Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Rabbi Harold Kushner: I recently ran across a story about a Native American tribal leader describing his own inner struggles. He said "There are two dogs in side me. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time" Some one asked him which dog usually wins, and after a moment's reflection, he answered, " The one I feed the most" This is a great story applicable to all of us. However, there is another dog missing here (I think) -the SATVIC-DOG - that should be fed the most. Hence, the Good - RAJASIK-DOG and the Evil -TAMSIK-DOG will be subdued. Suresh Limaye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Namaste Sureshji: Thanks for bringing this interesting story to illustrate how people with different attitudes manage their life. Here are my comments regarding this story in the context of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14 discussions on 'Gunas.' The Satvikas (whose attitude reflect the true divine nature) don't provide the sheltor for the dogs to stay inside! They neither feed the dogs nor have the desire to witness the fighting! Their only focus is on mind purification by surrendering all their thoughts on the Divine. Chapte 2 Verses 56 & 57: duhkhesv anudvigna-manah sukhesu vigata-sprhah vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah sthita-dhir munir ucyate He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom. yah sarvatranabhisnehas tat tat prapya subhasubham nabhinandati na dvesti tasya prajna pratisthita He who is everywhere without attachment, who neither rejoices nor despises on meeting with anything - good or bad, his wisdom is established. The Rajasikas (whose attitude reflect agitated mind full of desires with a focus on transitory pleasures) entertain both the good and evil dogs to accomplish their desires. As a consequence, they are forced to witness the fighting between good and evil dogs and are also subject to pleasure and pain. Their nature is described beautifully in verse 62 and 63 of chapter 2. dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho 'bhijayate When a man thinks of the objects, attachment for them arises. From attachment desire is born. From desire anger arises. krodhad bhavati sammohah sammohat smrti-vibhramah smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso buddhi-nasat pranasyati >From anger comes delusion, from delusion, loss of memory, from loss of memory the destruction of discrimination. From destruction of discrimination, his true identity (True divine nature) perishes. The Tamasikas (whose attitude demonstrate uncontrolled mind) seem to entertain both the good and evil dogs and more often they feed the evil dog! Gita describes the nature of such a person beautifully in verse 66 of chapter 2: indriyanam hi caratam yan mano 'nuvidhiyate tad asya harati prajnam vayur navam ivambhasi For the mind which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away one's discrimination, as the wind carries away a boat on the waters. Before I conclude, let me some caveats to what I have said here. The Gunas described in Gita (correctly) are multidimensional and for greater details we should go back and read chapters 14 to 18. What I have said is only in the context of the story and be aware of it. We are all divine but due to ignorance, we don't recognize our divine nature and prefer to live a life with transitory pleasures and pains. Consequently, our attitudes change every moment of time – morning Satvik, afternoon rajasik and by night tamasik and get trapped inside the cycle of pleasures and pain! warmest regards, Ram Chandran advaitin, slimaye@a... wrote: > Rabbi Harold Kushner: > I recently ran across a story about a Native American tribal leader > describing his own inner struggles. > ..... > This is a great story applicable to all of us. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 3, 2004 Report Share Posted February 3, 2004 Namaste Ramji, >We are all divine but due to ignorance, we don't >recognize our divine nature and prefer to live a >life with transitory pleasures and pains. Consequently, >our attitudes change every moment of time - morning >Satvik, afternoon rajasik and by night tamasik and get >trapped inside the cycle of pleasures and pain! My moods also follow this diurnal cycle. I think that every night in deep sleep, we might be 'refreshed' by some kind of contact with the divine, as the mind is put to rest, and we dwell for a while in some nondual state. This then wears off during the day as the mind is active. Others might say that it is just blood sugar, or some such thing... Hari Om! Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Namaste Benjamin Two other possibilities: Blame it on the Vasanas - which want to propel the BMI into action to go out there and do something. So you progress from deep sleep, certain vasanas manifest in the dream state and certain others push you to manifest themselves in the waking state as thoughts and actions. Examine the first thoughts on waking - a bit of musing about the dream one had, possibly followed by things to be done during the day. It is the same vasanas that bring one out of the meditative state. The difference is that in the former ego-based awareness seems absent. Blame it on the Prarabdha Karma- which wants to use your BMI equipment in the waking state. The best explanation I can think of is that in Deep sleep state there is no 'aware' realization. Basis your swadharma ( which is seeking eternal happiness) you are pushed into waking state as this is the only state where the Intellect is active to facilitate the quest. Ofcourse, the 5 pranas ( through blood sugar etc.) work in Sync. with the above process. Many thousand Pranams to all Sridhar advaitin, Benjamin <orion777ben> wrote: > > Namaste Ramji, > > >We are all divine I think that every night in > deep sleep, we might be 'refreshed' by some kind of contact with the > divine, as the mind is put to rest, and we dwell for a while in some > nondual state. This then wears off during the day as the mind is > active. Others might say that it is just blood sugar, or some such > thing... > > Hari Om! > Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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