Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Namaste Balaji, You raised a very practical question: >In the beginning, one cannot sit for even 15 mins. >Then as H H Sringeri Sarada peetham pointed out, >one feels like sleeping. But a drDa nishcaya is what >is required for this. I often get drowsy in meditation. Do you have a suggested cure? (I'll also get my Swamiji's advice.) And what is drDa nishcaya? Hari Om! Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 Namaste Sri Benjamin: The Sanskrit term what Sri Balaji is referring to may be stated as: "dridha nishcaya or also as sudridha nishcaya." The Sanskrit term dridha or sudridha refers to keeping the mind highly focused - deep devotion or bhakti. In Sadhana panchakam, Sri Shankaracharya says `Sangh satsu vidhiyatam bhagvato bhaktir dridha dhiyatam'. "Let him resort to satsanga (company of the wise) and let him have unswerving and firm devotion to God". The Sanskrit term nishcaya refers to paramartha, supreme, or shuddha, pure or highest level of Truth. In combination, Dridha nishcaya implies that one needs to focus the mind on the supreme being with great devotion. In other words, Swamiji suggests that the 'real state of meditation' implies superimposition of mind-atman-parabrahman! I believe that your drowsiness will melt away with true devotion, the fundamental secret to meditation - the Indian way! Warmest regards, Ram Chandran advaitin, Benjamin <orion777ben> wrote: > > Namaste Balaji, > > You raised a very practical question: > > >In the beginning, one cannot sit for even 15 mins. > >Then as H H Sringeri Sarada peetham pointed out, > >one feels like sleeping. But a drDa nishcaya is what > >is required for this. > > I often get drowsy in meditation. Do you have a suggested cure? > (I'll also get my Swamiji's advice.) > > And what is drDa nishcaya? > > Hari Om! > Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 8, 2004 Report Share Posted April 8, 2004 hello benjaminji ! Drda means strong (firm) nischya means determination strong determination which can translate into one-pointed concentration ... but our 'versatile' balaji will spell out exactly what this term means ... anyway, i just got to share this with you and i know you will like it as much as i did ... I asked a child, walking with a candle, "From where comes that light?" Instantly he blew it out. "Tell me where it is gone -- then I will tell you where it came from." - Hasan of Basra Enjoy! btw , i do enjoy reading the posts in your group. advaitin, Benjamin <orion777ben> wrote: > > Namaste Balaji, > > You raised a very practical question: > > >In the beginning, one cannot sit for even 15 mins. > >Then as H H Sringeri Sarada peetham pointed out, > >one feels like sleeping. But a drDa nishcaya is what > >is required for this. > > I often get drowsy in meditation. Do you have a suggested cure? > (I'll also get my Swamiji's advice.) > > And what is drDa nishcaya? > > Hari Om! > Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 Namaste Benji. To my understanding, the problem here is not drowsiness but the sense of 'meditatorship'. Asking the questions who is feeling drowsy and who is meditating might help. They throw you back on to your original. The best thing that really helps is to sleep without regretting it and get the drowsiness away when you can begin again with clarity and ask yourself the question who slept. Eating less and selectively, keeping the body erect etc. are some secondary tips. Drida nishchaya is firm determination. PraNAms. Madathil Nair _____________________ advaitin, Benjamin <orion777ben> wrote: > I often get drowsy in meditation. Do you have a suggested cure? > (I'll also get my Swamiji's advice.) > > And what is drDa nishcaya? > > Hari Om! > Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2004 Report Share Posted April 9, 2004 rESPECTED shri Ramachandranji, Thank you so much for this excellent explanation of the term 'dridha nischaya' and the timely quotation from ADI shankara. Nairji and i attempted to explain this phrase 'dridha nischaya' in literal terms .. dridha- firm nischaya- determination but. sanskrit is a unique language . The word 'dridha' can mean different things depending on the context. There is for instance -dridha karma - karma that is fixed and cannot be changed . but your explanation of Dridha nisschaya is 'esoteric' and truly beneficial for both yogis and bhaktas alike . you emphasised on three things 1)satsangati or sadhu sangha 2)unsweving and firm devotion to God Here is another verse which supports what you say... saïgaþ satsu vidhãyatàü bhagavato bhaktirdçóhà dhãyatàü ÷àntyàdiþ paricãyatàü dçóhataraü karmà÷u santyajyatàm | sadvidvànupasarpyatàü pratidinaü tatpàdukà sevyatàü brahmaikàkùaramarthyatàü ÷ruti÷irovàkyaü samàkarõyatàm || a) "Sangah satsu vidhiyatam—Let him resort to Satsanga—company of the wise." saïgaþ satsu vidhãyatàü bhagavato bhaktirdçóhà dhãyatàü ÷àntyàdiþ paricãyatàü dçóhataraü karmà÷u santyajyatàm | sadvidvànupasarpyatàü pratidinaü tatpàdukà sevyatàü brahmaikàkùaramarthyatàü ÷ruti÷irovàkyaü samàkarõyatàm || This verse contains instructions about what the seeker should do after leaving the house till he gets himself initiated by his own Guru. a) "Sangah satsu vidhiyatam—Let him resort to Satsanga—company of the wise." One of the most helpful Sadhanas for a spiritual aspirant is contact with the wise—the Srotriya Brahmanishthas—those who are well-versed in the scriptures and always fixed in Brahmic consciousness. It also means the company of the learned saints and sages, because their company would always be conducive to keep the mind away from worldly thoughts and absorbed in thoughts about God. b) "Bhagavato bhaktir-dridha dhiyatam—Let him have unswerving and firm devotion to God." This is a natural consequence that follows Satsanga. Company of great saints will kindle the fire of devotion to God as the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent Being, the instrumental and material cause of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. The aspirant should have Sraddha—complete unflinching faith in God—so that his ego may get thinned out. To everything including success in his spiritual practice, he now depends on God and God alone. \ c) "Santyadih parichiyatam dridhataram—Let the qualities like, Santi, Danti, etc., be practised firmly." The aspirant is exhorted to possess the Shatsampat which includes Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Sraddha and Samadhana—tranquillity of mind, self-restraint or control of the senses, cessation from all worldly activities, fortitude or power of endurance, faith in God, Guru, the scriptures and the Atman, and concentration or one- pointedness of mind on the Atman. d) "Karmasu santyajyatam—Let him renounce all Karmas immediately." The aspirant who has been following the above-said instructions for a pretty long time without interruption, is now instructed to renounce all Karmas. (((((((snip))))))))))) The spiritual aspirants, according to the Acharya, should perform their allotted Karmas without desire for their fruits. What is to be renounced by them is attachment to Karma as well as its result. Inaction on the part of the aspirant is discouraged completely. e) "Sadvidvan-upasarpyatam—Let him approach a wise sage." The next step in the aspirant's march should be to approach a proper preceptor. He has now become qualified to approach his Guru. The Acharya indirectly hints that one who goes to a Guru for initiation before acquiring all the above said qualifications will have to face only disappointment. f) "Pratidinam tatpaduka sevyatam—Let him adore his sandals (feet) daily." Having approached the Guru what should the aspirant do? Let the aspirant serve the Guru daily till he (the Guru) is pleased with him. The service of one's own Guru is the most important Sadhana which prepares the disciple to receive initiation. g) "Brahmaikaksharam arthyatam—Let him enquire about the one indestructible Brahman." When the Guru is pleased with the service of the disciple, the latter should with great humility enquire about the means of liberation from the bondage of this mundane life. sThe pot should be emptied before being dipped into the river to take water. Even so, the disciple should empty his mind before sitting at the lotus-feet of the Guru to receive the initiation. h) "Sruti-siro-vakyam samakarnyatam—Let him hear with full faith and devotion the Mahavakyas which are the quintessence of the Vedas." To the qualified disciple who has thus approached him and who has his mind purified through service of his feet for sufficiently long period, the Guru gives the Sannyasa Diksha and initiation into the Mahavakyas—the great sentences or dicta of the Upanishads—which through their implied meaning establish the Atman-Brahman identity. For a complete explanation, go to http://www.spiritcommunity.com/quintessence.htm - 61k - Cached ********************************************************************** NOW, ONE MUST REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF 'SRAVANAM' which balaji talks about after reading the above verse . I like the way Shri ramachandranji interpreted this phrase 'dridha nischaya' and this is the way in which this phrase is interpreted in Goudiya literature -chaitanya caritamrita - madhya lila shraddha-shabde vishvasa kahe sudridha nishcaya, krishne-bhakti kaile sarva karma krita haya Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila, 22.62) Shraddha is confident, firm faith that by rendering transcendental loving service to Krishna one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. Such faith is favorable to the discharge of devotional service. "The word "sraddha" means "strong faith". If Krishna is shown bhakti all works will be done". ********************************************************************** our beloved nairji is also right about giving the 'tips' for a meditatorON hOW TO to prepare his body, mind etc before sitting in that 'padmasana' posture! Thank you moderators for such lucid explanations! AUM TAT SAT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2004 Report Share Posted April 10, 2004 Namaste Benjaminji It may be a good thing afterall! If, you do fall asleep and the feeling before continues on waking up.... then. A small extract from http://www.omshaantih.com/Ramana/Stories/Kunju%20Swami/As%20I%20Saw% 20Him.htm " In olden days when we had the benefit of receiving personal instructions from Sri Bhagavan, one of them was to get into meditation before going to sleep. Thus sleep overtook one as a natural sequel to fatigue and was not induced or preceded by lying down. Also the first thing in the morning, immediately on getting up from bed was to go into meditation. This ensured a serenity of mind and also a feeling of tirelessness throughout the day. The state of mind immediately before sleep is resumed on waking " Hope it helps. MAny Pranams Sridhar > > I often get drowsy in meditation. Do you have a suggested cure? > (I'll also get my Swamiji's advice.) > > And what is drDa nishcaya? > > Hari Om! > Benjamin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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