Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 In a message dated 9/23/98 3:04:13 PM, you wrote: <<sadananda <sada >Raju100 >What is the right way not to loose the divotion with knowledge. I often find >myself swinging from one corner to other & not being anywhere. Sri Raju bhai, I donot know what is the right way or wrong way, but I will share my feelings: Devotion and Knowledge are not two different things. They are two sides of the same coin. In fact one needs devotion to gain knowledge - that manifests as longing to know. On the other hand Knowledge should result in devotion. My teacher use to say that they are like two wings of the same bird, both required to take the inner flight. Once there is an appreciation that, Lord is everywhere, inside me and outside me, and everything is only His expression or His music as Tagoreji points out in Geetaanjali, one cannot but be humble. Knowledge cannot but lead to Bhakti, since the whole creation is only His manifestation. Bhakti is not beggary - bhakti is the admiration of His beauty, His compassion and His play. Even in the exploration of science, which happens to be my work for which I am paid, I try to see his glory. Hence I enjoy my research too. Knowledge is the recognition that there is no way I can be away from Him. Automatically bhakti comes in everything one does. When that devotion is there, one cannot but be a devoted husband, a devoted wife, a devoted friend, a devoted employee, a devoted son, daughter and a student or a teacher. So Bhakti becomes the essence of all activities. Knowledge that He is everywhere brings that Bhakti automatically. It also helps to shun away those activities that cause negative feelings. How can I be jealounto a karma yogi while leading one to the supreme knowledge, by purifying the mind. Chanting his gories is not buttering him. In VishishhTaadviata, Bhagavaan Ramanuja says that the Lord is the locus of ananta kalyaana Gunaas, the locus of infinite auspecious qualities, each quality infinite and they are infinite of them. Hence whatever we say about Him is less than what He is. We cannot butter a billianare by saying he is millionare. But in the processing singing and admiring those auspecious qualities we inculcate those qualities, since mind has a value for those qualities. I must say ritualistic puja does not go with my mental make-up, since my mind is not there in the rituals. Personally, I can neither sing bhajans (only apa srutiis come out). But my mind relishes them since they are all glorification of that almighty because of whom one has the capacity to sing and the other has the capacity to listen. Most of the time I end up sitting in one corner and reveling in the bhajans in my own way. What better environment can one get than surrounded by the chanting of the glories of that Almighty. In my case, I keep my mouth shut and enjoy totally with my mind the beauty that is being pointed out in that chanting. Reading a vedanta text also does the same thing. But mind likes varieties and Bhajans provide that. Hari Om! Sadananda>> TO: Sri Sadananda ji Dear Guruji, Thankyou for kindly responding & answering my questions. I was reading other part of Krishna Gopies songs & longing of surrendering hearts poems that you had posted in previous mail . I loved it very much & that took me to sing the "Gopika Geet" from Bhagabatam 10-31. Jayeti Tedhikam janmana Braja: Sraeta Indira saswodatra hi......... Ah. it is so beautifull. I just hope love & longing for my Lord will continue to grow in my heart for whatever days left in this body. My many pranams to you Sir, Raju Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 >Raju100 >In a message dated 9/23/98 3:04:13 PM, you wrote: > ><<sadananda <sada > >>Raju100 > >>What is the right way not to loose the divotion with knowledge. I often find >>myself swinging from one corner to other & not being anywhere. Greetings Raju: In addition to the thoughtful observations and sugeestions from Shri Sadananda, I want to add these additional observations. Most important, there is no way to rate and rank Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Yogas. Statistically speaking, what we observe is the interactive effect and the effects are confounded and can't be separated! The Bhakti movement or the Dharma of Surrender is an integral part of Sankara's Advaita. The path of Bhakti or Total Love and Devotion is common to all religions. In Hinduism, the concept of God is rather complex. The docrine of Ishta Devata can help us to understand the importance of Bhakti in Hinduism. The expression "Jai Ambe,Jai Maheswara,Jai Ganesa," etc., are symbolic and enthusiastic expressions of surrender to the "Ishta Devata." Ishta Devata represents the family god, which is a unique Hindu Traditions. The doctrine of Ishta Devata can be explained as follows: A family may choose the god that satisfies the spiritual longing and make that god, the object of adoration, love and worship. Since each name and form is symbolic, Ishta Devata represents some aspect or manifestation of Supreme Reality. This doctrine helps an individual or a family to concentrate on and have a special place for one particular manifestation or form of God. Hindu tradition has five types of Ishta Devata worship: Aditya, the Sun God, Ambika, the Mother Goddess in various forms of Durga, Lakshmi or Sarasvati, Vishnu, the protector God, Ganesa, the elephant-faced god (the primal god of all worships), and Maheswara or Siva, the third god in the Trinity. The list of Ishta Devata also includes gods who are closely associated to the families of these gods. The expression - "Jai Ambe" indicates the intensity of Love germinated at the heart of Bhakta to the Ishta Devata. This is known as Ananya Bhakti which is in fact intense monotheism. It clears the worshiper's mind of the cobwebs of superstition and gives a healthy direction to the spirit of devotion. The final stage of Bhakti is Ekaanta Bhakti, the purest form. At this stage, the seeker loves God with zero expectation back and the seeker totally surrenders! The seeker's mind is filled with total devotion and Love and no space left for desires! This Divine Love negates all worldly love in the mind of the devotee and the devotee is totally free from ego! Meerabhai in the north India and her southern counterpart Andal demonstrated Divine Love and attained the Divinity through total surrender. The Karma Yogi's, mind is fully occupied with unselfish work and all other thoughts vacate the mind. The Bhakti Yogi's mind is completely filled with unconditional love for the Lord and all other thoughts vacate the mind. The Jnana Yogi has the wisdom to seek the real and negate the unreal. In reality, these Yogis are indistinguishable because each of they have realized the Nirguna Brahman! Ram Chandran Burke, VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 >Raju100 >What is the right way not to loose the divotion with knowledge. I often find >myself swinging from one corner to other & not being anywhere. Sri Raju bhai, I donot know what is the right way or wrong way, but I will share my feelings: Devotion and Knowledge are not two different things. They are two sides of the same coin. In fact one needs devotion to gain knowledge - that manifests as longing to know. On the other hand Knowledge should result in devotion. My teacher use to say that they are like two wings of the same bird, both required to take the inner flight. Once there is an appreciation that, Lord is everywhere, inside me and outside me, and everything is only His expression or His music as Tagoreji points out in Geetaanjali, one cannot but be humble. Knowledge cannot but lead to Bhakti, since the whole creation is only His manifestation. Bhakti is not beggary - bhakti is the admiration of His beauty, His compassion and His play. Even in the exploration of science, which happens to be my work for which I am paid, I try to see his glory. Hence I enjoy my research too. Knowledge is the recognition that there is no way I can be away from Him. Automatically bhakti comes in everything one does. When that devotion is there, one cannot but be a devoted husband, a devoted wife, a devoted friend, a devoted employee, a devoted son, daughter and a student or a teacher. So Bhakti becomes the essence of all activities. Knowledge that He is everywhere brings that Bhakti automatically. It also helps to shun away those activities that cause negative feelings. How can I be jealous, greedy, selfish, when I am in one form or the other dealing with the Lord. Bhakti automatically makes one into a karma yogi while leading one to the supreme knowledge, by purifying the mind. Chanting his gories is not buttering him. In VishishhTaadviata, Bhagavaan Ramanuja says that the Lord is the locus of ananta kalyaana Gunaas, the locus of infinite auspecious qualities, each quality infinite and they are infinite of them. Hence whatever we say about Him is less than what He is. We cannot butter a billianare by saying he is millionare. But in the processing singing and admiring those auspecious qualities we inculcate those qualities, since mind has a value for those qualities. I must say ritualistic puja does not go with my mental make-up, since my mind is not there in the rituals. Personally, I can neither sing bhajans (only apa srutiis come out). But my mind relishes them since they are all glorification of that almighty because of whom one has the capacity to sing and the other has the capacity to listen. Most of the time I end up sitting in one corner and reveling in the bhajans in my own way. What better environment can one get than surrounded by the chanting of the glories of that Almighty. In my case, I keep my mouth shut and enjoy totally with my mind the beauty that is being pointed out in that chanting. Reading a vedanta text also does the same thing. But mind likes varieties and Bhajans provide that. Hari Om! Sadananda > What I mean is >, I love Vedanta teachings , Yoga Basistha , Sri Mad Bhagabatam & Ramayana, I >like to contemplet in the teachings of Sri Sankara or other teachers about the >self understnding. At the same time , I also like to do Kirtana, & Bhajan. Is >there any way yoy can suggest, that I can continue both like Knowledge with >full of divotion. I want to seek that knowledge without loosing whatever >little bhakti I may have ? Please pardon me my prctices has been like elephant >bath. I do not have bairagye & my practice is very little. >Namaste. >Raju > >------ >Help support ONElist, while generating interest in your product or >service. ONElist has a variety of advertising packages. Visit >/advert.html for more information. >------ >Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy, its true meaning, >profundity, richness and beauty with the focus on the non-duality between >mind and matter K. Sadananda Code 6323 Naval Research Laboratory Washington D.C. 20375 Voice (202)767-2117 Fax:(202)767-2623 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 "Ram Chandran" <chandranram >>Raju100 > >>What is the right way not to loose the divotion with knowledge. I often find >>myself swinging from one corner to other & not being anywhere. Greetings Raju: In addition to the thoughtful observations and sugeestions from Shri Sadananda, I want to add these additional observations. Most important, there is no way to rate and rank Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Yogas. Statistically speaking, what we observe is the interactive effect and the effects are confounded and can't be separated! The Bhakti movement or the Dharma of Surrender is an integral part of Sankara's Advaita. The path of Bhakti or Total Love and Devotion is common to all religions. ...........(delated some here) The Karma Yogi's, mind is fully occupied with unselfish work and all other thoughts vacate the mind. The Bhakti Yogi's mind is completely filled with unconditional love for the Lord and all other thoughts vacate the mind. The Jnana Yogi has the wisdom to seek the real and negate the unreal. In reality, these Yogis are indistinguishable because each of they have realized the Nirguna Brahman! Sri Ram Chandra Pranam Sir, Thankyou very much for your kind attention. I feel very blessed with all this very valuable Sat Sang. It reminds me of the teachings of Lord Rama to Ayodhiyabasi; Bade Bhag Manus tana pawa. Sura durlabha saba Granthani gawa. Sadhan dhama moksha kara dwara. Paeena jehi paraloka sawara. "Tis fortunate when the soul human form reaches- "For heav'nly ones hard to reach, so scripture teaches; "A place for good discipline, salvation's gate, "Alas ! for men who heed not their future estate. So paratra dukha pawoi sira suffring, "Will weep and bewall, now repenting; "They falsely will blame their times, fate, even God1 "But 'twill be too late then for relenting. Ehi tana kara phala Bisaena bhai, Sorgau solpa anta dukhadai. nara tanu pai bisae mana dehi, Palati sudha te satha bisha lehi. Tahi kabahu bhala kahaeena kohi, gunja grahai parasa mani khoi. "The purpose of this life is not joy in things; "For a while that's like heav'n, but at last sorrow brings; "If a soul for mere thing-joys this body should use, "Tis like giving up life-nectar poison to choose; "To retain a small seed and lose life's magic stone- "This as worthy and wise none would ever dare own; (From Tulasi krit Ramayana -Uttar kanda) I personnaly feel very blessed. Thankyou very much. Namaskar. Raju Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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