1. He is devoid of all attachments.
2. He is a yogi and wanders by foot all over the earth.
3.He is engrossed in his own self.
4. He does not have any belongings.
5. He wears koupeena, one danda and one clothe for covering himself.
6. He does not differentiate between good and bad.
7. He does not become happy when offered respect nor get angry when insulted.
8.He is silent.
9.He does not carry a vessel for alms and begs with his hand. He takes only what is sufficient for survival of the body.
Source : Vishnusmruti chapter 4, slokas 23 to 30
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Heads of mutts
There is a difference in the sanyasa dharma for the heads of the mutts such as sankaracharyas and various other mutts with an established parampara. They are the upholders of dharma. They have many worldly responsibilites.Their presence in the samsara is not for enjoyment but for the execution of the responsbilities entrusted to them. In their absence there will not be any interpreters of dharma and religion will disintegrate and disappear.
Sanyasa is only auxillary to their responsbilities as heads of the mutts so that their actions are selfless and pure. They are karmayogis.
Sanyasa is only auxillary to their responsbilities as heads of the mutts so that their actions are selfless and pure. They are karmayogis.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Baba (un)Ltd.
In an era where babahood has become a lucrative career option and when asrams are being run like corporate houses, let's look at what scriptures have to say about Gurus and Sanayasis.
Qualities of Guru (ref: Rudrayamalam)
1. Neerogi - disease free
2. Nirahankaraha - without ego or pride
3. Vikararahitaha - unperturbed by emotions
4. Mahan - magnanimous
5. Panditaha - scholar
6. Vakpatihi - eloquent
7. Sreeman - one with aiswarya
8. Sada yajnavidhanakrit - always engaged in yajnas
9. Purascharanakrit - one who has done mantra purascharana (procedure required for mantra siddhi.
10. Sidhhaha - one who has attained mantra siddhi
11. Hitahitahivarjithaha - one who does not differntaite between good and bad
12. Sarvalakshnasamyuktaha - possessor of all noble signs
13.Mahajangannadrutaha - respected by noble people
14. Pranayamadisiddhantaha - skillfull in pranayama etc.
15.Jnanee - Enlightened
16. Mounee - moderate in speech
17. Viragavan - one who posesses vairagya
18.Tapasvee - performer of tapas
19.Satyavadee - honest
20.Sada dhyanaparayanaha - perpetually engaged in meditation
21.Agamarthavishishtajnaha - well versed in the meaning of agamas
22.Nijadhamaparyanaha - engaged in own dharma
23.Bhadradabavan - generous
24.Dhritivan - stern and stable.
The disciple is told to avoid a Guru who does not posess the above qualities and also a guru who is not concerned about the welfare of others, angry and violent by nature, unstable in charecter and behaviour, unintelligent, dceitful in nature, not posseeing a peaceful nature, sinful, unhealthy, one who uses foul language, womaniser and one who is not faithful to his wife.
The disciple should also avoid a hypocrite, one who talks a lot, one who eats a lot, one who is a miser as his Guru.
The sastra clearly says that a test of the Guru on the above counts (called gurupareekshanam) should be done before accepting him as guru.
The guru also should put the disciple through intense test sometimes even lasting for years before imparting knowledge to him.
Gurus who advertise themselves through posters, banners, TV shows and all other marketing gimmicks are only selling. We have fallen to a level where disciples flock to gurus seeing their adverisements and deeksha is given against cheques and receipts.
It is fun listening to the babas who were caught red handed. The jeevatma paramatma jargon suddenly disappears and the down to earth slang surfaces saying " mujhe dusre babaon ne phasaya hai -I have been trapped by the other babas". They know they are in business and it is the competition playing foul. Otherwise why such a reaction.
Coming to sanyasa, most of these babas claim to be sanyasis or sadhus who have relinquished worldly life. Let's see what scriptures have to say about sanyasa dharma.
( Ref: Manusmruti)
1. One should enter the asrama of sanyasa after passing through the three previous stages and repaying three debts. The debt to the rishis should be repaid by learning of the vedas, that to the pitrus by procreation and that to the devas through yajnas. ( There are differnt opinions here. Jabalopanishad says one can enter sanyasa from any of the previous stages.)
2.He should not cause harm to any being movable or immovable.
3. He should not be attached to anything like food etc.
4. He should not be dependent on anyone and should move around alone.
5. He should live in the forest and enter the village only for begging.
6. He should not live in a house.
7. He should be negligent about his health.
8. His mind should be engrossed in adhyatma
9. He should not talk much.
10. He should wear the danda, kamandalu and should carry bhikshapatra.
11. He should feed on tubers.
12. He should wear only worn out clothes.
13. He should neither long for death nor desire long life.
14. He should walk looking at the ground so that no harm is caused even to insects and should drink only strained water.
15. He should not collect or amass anything.
16. He should tolerate abuses from others and should not react or insult in retaliation.
17. He should neither have friends nor enemies.
18. He should not bear grudge towards anyone.
19. He should not be attached even to his danda and kamandalu.
20. He should not try to make a living by interpretation of sastras, scholarly debates, offering advice and also means such as astrology. He should survive by begging.
21. His vessel should be made of objects such as alaboo(a vegetable) shell, bamboo, wood or clay.
22. He should collect and eat only as much as required for survival.
23. He should not accept alms offered with respect. This will lead to attachment.
24. He should not accept alms from the same person again and again. (atrismruti)
25. He should not bless anyone nor wish anyone (brihadvishnusmruti)
26. He should not keep disciples nor should he impart knowledge to others. (dakshasmruti)
27. Sanyasa is only for brahmins (vishnusmruti)
28. One who offers gold,money etc. to sanyasi, tamboolam to brahmachari and shelter to thief falls into hell. (parasarasmruti)
29. One who becomes a sanyasi and does not live like one, the king should mark his forehead with the foot of the dog and throw him out of the country. (dakshasmruti)
30. The sanyasi who involves himself in teaching of sastras or worldly matters or takes interest in good clothes and food or living in houses will not attain moksha.
Any more takers ??
Real sanyasis do exist even today. You will not find them moving around in luxury cars and giving discources before invitee audience in air conditioned asrams. They will be in the Himalayas or similar places minding their own business.
Qualities of Guru (ref: Rudrayamalam)
1. Neerogi - disease free
2. Nirahankaraha - without ego or pride
3. Vikararahitaha - unperturbed by emotions
4. Mahan - magnanimous
5. Panditaha - scholar
6. Vakpatihi - eloquent
7. Sreeman - one with aiswarya
8. Sada yajnavidhanakrit - always engaged in yajnas
9. Purascharanakrit - one who has done mantra purascharana (procedure required for mantra siddhi.
10. Sidhhaha - one who has attained mantra siddhi
11. Hitahitahivarjithaha - one who does not differntaite between good and bad
12. Sarvalakshnasamyuktaha - possessor of all noble signs
13.Mahajangannadrutaha - respected by noble people
14. Pranayamadisiddhantaha - skillfull in pranayama etc.
15.Jnanee - Enlightened
16. Mounee - moderate in speech
17. Viragavan - one who posesses vairagya
18.Tapasvee - performer of tapas
19.Satyavadee - honest
20.Sada dhyanaparayanaha - perpetually engaged in meditation
21.Agamarthavishishtajnaha - well versed in the meaning of agamas
22.Nijadhamaparyanaha - engaged in own dharma
23.Bhadradabavan - generous
24.Dhritivan - stern and stable.
The disciple is told to avoid a Guru who does not posess the above qualities and also a guru who is not concerned about the welfare of others, angry and violent by nature, unstable in charecter and behaviour, unintelligent, dceitful in nature, not posseeing a peaceful nature, sinful, unhealthy, one who uses foul language, womaniser and one who is not faithful to his wife.
The disciple should also avoid a hypocrite, one who talks a lot, one who eats a lot, one who is a miser as his Guru.
The sastra clearly says that a test of the Guru on the above counts (called gurupareekshanam) should be done before accepting him as guru.
The guru also should put the disciple through intense test sometimes even lasting for years before imparting knowledge to him.
Gurus who advertise themselves through posters, banners, TV shows and all other marketing gimmicks are only selling. We have fallen to a level where disciples flock to gurus seeing their adverisements and deeksha is given against cheques and receipts.
It is fun listening to the babas who were caught red handed. The jeevatma paramatma jargon suddenly disappears and the down to earth slang surfaces saying " mujhe dusre babaon ne phasaya hai -I have been trapped by the other babas". They know they are in business and it is the competition playing foul. Otherwise why such a reaction.
Coming to sanyasa, most of these babas claim to be sanyasis or sadhus who have relinquished worldly life. Let's see what scriptures have to say about sanyasa dharma.
( Ref: Manusmruti)
1. One should enter the asrama of sanyasa after passing through the three previous stages and repaying three debts. The debt to the rishis should be repaid by learning of the vedas, that to the pitrus by procreation and that to the devas through yajnas. ( There are differnt opinions here. Jabalopanishad says one can enter sanyasa from any of the previous stages.)
2.He should not cause harm to any being movable or immovable.
3. He should not be attached to anything like food etc.
4. He should not be dependent on anyone and should move around alone.
5. He should live in the forest and enter the village only for begging.
6. He should not live in a house.
7. He should be negligent about his health.
8. His mind should be engrossed in adhyatma
9. He should not talk much.
10. He should wear the danda, kamandalu and should carry bhikshapatra.
11. He should feed on tubers.
12. He should wear only worn out clothes.
13. He should neither long for death nor desire long life.
14. He should walk looking at the ground so that no harm is caused even to insects and should drink only strained water.
15. He should not collect or amass anything.
16. He should tolerate abuses from others and should not react or insult in retaliation.
17. He should neither have friends nor enemies.
18. He should not bear grudge towards anyone.
19. He should not be attached even to his danda and kamandalu.
20. He should not try to make a living by interpretation of sastras, scholarly debates, offering advice and also means such as astrology. He should survive by begging.
21. His vessel should be made of objects such as alaboo(a vegetable) shell, bamboo, wood or clay.
22. He should collect and eat only as much as required for survival.
23. He should not accept alms offered with respect. This will lead to attachment.
24. He should not accept alms from the same person again and again. (atrismruti)
25. He should not bless anyone nor wish anyone (brihadvishnusmruti)
26. He should not keep disciples nor should he impart knowledge to others. (dakshasmruti)
27. Sanyasa is only for brahmins (vishnusmruti)
28. One who offers gold,money etc. to sanyasi, tamboolam to brahmachari and shelter to thief falls into hell. (parasarasmruti)
29. One who becomes a sanyasi and does not live like one, the king should mark his forehead with the foot of the dog and throw him out of the country. (dakshasmruti)
30. The sanyasi who involves himself in teaching of sastras or worldly matters or takes interest in good clothes and food or living in houses will not attain moksha.
Any more takers ??
Real sanyasis do exist even today. You will not find them moving around in luxury cars and giving discources before invitee audience in air conditioned asrams. They will be in the Himalayas or similar places minding their own business.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Celibacy in Hinduism
Most of our Gods were married. Brahma to Saraswathi, Indra to Sachi, Siva to Parvathy, Vishnu to Lakshmi and Bhoomidevi, Ganapathy to Riddhi and Siddhi, Subramanya to Valli and Devayani, Krishna to Rukmini,Satyabhama and many more off the records, Rama to Sita, Sastha to Poorna and Pushkala, Balaji to Padmavathy.
Most of our Rishis were also married. Atri married Anasuya, Agastya married Lopamudra, Jamadagni married Renuka, Bharadvaja married Susheela, Vasishta married Arundhati, Gautama married Ahalya, Bhrigu married Khyati, Angiras married Svadha,Smriti,Sati and Sraddha, Kasyapa married Aditi, Diti, Danu,Kadru, Vinita,Surabhi,Sarmas,Muni,Khasa,Krodha Arishta and Ila, Pulastya married Preeti, Pulaha married Kshama and Kratu married Sannati.
They were all following dharma.
Brahmacharya is a word often confused with celibacy. Brahmachari means one who treads the path of knowledge ( brahma also means mantra). There are four stages of life which a man has to go through. The first stage is called brahmacharya in which the focus is on acquisition of knowledge. Then he graduates into the grihasthasrama or that of the householder wherein so many duties and responsibilities including procreation are taken up by him. The third stage is vanaprastha or going to the forest for retirement after finishing his duties and finally sanyasa to attain mukti.
The student is called the brahmachari and this stage begins with the initiation ceremony called upanayana. The student is expected to observe strict discipline so that he remains focused on the path of knowledge. The brahmachari is supposed to
1. Stay in Gurukula and observe all rules.
2. Take bath every day an worship Devas, Rishis a and Pitrus and perform Samidadhana (agnikarya).
3.Avoid honey, meat, perfumes, garlands and ornaments,women and sweets, sour items.
4.Avoid harm to all beings.
5.Avoid oil bath, applying anjana, footwear, umbrella.
6.Relinquish desires, anger and greed.
7.Avoid music, dance and musical instruments.
8.Avoid gambling, debates, gossip, lying, looking at women with desire, embracing women and harm to others.
9.Sleep alone.
10.Beg for alms every day and hand it over to the teacher.
11. perform service to the teacher.
12.Show respect to the teacher and not to sit in front of him unless ordered to do so.
13.Eat inferior food and wear inferior clothes than the teacher, get up before the the teacher gets up and sleep only after he goes to sleep
14.Sit at a lower level than the teacher.
and so many more ...........Abstinence in only one among them.
These are all applicable during studentship. For the householder the rules change. The above mentioned Rishis observed brahmacharya in the first stage and later matured into the next stage.
Celibacy is a rule during brahmacharya but an exception subsequently.Even during brahmacharya while performing the daily samidadhana the brahmachari prays "mayi medham mayi prajam mayyagnistejo dadhatu" - Lord Agni, give me intellect, give me children and give me brilliance. It is not life long celibacy that is envisaged for the brahmachari.
The sages attained the highest realms of spirituality even when they were married and householders. Many of them had more than one wife and many children. Their spiritual content is not known to have depleted on account of that. There may be occasional stories such as those of Visvamitra and Menaka and the essence is not virtue of celibacy but breaking of a vow.
The religion considers abstinence as a rule to be followed during studentship, not necessarily a virtue to be observed lifelong.
The whole problem starts when it is made to look as if Hinduism is yoga and meditation. Yoga or to be more precise Hadha yoga is just one of the methods for spiritual growth among hundreds. In yoga, the body is the sole and whole medium for spiritual transformation, hence all this focus on the body. All bodily functions are kept strictly under control in this method including food intake, sleep, rest, postures etc. There are even concepts like reversal of the apana hence total abstinence. Yoga is individualistic, hence collective dharma has little role in it.
Abstinence even in thought is essential for success in yoga.
In Hindu religion procreation is a dharma to be followed by the householder whereas in yoga abstinence is a rule to be observed and any deviation an impediment in growth.
Manu smriti declares that abstinence during the first four days of the cycle and on parvas as the rule for the householder.
The media is full of discourses where the virtue of celibacy is extolled because the speakers mostly belong and have exposure only to the yoga school of thought(no offence meant). This creates confusion in the common man and he starts thinking that it is a sin to be engaging in grihastha asrama.
For hadha yogis celibacy is necessary, because they need to preserve all sorts of energies in the body and channelize them in the upliftment of kundalini shakti. Not for the ordinary religious man. Only the wrestlers and weightlifters need to develop those bulging muscles and heroes the six pack.
The true self
Some say, peace is your true nature, calmness is your true nature, "self" undisturbed and unperturbed by thoughts and emotions is your true nature. This is called realization of the soul. Yoga (serious yoga, not the one that comes on TV) attempts to achieve chitta vritti nirodha or banning of all mental activities.
This state of calmness is what a canvas is to a painting. This thoughtless emotionless state is the plain white canvas. The colors are added to the canvas. Then it becomes lively. These colors are the thoughts and emotions. The plain canvas is lifeless. The painting is lively. It may depict love, violence, anger, anguish, anxiety, grief, beauty or anything else. Still it is lively. The plain canvas is dead.
If you scratch the colors away, you will find the plain canvas. What is so great about it ? Vedas advocated actions for spiritual growth, that too collective not individualistic. There is no silencing of the mind in the Vedas. There is no banishing of thought and intellect in the Vedas. Vedas knew that mankind was evolving and prescribed actions to assist this evolution.
Even Siva at dissolution does not stay in that motionless state for long. Spanda (vibration) starts within himself and he goes into the action(creation) mode again.
There is nothing so great about that "inner peace". It is just yet another state. Over glorified.
Friday, March 5, 2010
God inside
Some say, if you want to find God look inside. Before looking inside, if you have not found God outside, the God you will find inside will be one who is confused, insecure, jealous, greedy and scared.
Crow and the pigeon eggs
Question : I suddenly notice a crow about to feast upon the pigeon eggs hatching at my windowsill. Will I not accrue papa if I do not chase the crow away?
Answer: If you chase the crow away, it is because the prakruti/nature/god has conditioned your mind through years of sensory inputs to act that way so that the egg hatches into life.
If you allow the crow to have its meal, again it is because the prakruti/nature/god has conditioned your mind through years of sensory inputs to act that way so that the crow doesn't starve to death.
In both cases A LIFE is saved.
It is all your perception. You are looking at the life inside the egg as the poor helpless and the life inside the crow as the cruel one. Once the egg is hatched, what will it do? It will start feeding on so many other lives like insects, ants, worms etc. That is the way of nature.
Answer: If you chase the crow away, it is because the prakruti/nature/god has conditioned your mind through years of sensory inputs to act that way so that the egg hatches into life.
If you allow the crow to have its meal, again it is because the prakruti/nature/god has conditioned your mind through years of sensory inputs to act that way so that the crow doesn't starve to death.
In both cases A LIFE is saved.
It is all your perception. You are looking at the life inside the egg as the poor helpless and the life inside the crow as the cruel one. Once the egg is hatched, what will it do? It will start feeding on so many other lives like insects, ants, worms etc. That is the way of nature.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Neuroplasticity and sadhana
Brain has got the ability to reorganize and change its structure through new experiences. This is called neuroplasticity in medical terms. This function is predominant in the learning process. It is not only the external inputs but actions performed by the brain itself that can cause this structural reorganization. A sadhaka who undertakes spiritual sadhana such as mantrajapa or meditation is actually transforming his brain and physically restructuring it making use of this function called neuroplasticity. The purpose is to make the brain function in a different way, to process the inputs differently, to understand things differently, to handle emotions differently. With a good scheme of sadhana this is the goal and done properly this transformation occurs automatically and naturally.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Karma
Svargadyanubhava ksheena shishta pracheena karmanam
Bhogaya jananam nrunam mohabhajam muhurmuhuhu
Man is born again and again to enjoy or suffer the results of karma left after undergoing experiences such as heaven.
Let us say when a child is born it brings forward a total accumulated karma "A" from the previous births. Part of it will be experienced in the present birth and another part will be kept for the future births.
A = B + C
B = karma to be experienced in the present birth
C = karma to be experienced in the future births.
Onto B are added, D - karma coming through the mother and her family and E - karma coming the father and his family.
B + D + E
Now, there is karma generated in the present birth, either through actions out of one's own free will, or karma generated while exhausting the previous karma. This may be called "F".
If the soul is heavily loaded with intense past karma, it will have no time or chance to exercise its free will. These are the cases where life looks like a straight jacket of fate and destiny. However, in most cases some free will is available to be exercised.
While B, D and E will be fully exhausted in the present life, F will be partly exhausted in the present life and the balance adds to C for the future birth.
G = part of F to be experienced in the present birth
H = part of F to be carried forward to the future birth.
Total karma to be experienced in the present birth = B + D + E + G
Karma carried forward to the future birth = C + H.
This means the present life experiences are the results of two kind of actions
B + D + E coming from the past not under one's control anymore.
G, arising out of one's action in the present birth.
That is why sastra says
Atra tu dvividham karma, prakkarma nijayatnantaha
There are two types of karma, previous karma and one generated here.
So in most cases the experiences are a mix of both, coming from the past births and those generated by one's own action here.
If a boy is not studying well, it could be due to two reasons or their combination.
Vidya pratibandha (obstacle in studies ) due to past karma or lack of effort, improper training, bad environment etc. all pertaining to the present.
It should be carefully ascertained which one. If the horoscope does not show afflictions in education coming from the past then it is clearly due problems other than past karma and should be tackled in the appropriate manner.
Going back to the next birth. the soul carries forward C + H into the next birth. The soul after death remains in a suspended state called preta avastha for some time during which some karma is exhausted but no fresh karma accrued. Further to this the meritorious ones attain pitruloka and stay there until the third generation joins in. Those souls with lot of bad karma can not attain pitruloka unless their load is lightened by prolonged suffering as pretas. The soul can not enter pitruloka with a huge load of bad karma. There is a baggage limit.
No karma is acquired in pitruloka also.
After spending time at pitruloka the soul is put on a fast track to exhaust a large part of its C + H. This takes place at the svarga or naraka through intense experiences of pleasure and pain. When the karma comes down to a level manageable through earthly experiences the soul takes rebirth.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Chandrayan finds ice on moon
Prevailing scientific opinion for long has been that there probably is no water on the Moon.
In the Vedas God Soma has always been associated with water. The adhidevata or presiding deity for chandra is water.
Vedic astrology considers chandra as a watery planet, also sukra. It is just a matter of time until water is discovered in venus also.
Science is like a rebel child whose first response is "No". How can these dhoti clad beings with uncut hair and beard know anything ?. This child is also intelligent. It will set out on its own fact finding mission in spite of the initial negativity. Once the fact is found it is also honest enough to come out in the open and admit it rather than being adamant with its original mistake.That is appreciable.
The sad part is that toeing the line of this rebel child, so many systems are destroyed in the process.
Yet another example from last week. Science said faith healers are frauds. Now they say that placebo effect actually alters the functioning of the brain. We hastily jumped into making law against faith healers.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Neechabhanga Rajayoga
Even if a planet is debilitated in the horoscope, he is capable of conferring rajayoga on the native under certain circumstances. This situation is called neechabhanga. The conditions are :
The debilitated planet
1. aspected by the lord of that sign or
2. in a kendra from lagna or chandra
eg: In the case of Sukra in debilitation it should be aspected by Budha for the first condition. For the second condition Sukra should be in a kendra from lagna or chandra.
Lord of the debilitation sign
1. in a kendra from lagna or chandra or
2. in a kendra from the lord of the exaltation sign of the debilitated planet.
eg : for Sukra in debilitation, Budha should be in a kendra from lagna or chandra for the first condition. For the second condition Budha should be in a kendra from Guru.
Planet that is exalted in the sign where the debilitated planet is placed -
in a kendra from lagna or chandra
eg : In the case of Sukra's debilitation, Budha should be in a kendra from lagna or chandra.
Lord of the exaltation sign of the debilitated planet -
in a kendra from lagna or chandra
eg : In the case of Sukra's debilitation, Guru should be in a kendra from lagna or chandra.