouncing egoism, 'mine'-ness, selfishness, anger,
pride, desires and cravings.

People despise this Kali Yuga. This is a mistake for in Kali Yuga you can attain God-realisation easily, you do not have to do hard tapas (austerities). Merely singing the names of the Lord and by his constant remembrance will you attain God-realisation. Wherever there are satsanga (holy company), kirtan (chanting), svadhyaya (study of scriptures), bhaktas, swamis and yogis - there is Satya Yuga (golden age). In all ashrams and holy places Satya Yuga prevails. Kali cannot enter here."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Darshan Dreamtime with my Guru, Neeb Karori Baba

LisaBlissDancer — Sat, 20 May 2006 15:21:50 GMT

Last evening, or early this morning I had a wonderful visit from Maharaj-ji...he and I were on the shores of a river/lake, which was swollen with more water than it could handle. I was following Maharaj-ji to the shore, and fell to my knees to prostrate myself at his sweet Lotus Feet. As I touched one of his feet he sprung up into the air and instructed me to follow him, diving into the river...he was dressed in orange and appeared very small, but had the presence of Lord Hanuman, large energy...He dove into the river...he swam under the water for a long time and I struggled to keep up with him, I came up for air and he had duplicated himself several times...I could see him swimming in multiples under the water...I struggled in my mind with which one was the "real" Maharaji-ji, as I tried to swim to my Guru I suddenly had the consciousness to give up trying to figure out which one was the right one to follow, and surrender to just flowing with the water. As the surrender happened, I found myself swimming again with him, all knowing, smiling at me. We arrived at the shore, half immersed in water. As I gazed upon his beautiful face I noticed he was not wet...I let go of trying to figure it out...and then I awoke. Tears streaming down my face...I started my day in gratitude for his presence in my life.

Blessings from the Lotus Feet of Neeb Karori Baba!

Lisa

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

hanuman stotras

manish — Wed, 03 May 2006 19:26:13 GMT

http://www.brahmansabha.com/stotras/HANUMAN/

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

hanuman ! jayanti !

manish — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 09:31:05 GMT

http://forum.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=messageboard.viewThread&entryID=15584364&groupID=100718788&adTopicID=27&Mytoken=12C99296-1156-B7E4-B558F755C969CA3940207942

! AUM SHANTI !

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Freedom in Action

malcha — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 03:01:19 GMT

"Actions which are of a binding nature lose that nature when you do them with equanimity or evenness of mind through the help of pure reason, which has lost all attachment to sensual objects and which is resting in the self. You will have to cultivate and develop this pure reason and equanimity of mind.

God has given this marvellous machine to man for service of humanity and thereby attaining an immortal life. If he uses this body for satisfaction of petty desires and selfish ends, he becomes an object of pity and condemnation. He is caught up in the wheel of birth and death. Rest the mind in the self or God when you perform any action. He who has developed pure poised reason and who is resting in the self, is quite aware that all actions are done by the divine actor
within (antaryamin). He is perfectly conscious that God really operates in this body-machine and moves this machine.

This yogi of equanimity or evenness of mind now understands fully the fundamental principles that govern all bodily actions. He performs all actions for God's sake in fulfilment of his purpose without desire for fruit and eventually attains the everlasting peace.

Merit and demerit (punya and papa) do not affect the karma yogi who has evenness or equanimity of mind, for he exults not over the good fruit of the one nor worries over the bad fruit of the other. He has equanimity of mind in success and failure. His mind is always resting
in God all the while. Works which are of a binding nature lose that character when performed with a balanced mind. The karma yogi has no attachment to sensual objects. He has purified his mind by constant selfless service. He has given up all idea of agency. He treats the body as an instrument of God, given to him for the fulfilment of his purpose. He attributes all activities to the divine actor within. He who is established in the yoga of equanimity becomes an expert in he
science of karma yoga."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

20 Spiritual Sparks

malcha — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:00:57 GMT

Twenty Spiritual Sparks

1. I follow the religion of love.

2. I am a true Christian, a true Musalman, a true Hindu, a true Buddhist, a true Sikh and a true Parsi.

3. I can come nearer to you, but you must draw me by a purified heart and a strong, pure will.

4. No religion has monopoly over Truth or God. Each has a particular feature which it specially treasures, but there are also essential aspects common to all.

5. All prophets have only delivered and proclaimed in different languages the same principles of Eternal Goodness and Eternal Truth.

6. The lovers of God have no religion, but God alone.

7. Religion is essentially the art and the theory of the remaking of man. Man is not a finished creation.

8. Man is spiritually impoverished. He has the need for religion. And there is a need for co-operation among religions.

9. Man's pilgrimage through the many to the one is the most sacred pilgrimage. His pilgrimage is his journey through sorrow and pain to the goal of bliss in God.

10. Money can help you to get medicines but not health. Money can help you to get soft pillows, but not sound sleep. Money can help you to get material comforts, but not eternal bliss. Money can help you to get ornaments, but not beauty. Money will help you to get an electric earphone, but not natural hearing. Attain the supreme wealth wisdom, you will have everything.

11. Pain and death exist. Their ultimate cause is ignorance. Their cure is knowledge of Brahman or experience of the eternal bliss of the Supreme Self.

12. One need not necessarily or always have to wait for another birth to enjoy the fruits of present Karmas. According to the demerit of the Karmas one can experience their fruits within years, months, weeks, or days.

13. Ethics and spiritual practices open the door to Truth or the spirit.

14. Let your service be free from the taint of seeking recognition, power or position. Let your motive be altruistic.

15. Sacrifice means an act directed to the welfare of all life without receiving or desiring a return for it, either of a temporal or spiritual nature.

16. Cultivate cosmic love. Cultivate divine love. It will finally merge in the ocean of beauty, Truth and Bliss.

17. Endeavour enables man to endure and endurance stimulates his endeavour.

18. Purification, illumination, unification, perfection and liberation are the stages in the spiritual path.

19. Samadhi is seeing things as a whole as one.

20. Swim in the ocean of spiritual awareness. Enjoy the stupendous stillness of God-consciousness. Plunge in the river of eternal life. Behold the eternal light of Divine Beauty.

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 5 replies

it's in the name

spinningmonkey — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 03:25:07 GMT

~~Monkey: a particular type of spiritual monk...with a key. That key is laughter, light heartedness, endless curiosity and room for all to play, with a simple, grinning rejection of all things petty, heavy, mean spirited and oh so serious. It's a tough job sometimes...but some of us are just born to be baffoons! Or is that baboons? Wearing that nasty thing you threw at us on our head and spinning around the room until even you laugh...

I like this calling ;)
spinningmonkey

posted in MONKEY - 5 replies

HAppy HAnuman Jayanti!!!!!

wendy — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 07:01:52 GMT

Jaya!Wishing Everyone a Very Lovely&HAppy HAnuman JAyanti Full Moon!!JAya!

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

Spirit of Detachment

malcha — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:32:48 GMT

Worldly people are generally elated by success and depressed by failure. Elation and depression are the attributes of the mind. If you want to become a real karma yogi in the right sense of the term, you will have to keep a balanced mind at all times, in all conditions and under all circumstances. This is no doubt very difficult. But you will have to do it anyhow. Then only will you have peace of mind and real lasting happiness. He who keeps a balanced mind is a jnani. Karma yoga prepares the mind for the attainment of jnana. That is the beauty of karma yoga. That is the secret and essence of karma yoga.

There must not be the least attachment to any kind of work. You must be ready to leave any work at any time. There may be a divine call upon you for certain work. You will have to take it up at once without grumbling, whatever the nature of the work may be, whether you are willing or not. You will have to stop it also, if conditions and circumstances demand you to do so. This is yoga. There is no attachment to the work here.

Keep the reason rooted in the self. Have a poised mind amidst the changes of the world. Work for the fulfilment of purposes divine. Do not expect any fruit. Do everything as isvararpanam (offering to God). Work in unison with the divine will for the welfare of the world. Allow the divine energy to work unhampered through you. The moment your egoism comes in, there will be immediate blocking of the free flow of the divine energy. Make your indriya (senses) perfect instruments for his lila (work, play). Keep the body-flute hollow by emptying it of your egoism. Then the flute-bearer of Brindavan (Krishna) will play freely through this body-flute. He will work
through you. Then you will feel the lightness of the work. You will feel that God works through you. You will be washed of all the responsibilities. You will be as free as a bird. You will feel that
you are quite a changed being. Your egoism will try to re-enter. Be careful. Be on the alert. By gradual practice and purification of the mind you will become an expert in karma yoga. All your actions will be perfect and selfless. All actions will eventually culminate in jnana. This is the yoga of equanimity.

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 1 reply

HAppy Ramnavami!

wendy — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 14:46:09 GMT

HAil to the King of Ayoydya!HAil RAma!!!!SITA-RAMA!!!!KAya Hanuman-JI!Jaya!LAkshman!

posted in MONKEY - 4 replies

A Simple but Powerful Spiritual Practice

malcha — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:40:08 GMT

By
Sri Swami Atmaswarupananda

It is common thinking throughout the world to make a division between the spiritual life and the secular life. But if all is one, if God alone is, then perhaps the purpose of our spiritual life is to recognise that there is no such thing as secular life, that all life is spiritual. It is a question of where our consciousness is. The purpose of our spiritual practices is to raise our consciousness to a point where we recognise the fact that all life is divine.

Most of the time our consciousness seems to be in what we could call a secular level. Is there a simple practice that we could observe during the day that would help raise our consciousness in a steady and consistent fashion?

We may not be able to find time during the day for longer periods of spiritual practice, but usually we can find times when we can just sit--in the kitchen, in the office, no matter where-- for a few moments, and close our eyes and relax. That practice alone will help to steady our consciousness. If we add to it repetition of God's name, our mind will become focused, our consciousness will be raised. And as we are repeating God�' name we can recognise that something is aware of that repetition. We don't create a witness, because that's just another thought, but whatever is in our mind, we recognise that something is knowing it.

That something can never be grasped, but it is never absent whether we are sitting quietly, whether we are active, whether we are dreaming or whether we are in deep sleep. The remembrance of that ungraspable witness raises our consciousness and puts us in another dimension. And all this can be done in a few moments.

The spiritual life is not, at its core, something dramatic. Except in very rare circumstances, it is a step by step journey that continues for years. Some time ago one of our senior devotees passed away. She was a housewife who for years and years had followed regular spiritual practices. She didn't seem to be anything special, but when she was having her health crisis--even though she could have expected to have many more years to live--she was totally resigned to whether she lived or not. Swamiji (Swami Chidananda) marvelled. He said it is a result of her many years of consistent spiritual practice.

So we shouldn't underestimate the inner spiritual power of something like simply--for a few moments as frequently as we can--sitting quietly, repeating God's name and being aware that there is an unknowable witness who is always silently knowing everything.

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Ladder of Yoga

malcha — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 01:02:22 GMT

"There are people who have not been able to serve their preceptors, who have not done any selfless service, or any devotional practices, who have not had the heart to treat other children with the affection they show to their own, who may not have had the heart to help others who were in severe distress - and yet, they sit and speak high philosophy. They sit and speak of cosmic love, of cosmic vision and of their own spiritual experiences and realisation (brahma jnana). They repeat the mantra Sivoham Sivoham ("I am Siva") - or the mantra Aham Brahma Asmi ("I am the infinite") - every few minutes. They wish to be in contact with great avataras (incarnations of God) this very second.

Place your foot, step by step, very cautiously, on the different rungs of the ladder of yoga. Ascend very gradually to the summit. Be earnest in your sadhana (practice). Equip yourself with the necessary qualifications. Do not waste your time in search of a preceptor. When you are ready, you will enter the halls of wisdom. And there, waiting on the threshold, you will find your preceptor.

Sage Vasishta says: "I assure you on the authority of my own intuitional knowledge, as well as that of other illumined souls, that the reality can be realised by man. But one who has known it cannot communicate it to others, for want of means." Even the knowledge acquired by the five senses, which are common to all, cannot be communicated to others. You cannot tell the taste of butter to a man who has never tasted it. Nor can you communicate the idea of colour
to a man born blind.

All that a teacher can do is to tell his disciple the method of knowing the truth. All he can do is to tell the disciple of the path that leads to unfoldment of the intuitional faculty.

If you have a burning desire, like Lord Buddha, if you possess patience and forgiveness, and if you have devotion to the preceptor - then you can contact avataras and sages right now, this very second."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

too cute!

spinningmonkey — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 04:36:40 GMT

@ ^.^ @
..((----))..

Cynthia's 'monkey'--I love it!

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

Krishna Das and Bhakti Bliss

malcha — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 00:30:15 GMT

Happy Spring!
Here are some articles from the current Yoga Journal Online, an interview with Krishna Das and an article on Bhakti. Enjoy!

Interview with Krishna Das

http://www.yogajournal.com/views/667_1.cfm?ctsrc=nlv196

Article on Bhakti

http://www.yogajournal.com/newtoyoga/833_1.cfm

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

56 monkeys

spinningmonkey — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 06:39:20 GMT

~How many here are 1956 monkeys, turning 50 this year? I read a Chinese proverb that said you can't even being to know wisdom until you turn 50. This should be interesting...:)

Spinningmonkey, dizzy at any age!

posted in MONKEY - 9 replies

hanuman chalisa

manish — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 22:49:24 GMT

hanuman chalisa

http://www.neemkarolibaba.org/audiovideo/practice/HanumanChalisa%2004.mp3

posted in MONKEY - 4 replies

Hanuman Temple explosion

malcha — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 22:51:54 GMT

Here's a sad story I saw on the India tribe, posted by Abhinavagupta.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4783646.stm

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Creator said

malcha — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 04:04:22 GMT

"I asked Creator to take away my habit.
Creator said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked Creator to make my handicapped child whole.
Creator said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked Creator to grant me patience.
Creator said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked Creator to give me happiness.
Creator said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked Creator to spare me pain.
Creator said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked Creator to make my spirit grow.
Creator said, No.
You must grow on your own!
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked Creator for all things that I might enjoy life.
Creator said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask Creator to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
Creator said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea."

-author unknown (thank you, Empty Cloud)

posted in MONKEY - 7 replies

Birth and Death

malcha — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:01:21 GMT

"Birth and death, bondage and freedom, pleasure and pain, gain and loss - all are mental creations. Transcend the pairs of opposites. You were never born, you will never die. Thou art the immortal self always, O Prem. Thou art ever free from the three periods of time. It is the physical body that goes and comes. The self is all-full, all- pervading, infinite and partless.

Recognise, O Prem, that you are the living truth. Realise that you are always inseparable from the one essence that is the substratum of all these illusory names and forms. Get yourself firmly established in Brahman. Nothing can disturb you now. You have become
invulnerable. Feel this through intuition when you enter into deep samadhi (the supreme silence), my child.

The god of death will tremble before you now. By your command the sun shines, the fire burns and the wind blows. Thou art beyond time, space and causation. Just as the clouds hide the sun, so also the darkness of ignorance, the clouds of the vasanas (mental conditioning) and egoism, are hiding the jnana surya (sun of wisdom) that is ever shining in the chambers of your heart.

Through meditation and attainment of self-knowledge (atma-jnana) you will dispel the dark clouds of ignorance. Now you will shine in Brahmic splendour and glory. Proclaim this truth everywhere.

You must not be afraid of maya (illusion) now. She is under your perfect control. Stand firm like yonder rock. Be adamantine. Now move about in the world like a lion. Now go and lift up the young struggling souls out of the mire of samsara (worldly life).

Disseminate knowledge of the self. Love all. Be kind to all. Expand thy heart. Have space in thy heart for all, even for the man who is trying to poison you.

Do not come under the influence of sudden impulses. Do not be carried away by the force of emotions, no matter how noble they may be. Be ever vigilant. Be ever diligent. Be not troubled. Be not anxious. Be not idle. Wait coolly. You are bound to succeed. Develop courage by feeling you are the atman. Deny the "I am the body" idea. Practise meditation. All difficulties will come to an end. You will enjoy unalloyed bliss."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 6 replies

Ramayana Audio book mp3

NityanandaRam — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 19:05:42 GMT

http://s18.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0R39AGOE094R028TLCP6GZKWE4
enjoy

posted in MONKEY - 3 replies

Essentials are the Same

malcha — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 18:37:24 GMT

"The essentials or fundamentals of all religions are the same. Only non-essentials differ. 'The Noble Eightfold Path' corresponds to 'The Sermon on the Mount' of Lord Jesus, and to the practice of sadacara (right conduct) of the Hindus. Every religion shows the correct path
to God-realisation.

Every religion emphatically declares: "One can attain eternal bliss, immortality (God-realisation). To do this one must speak the truth, observe purity or self-restraint, love others, and practise
concentration and meditation."

An intolerant man cannot attain God-realisation. As his intellect becomes clouded on account of intolerance, he cannot grasp the truth. All prophets are the messengers of God. They are great yogis who have divine intuitive perception of God. Their words are infallible and sacred.

Had it not been for these prophets and their writings, there would be no hope for the salvation and betterment of man. Each prophet helped mankind by the dissemination of knowledge and the founding of the religion which would be most suited to the people amongst whom they flourished. Glory to these prophets and their writings. May their blessings be upon you all!

Beloved Friends! Behold the unity or oneness of all religions. He who knows the truth, who has grasped the essence of all religions, will never again enter into heated debates.

Realise your identity and intimate relationship with all beings - with ants and dogs, with elephants and tigers, with Muslims and Jews, with Hindus and Christians. There is only a degree of difference in manifestation or expression. All forms belong to God or Saguna Brahman.

May you all live happily, with one heart! May you all understand the essential unity of all religions! May the blessings of all the founders of all the religions be upon you! May you all attain God-
realisation in this very life!

OM PEACE! OM PEACE! OM PEACE! "

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

See Good in All Healing Agents

malcha — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 01:38:36 GMT

"Brahman or the eternal is infinite. His expressions are also infinite. Allopathy, homeopathy, hydropathy, chromopathy, electropathy, naturopathy, ayurveda, unani, all are his manifestations. All these systems differ. Temperaments also are different, so are natures. Therefore different systems of treatment suit people of different natures.

It is only the prejudiced man who says,'Oh, allopathy is useless - homeopathy is the best system'. Or,'Nature cure is good and ayurveda is bad'. For some people ayurvedic medicines are good, for some unani medicines are good, and so on.

Sun's rays, water, herbs, green leaves, steam, mud - all are medicines. They are all products of nature. Only the names are different. The very fact that different systems exist shows that
there is something good in each.

Even atoms, molecules and corpuscles have their loves and hates, likes and dislikes, attractions and repulsions, affinities and non- affinities. Everybody has his own whims and fancies, his own eccentricities.

A naturopath hates and condemns an allopath. An allopath dislikes naturopathy. But a large-hearted doctor, a man with equal-vision and tolerance, who has practical knowledge of vedanta, can find good in every system. He can appreciate the beauty of variety of divine
expression. He can behold unity in diversity and thus use every system to the best advantage.

Every system has its own advantage and bright side. Every system has come from the one divine source. Do not fight with one another. Do not try to prove the superiority of your system.

Take the good in everything. Be tolerant. Become wise and happy. Lead a healthy life. Attain God-realisation through the instrument of the body - the healthy, strong body.

If you have a powerful will and a strong power of endurance, then you will not feel pain. By constant thinking of disease, pain and trouble, you augment the suffering. Pain is in the mind. Atman is full of bliss."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies

The Temple of God

malcha — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 03:38:05 GMT

"This mysterious human body, the temple of God, the nine gated city of Brahman, is a marvellous palace for the immortal indweller, or soul. The body is a product of the prarabdha karma (the karma that determines this present life for this individual soul). It belongs to the jiva (individual soul) and the virat (the physical world) also. The sum total of all physical bodies is virat purusa (the deity presiding over the universe).

The body is the most marvellous and delicate machine in the world. It is a highly complex mechanism. Even the most eminent doctors in the world have not yet completely understood its structure and working. One virulent microbe can destroy it in an instant. The body is surrounded on all sides by enemies and yet man lives. This is a very great mystery. This is due to the grace of the Lord. The force of prarabdha protects and nourishes it.

A spermatozoan, which is a millionth part of a drop, and an ovum, joined together, give rise to the formation of this body. What a great mystery. That subtle essence, which is the source for this, that which sustains these, is thy own self. That is truth. That is soul. Thou art that.

Realise this and free yourself from the cage of bone and flesh. The growth of the body, with all its limbs, organs, etc., from this tiny speck of sperm, proclaims the omnipotence of the Lord.

God is that wonderful architect who has built this wonderful body palace. The architect of this marvellous body has shown the greatest skill. He is the architect of all architects. The arches of
buildings are nothing when compared to the arches of the body, which are a few fragile bones, joined together to form the arch of the foot, which supports the weight of the body. One tiny nerve moves the muscles of the face. The face then expresses the emotions of the mind, what a grand marvel!

Look at that delicate organ of the eye. One small aperture which allows a mountain to enter! This greatest architect is the Lord who dwells in the chamber of your heart. Glory to him. Prostrations to this great architect."

-Swami Sivananda

posted in MONKEY - 0 replies

the relation between smokin' ganja and shiva is the the story of story of samudra manthan(churning of the ocean) (the mind of human consciousness) for the amrit goal of self realisation

manish — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 04:13:40 GMT

the relation between smokin' ganja and shiva is the the story of samudra manthan(churning of the ocean) (the mind of human consciousness) for the amrit goal of self realisation

Symbolism of Samudra manthan(churning of the ocean)

The story represents the spiritual endeavor of a person to achieve self-realisation through concentration of mind, withdrawal of senses, control of desires and practice of austerities and asceticism.

* The Devas and Asuras represent the positives and negatives respectively of one's personality. The participation of both the Devas and the Asuras signifies that when one is seeking bliss through spiritual practice, one has to integrate and harmonise both the positive and negative aspects and put both the energies to work for the common goal.

* The ocean of milk is the mind or the human consciousness. The mind is like an ocean while the thoughts and emotions are the waves in the ocean.

* Mandhara, the mountain symbolises concentration. The word Mandhara is made up of two words Mana (mind) and Dhara (a single line) which means holding the mind in one line. This is possible only by concentration.

* Mount Mandhara was upheld by Lord Vishnu as a Kurma (tortoise). The tortoise here symbolises the withdrawal of the senses into oneself (just as a tortoise withdraws its head into its shell) as one practices mental concentration and meditation or contemplation.

* Vasuki symbolises desire. Vasuki used in the churning of the ocean denotes that the Devas and the demons held desire (to seek immortality) as a rope and churned the mind with the help of concentration and withdrawal of the senses. Desire, if not controlled will overpower and destroy an individual.

* The Halahala poison(or ganja today) symbolises suffering and pain (counter-reaction of the mind and body) that one undergoes at the beginning of spiritual sadhana (practice). When the mind is subjected to intense concentration, the first thing that comes out of the process is intense suffering and great inner turmoil. These must be resolved otherwise further progress is not possible.

==> * Lord Shiva symbolises the ascetic principle. His role in this story as the consumer of poison suggests that one can deal with the early problems of spiritual life by cultivating the qualities of Lord Shiva, namely, courage, initiative, willingness, discipline, simplicity, austerity, detachment, compassion, pure love and asceticism.

The various precious objects that come out of the ocean during the churning stand for the psychic or spiritual powers (Siddhis) which one gains as s/he progresses spiritually from stage to stage. The seeker should be careful about these powers as they can hamper her/his progress unless s/he uses them judiciously, not for selfish gains but for others' welfare. This is the reason why the Gods and demons distributed these objects as they did not want to lose sight of their original aim which was to gain immortality.

* Dhanvantari symbolises health and signifies that immortality (longevity, to be correct) or spiritual success can be achieved only when the body and the mind are in a perfect state of health.

* Mohini symbolises delusion of the mind in the form of (or originating from) pride. It is the pride of achievement to which the asuras or the demons succumbed and thus lost sight of their goal. Pride and egoism are the last hurdles one has to overcome in spiritual life before experiencing self-realisation.

* The Amrit symbolises the ultimate achievement of the goal of self-realistion.

!! AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA !!

posted in MONKEY - 2 replies