Dear Advaitin Friends

[Guest guest]

Dear Advaitin Friends:

 

As some of you may know, my father was ill for some time and passed away

last month.

 

During this difficult period for the family, I was able to visit my father

several times and pray with him as well chant the Gayatri and his favorite

Siva mantra (Om Trayambakam.....) that Swami Sivananda wrote to him in a

letter when my father was very young.

 

My father was unable to speak or move during the last two and a half months

before his departure but was able to listen and communicate somewhat by

raising his eye brows and slight nods of the head.

 

My father always became very alert when I would read the Gita to him.

Knowing the difficult situation he was in, I read certain passages to my

father again and again where Krishna tells Arjuna to go beyond the pairs of

opposites and beyond pain and pleasure and to "Poise your mind in

tranquility."

 

I kept my own list informed of what was going on but have been less active

on the Advaitin.

 

Not being a scholar, I again wanted to express my gratitude for all the

knowledge and wisdom I have gained here.

 

Thank you,

 

Love to all

Harsha

[Guest guest]

Dear Harshaji,

 

On behalf of all the Moderators and Members of this list, I

wish to convey to you and your family our condolences in your

bereavement.

 

Blessed indeed are the devotees who have had the grace of a

Sadguru like Swami Sivananda. Your association with this

list has in turn channelled that grace to us.

 

May you continue to be blessed with Peace that passeth

understanding.

 

Regards,

 

Advaitin List

 

 

 

advaitin, "Harsha" wrote:

> Dear Advaitin Friends:

>

> As some of you may know, my father was ill for some time and passed

away

> last month.

>

> During this difficult period for the family, I was able to visit my

father

> several times and pray with him as well chant the Gayatri and his

favorite

> Siva mantra (Om Trayambakam.....) that Swami Sivananda wrote to him

in a

> letter when my father was very young.

>

> My father was unable to speak or move during the last two and a

half months

> before his departure but was able to listen and communicate

somewhat by

> raising his eye brows and slight nods of the head.

>

> My father always became very alert when I would read the Gita to

him.

> Knowing the difficult situation he was in, I read certain passages

to my

> father again and again where Krishna tells Arjuna to go beyond the

pairs of

> opposites and beyond pain and pleasure and to "Poise your mind in

> tranquility."

>

> I kept my own list informed of what was going on but have been less

active

> on the Advaitin.

>

> Not being a scholar, I again wanted to express my gratitude for all

the

> knowledge and wisdom I have gained here.

>

> Thank you,

>

> Love to all

> Harsha

[Guest guest]

harshaji,

 

please accept my heartfelt condolences at this time .

 

i am pleased to note you were able to spend some 'quality' time with

your beloved father during his last days.These are the moments you

will cherish forever.

 

 

Here is a verse from the Srimad Bhagvat Gita I dedicate to you and

your family ...

 

na jayate mriyate va kadacin

nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah

ajo nityah shashvato 'yam purano

na hanyate hanyamane sharire

 

"For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has

not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into

being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not

slain when the body is slain."

 

ps - i just returned from india after spending two wonderful months

with my 83 year old mother in Delhi. When i was leaving for U.S.A ,

my mom held both my hands and said " Chinna Ponnu ( my young

daughter - i am 60 !) I don't know whether i will see next winter but

remember i will never forget the wonderful time we had together."

 

love always

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Harsha:

 

First, let me join Sri Sunder and express my sincere sympathy on the

death of your beloved father's body form. Your touching message is

quite inspirational to this list and reminds everyone on the

importance of expressing our sincere love to relatives and friends.

The blessed soul of your father had attained peace and tranquility

by the presence of a devoted and loving son. Your father's blessing,

grace and love will remain with you for ever.

 

Your message is overfilled with wisdom acquired by the reading of

the passages from Gita unselfishly with great devotion and

dedication. Your service to your father is an expression

of 'meditation' through true dedication. Your message is an

expression of true love and it is more useful and relevant to our

life than many thousands of messages with technical discussions!

 

According to Gita, those who are Sattvika are the people of

knowledge, sedate in behavior, calm and judicious in judgement, and

these are the aspirants who are religious and spiritual. You and

your father certainly pass the above criteria of Gita. Gita also

declares that those who die when the quality of Sattva preponderates

go to the higher regions, the realm of angels, paradise, Svarga-loka

as we call it. Your beloved father certainly will go to those higher

regions.

 

For all of us Lord Krishna provides the following concluding remarks

at the end of Gita chapter 14: He asks all us to remain as a witness

of this entire play enacted in the arena of experience by the Gunas

but stand above them unaffected and only by transcending the Gunas

we can go beyond the operations of Prakriti. Then we become fit to

enter into the bosom of Brahman - the Absolute!

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, "Harsha" wrote:

>

> My father always became very alert when I would read the Gita to

him.

> Knowing the difficult situation he was in, I read certain passages

to my

> father again and again where Krishna tells Arjuna to go beyond the

pairs of

> opposites and beyond pain and pleasure and to "Poise your mind in

> tranquility."

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste, Harsha-ji

 

I join the others in paying my respects to your dear father to whom

you were fortunate to read portions of the Gita during his last

moments. This traditional torch has been passed on to us from time

immemorial, from generation to generation and that is the way to die

nobly, on the lines of the eighth chapter in the Gita. I am reminded

of the way my own father shed his mortal coil some fifty years ago.

 

Rest assured, you are a great soul now, after having discharged your

obligations due to your father. May God bless you!

 

PraNAms to all advaitins

profvk