Fw: [t'venkatam] The Life Superior

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Dear List Members :

 

It is my pleasure to forward the mail of

Sriman Krishnaswamy , which might be of interest

to all .Thanks Sriman Krishnaswamy .

V.Sadagopan

- MK krishnaswamy

tiruvenkatam

Sunday, October 10, 2004 3:02 AM

[t'venkatam] The Life Superior

Dear Devotees,

 

Please permit me to share some thoughts which arose in my mind when I

was re-reading Tennyson's Morte D'Arthur. The following is a famous

quote from that poem:

 

For what are men better than sheep or goatsThat nourish a blind life

within the brain,If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayerBoth

for themselves and those who call them friend?For so the whole round

earth is every wayBound by gold chains about the feet of God.

Tennyson in "Morte D'Arthur"

We human beings have so much in common with animals -- such as living

in groups, caring for our off-spring, building or choosing a place

for residence (nest, lair, house etc), fighting for domain over a

group or area or a mate, eating, drinking, playing, reproducing,

health, illness etc. There is one major difference: in addition to a

pre-programmed brain and the limited intelligence of the animals, we

have a mind that has almost unlimited intelligence, is capable of

conceptual, abstract thinking and communicating our thoughts in

words, We are also endowed with the free will to choose -- to use

this mind-power either to indulge in the needs and pleasures of the

senses like the animals or to fulfil the minimum, essential needs of

the body and to seek the higher Self which resides within us in the

deep recesses of the heart.

It is in this context that the Seers of yore --who saw with a sense of

superior perception of the mind -- have prescribed for our guidance

the fundamental way of living our lives. And that is to seek the four

purusharthaas: Dharma, Arthaa, Kama and Moksha. It may be specially

noted that the inner two values Artha and Kama are sub-sets of Dharma

and Moksha: they are circumscribed by the two brackets Dharma and

Moksha .

Artha meaning resources (wealth) is to be soughr through action within

the rules of Dharma. Kama or desire/needs should be such that it is

directed towards non-attachment and freedom from bondage (moksha).

Leading one's life in this manner, we become true seekers. Constantly

working within the field of Dharma with the mind's eye firmly fixed on

the only true goal of life, namely, moksha, we shall receive His Grace

and be delivered from bondage. Every other way that we choose with our

"free" will results in the waste of this precious gift of the human

mind.

As Lord Yama told Nachiketas in Kathopanishad, we have two choices: We

can choose preyas or pleasure and live the ordinary life like 'sheep

and goats'; or choose shreyas, the highest good and become one with

the Gods.

 

Thus stated, the choice in favour of the latter is so clear. Yet, over

centuries, humanity seems to be going the other way.

May be, it is time for Shri Bhagawan to come as an Avatara Purusha and save us.

 

Dasan,

Krishnaswamy M.K

 

 

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