Value of Values - Distinction and between material and spiritual progress

[Guest guest]

advaitin, Shailendra Bhatnagar

<bhatnagar_shailendra> wrote:

>

> 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 ?

 

Namaste Shailendraji,

 

Arjuna asked only 18 'rudimentary' but fundamental

questions!

 

You are probably referring to Gita verse 3:33 .

 

"Can we really make so called "efforts" in this direction ?" The whole

burden of the Gita is that we can and MUST.

Arjuna's confusion of equating 'akarma' (abandoning his svadharma)

with 'naishkarmya' (performing action ordained by dharma, yet

offering it AND its fruits to the Self- Gita 18:46) is what Gita teaches.

 

Grace (prasAda) comes only with effort (Gita 18:56). As Sri

Ramakrishna said : "Shouting the word 'milk' will not help one; one

has to get the milch-cow and milk it!"

 

Or as Sri Ramana said, consider thinking of this question itself as

'Grace'!

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

Namaste, all

 

The only distinction between material progress and spiritual progress is, the

former leads to more and more discontentment in one whereas the latter to

contentment. Contentment comes when there is wisdom from assimilation of

spiritual teaching/knowledge (not religious teaching/knowledge), and when it

reflects in one’s living. IMHO that contentment itself is Moksha.

 

Warm regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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