Value of Values - Ditinction and between material and spiritual progress

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

As we all know that Gita focuses mostly on the importance of gaining

spiritual progress. The reason is quite simple. Spiritual progress

always keeps only one direction - moving upward. In contrast, the

material progress can go up sometime and then slide down also

backward. The person who goes sky high drops down to the rock bottom

and that is the nature of the material wealth. Then why are we

tempted toward gaining the material wealth? The answer is simple:

First, material wealth is visible and we can 'sense' its presence

immediately. Spirtual progress on the other hand is seldom

recognizable for the uncultivated mind. Only the purified mind is

able to visualize spiritual progress and our mind doesn't look for

commands from the sense organs. As a matter of fact, the purified

mind is able to detach from the sensual pleasures consequently learnt

to abandon the material wealth.

 

Persons with the right mental attitude can progress spiritually in

spite of all obstacles that he/she may face in life. Actually such

Yogis never face any obstacles even though for the onlookers, they

may appear to be suffering. All of us with our efforts and His Grace

can become a Yogi provided we agree to detach our mind from material

comforts and pursue a noble life of sacrifice and service to the

humanity. Sage Valmiki was a robber before he decides to change his

path of life. Ratnakara, the dacoit become Valmiki, the supreme sage

and poet. He was so completely absorbed in chanting the name of Lord

Ram, he was oblivious to the ant hill that had grown over him. Sage

Viswamitra was a King living in all comforts and one day he decided

to abandon the wealth. He was a Kshatriya by birth but through

penance he was able to transcend to become a Brahma Rishi (highest

status of a rishi).

 

The stories of Valmiki and Viswamitra truly indicate that we can

also transcend from material aspiration to spiritual aspiration.

When we succeed, we can't descend backwards! This may explain why

Lord Krishna asks us indirectly to regain our Divine Nature through

Gita dialog.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...> wrote:

>

> Namaste:

>

> As we all know that Gita focuses mostly on the importance of gaining

> spiritual progress.

 

Namaste,

 

To continue the thread on Values, Gita has even given

the guidelines of what spiritually demeaning conduct one has to give

up, in the 16th Capter, under 'aasurii sampat' (demonic qualities):

 

 

pravR^itti.n cha nivR^itti.n cha janaa na vidur aasuraaH .

na shauchaM

naapi chaachaaro

na satya.n teshhu vidyate .. 16\-7..

asatyam

apratishhTha.n te jagadaahur

aniishvaram.h .

aparasparasambhuutaM

kimanyatkaamahaitukam.h .. 16\-8..

etaa.n dR^ishhTimavashhTabhya nashhTaatmaano.alpabuddhayaH .

prabhavantyugrakarmaaNaH kShayaaya jagato.ahitaaH .. 16\-9..

kaamamaashritya dushhpuuraM

dambha

maana

madaanvitaaH .

mohaad.hgR^ihiitva

asad.hgraahaanpravartante.ashuchivrataaH .. 16\-10..

chintaamaparimeyaa.n cha pralayaantaamupaashritaaH .

kaamopabhogaparamaa etaavaditi nishchitaaH .. 16\-11..

aashaapaashashatairbaddhaaH

kaama

krodhaparaayaNaaH .

iihante kaamabhogaartham

anyaayenaarthasa~nchayaan.h .. 16\-12..

idamadya mayaa labdham

imaM praapsye manoratham.h .

idamastiidamapi me bhavishhyati punardhanam.h .. 16\-13..

asau mayaa hataH shatrurhanishhye chaaparaanapi .

iishvaro.aham

ahaM bhogii

siddho.ahaM

balavaansukhii .. 16\-14..

aaDhyo.

abhijanavaanasmi

ko.anyo.asti sadR^isho mayaa .

yakShye daasyaami modishhya ityaGYaanavimohitaaH .. 16\-15..

anekachittavibhraantaa

mohajaalasamaavR^itaaH .

prasaktaaH kaamabhogeshhu patanti narake.ashuchau .. 16\-16..

aatmasambhaavitaaH

stabdhaa

dhanamaanamadaanvitaaH .

yajante naamayaGYaiste dambhenaavidhipuurvakam.h .. 16\-17..

aha.nkaaraM

balaM

darpa.n

kaamaM

krodha.n cha sa.nshritaaH .

maamaatmaparadeheshhu pradvishhanto.

abhyasuuyakaaH .. 16\-18..

taanahaM dvishhataH kruraansa.nsaareshhu naraadhamaan.h .

kShipaamyajasramashubhaanaasuriishhveva yonishhu .. 16\-19..

 

trividhaM narakasyedaM dvaaraM naashanamaatmanaH .

kaamaH

krodhastathaa

lobhastasmaadetattrayaM tyajet.h .. 16\-21..

etairvimuktaH kaunteya tamodvaaraistribhirnaraH .

aacharatyaatmanaH shreyastato yaati paraaM gatim.h .. 16\-22..

 

7. The demoniac know not what to do and what to refrain from; neither

purity, nor right conduct, nor truth is found in them.

 

8. They say, "the universe is without truth, without (moral) basis,

without a God; not brought about by any regular causal sequence, with

lust for its cause; what else? "

 

9. Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce

deeds, come forth as the enemies of the world, for its destruction.

 

10. Filled with insatiable desires, full of hypocrisy, pride and

arrogance, holding evil ideas through delusion, they work with impure

resolves.

 

11. Giving themselves over to immeasurable cares ending only with

death, regarding gratification of lust as their highest aim, and

feeling sure that, that is all (that matters) .

 

12. Bound by a hundred ties of hope, given to lust and anger, they do

strive to obtain, by unlawful means, hoards of wealth for sensual

enjoyments.

 

13. "This has to-day been gained by me" --- "this desire I shall

obtain" --- "this is mine" --- and "this wealth shall also be mine in

future. "

 

14. "That enemy has been slain by me" --- "and others also shall I

destroy" --- "I am the Lord" --- "I am the enjoyer" --- "I am perfect,

powerful and happy. "

 

15. "I am rich and well-born --- Who else is equal to me? --- I will

give (alms, money) --- I will rejoice. " Thus are they, deluded by

'ignorance. '

 

16. Bewildered by many a fancy, entangled in the snare of delusion,

addicted to the gratification of lust, they fall into a foul hell.

 

17. Self-conceited, stubborn, filled with pride and drunk with wealth,

they perform sacrifices in name (only) out of ostentation, contrary to

scriptural ordinance.

 

18. Given to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these

malicious people hate Me in their own bodies, and in those of others.

 

19. These cruel haters, worst among men in the world, I hurl these

evil-doers for ever into the wombs of the demons only.

 

20. Entering into demoniacal wombs, and deluded, not attaining to Me,

birth after birth, they thus fall, O Kaunteya, into a condition still

lower than that.

 

21. These three are the gates of hell, destructive of the Self ---

lust, anger and greed; therefore, one should abandon these three.

 

22. A man who is liberated from these three gates to darkness, O

Kaunteya, practises what is good for him and thus goes to the Supreme

Goal.

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

Beloved friends, This thread is full of goodness and

wisdom. I am very greatful for the time spent in

posting to this thread. May I ask a very rudimentary

question. Virtues cannot simply be inculcated or

cultivated by your liking for them or by knowing that

this "daivi sampada" should be accumulated. In this

context, Shri Krishna says (I don't recall the Gita

chapter) that you cannot control your material senses

by will power. Isn't it really His grace that we

think/move in the right direction. Can we really make

so called "efforts" in this direction ? Personally,

when sattva is in control, the first feeling that I

get is of quietness, desire to be silent and immense

peace. After a bought of anger, I can also see my

"angry self" departing. I would like to hear the

experience of others.

 

best regards,

Shail

 

 

 

 

 

 

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