Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Dear Shyam-ji, Sundar Rajan-ji, Subbu-ji and everyone, Many of our sages of the highest realization appear to have very little rigidity in their views. Sri Ramana fits into that mode. I think anyone following any path can read Talks with Sri Ramana and benefit from them. Sunder-ji recently shared that we should keep in mind the inherent flexibility that is build into Santana Vedic Dharma. Axiom of Sanatana Vedic Dharma : ekaM sad vipra bahudha vadanti | [Truth is One; the Sages speak of It variously]. That story posted by Sundar Rajan-ji about the Yogi and his two disciples was very nice. I think Subbu-ji and I must have been shedding tears at the same time. MahaPandit Sri Nair-ji's story was quite funny. Well the post below byNeelakantan-ji about Mother Meenakshi was quite beautiful. I will send a copy to HS as well. Harsha *This verse is from Sri Nilakantha Dikshita's AnandasAgarastava. Sri Dikshitar, after examining the various paths that are usually prescribed - jnAna, karma and bhakti - concludes that all these are beyond him or they do not yield immediate relief. To him, even half a moment more in samsAra is like a hundred kalpa's! So he says: na jnAyate mama hitam nitarAmupAyO dInOsmi devi samayAcaraNAkshamOs * *mi | tat tvAm ananya sharaNah sharaNam prapadye mInAkhi vishvajananIm janaNim mamaiva || Translation: I do not know what is good for me, I do not at all know the means (of achieving it), I am without resources, O Devi, and I am incapable of performing the prescribed rituals; therefore, I who have no other refuge, take refuge in you, O Meenakshi, the Mother of the universe, as also my Mother! If such a mahatma says this, what to speak of people like me? Pranams to Devi Meenakshi! Neelakantan* Shyam wrote: > > Dear Sunder-ji > I agree with you completely. > > That adhikaritvam or competence is necessary for jnana > is wellknown and had been elaborated by me in a prior > post. Perhaps it is worth reiterating. It may even be > worth expanding on by learned members, as more than > tat tvam asi it is these qualifications that really > need a lifetime or perhaps even several lifetimes of > effort. > > The main requisite (besides viveka and vairagya) which > are requirements for a "uttama adhikari" are the > shamaadi shatsampat or sixfold virtue - Shama, Dama, > Uparati, Titiksha, Shraddha and Samadhana. > Selfknowledge is a "mirage" without a fairly intense > degree of acquisition of these qualities. > > Shama is equanimity of mind or mind control. This is > the first and at the same time quite easily the most > difficult to attain. It demands intense selfeffort and > selfobservation. > We only have to examine ourselves honestly for an hour > or so to see how much shama we have or more > appropritaly how much we lack? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 Eve of Sri Devi Durga Puja - Jai Ma _____ [] On Behalf Of Harsha Thursday, September 28, 2006 7:06 PM advaitin; Re: Tenth man example and related questions Dear Shyam-ji, Sundar Rajan-ji, Subbu-ji and everyone, Many of our sages of the highest realization appear to have very little rigidity in their views. Sri Ramana fits into that mode. I think anyone following any path can read Talks with Sri Ramana and benefit from them. Sunder-ji recently shared that we should keep in mind the inherent flexibility that is build into Santana Vedic Dharma. Axiom of Sanatana Vedic Dharma : ekaM sad vipra bahudha vadanti | [Truth is One; the Sages speak of It variously]. That story posted by Sundar Rajan-ji about the Yogi and his two disciples was very nice. I think Subbu-ji and I must have been shedding tears at the same time. MahaPandit Sri Nair-ji's story was quite funny. Well the post below byNeelakantan-ji about Mother Meenakshi was quite beautiful. I will send a copy to HS as well. Harsha This verse is from Sri Nilakantha Dikshita's AnandasAgarastava. Sri Dikshitar, after examining the various paths that are usually prescribed - jnAna, karma and bhakti - concludes that all these are beyond him or they do not yield immediate relief. To him, even half a moment more in samsAra is like a hundred kalpa's! So he says: na jnAyate mama hitam nitarAmupAyO dInOsmi devi samayAcaraNAkshamOs mi | tat tvAm ananya sharaNah sharaNam prapadye mInAkhi vishvajananIm janaNim mamaiva || Translation: I do not know what is good for me, I do not at all know the means (of achieving it), I am without resources, O Devi, and I am incapable of performing the prescribed rituals; therefore, I who have no other refuge, take refuge in you, O Meenakshi, the Mother of the universe, as also my Mother! If such a mahatma says this, what to speak of people like me? Pranams to Devi Meenakshi! Neelakantan SNIP Dear Harsha and everyOne, The Goddess, or Shakti, or Sri Yantra seem to be eminent in the lives of many Mahatmas, no matter how "non-dual" their tendencies. Sri Shankaracharya, the foremost propounder of Advaita, initiated the worship of Shakti or the Divine Mother at His monasteries. Sri Ramana worshipped Sri Yantra, a representation of Shakti, the same Sri Yantra is still worshipped at Ramana Ashrama. It is also well known that Shankaracharya composed many devotional poems. The Goddess and/or Shiva were usually the subjects. Once while departing on a journey to worship the divine mother, as I was packing, I included a copy of Atma Bodha (Self Knowledge) attributed to Adi Sankara. After arriving and on the first morning of the Shakti Puja, just before leaving my room for the hall, I randomly opened the book and my finger fell upon the very beginning of the following poem written by Shankaracharya and translated by Swami Nikhilananda. I offer the following on the eve of Durga Puja 2006. Pranam Hymn to the Divine Mother for Forgiveness of Transgressions Attributed to Adi Sankara I I know, alas! No hymn, no mantra, Neither prayer nor meditation; Not even how to give Thee praise. The proper ritual of the worship, The placement of the hands, I know not, Nor how to make Thee supplication. But Mother, this at least I know: Whoever comes to Thee for shelter Reaches the end of all his woe. II Ignorant of the commands of scripture, Utterly devoid of wealth, Shiftless, indolent, am I, Unable to do as I ought to do. Numerous, therefore, are the offences I have committed at Thy feet. Mother! Saviour of all mankind! Auspicious One! Forgive my sins. A wicked son is sometimes born, But an unkind mother there cannot be. III Here in this world of Thine, O Mother! Many are Thy guileless children; But restless am I among them all, And so it is nothing very strange That I should turn myself from Thee. Yet surely it were impossible That Thou shouldst ever turn from me: A wicked son is sometimes born, But an unkind mother there cannot be. IV Mother of the world! Thou, my own Mother! Never have I served Thee, never yet Offered Thee gold or precious gems; And still Thy love is beyond compare. A wicked son is sometimes born, But an unkind mother there cannot be. V Bewildered by the rules of conduct, By the injunctions of the scriptures, I have abandoned, one by one, The shining gods; and now my life Has passed beyond the meridian. Mother, shouldst Thou withhold Thy mercy, Where, then, shall I fly for shelter, Weak and helpless as I am? VI If one who feeds on the flesh of dogs Can learn to speak with honeyed words, A beggar gain uncounted wealth And so live long and fearlessly, Simply hearing Thy magic name-- Who can describe what must befall One who repeats it night and day? VII Only by taking Thee for Spouse Did Siva become the unrivalled Lord-- He who is naked and uncouth, Besmeared with ash from the funeral pyre; Whose hair is matted on His head, About whose neck are venomous snakes-- The Lord of every living thing. VIII I do not ask of Thee, O Mother! Riches, good fortune, or salvation; I seek no happiness, no knowledge. This is my only prayer to Thee: That, as the breath of life forsakes me, Still I may chant Thy holy name. IX Mother, I have not worshipped Thee With proper rituals and the prescribed Ingredients of sacrifice. Many are my sinful deeds! Day and night I have spent myself In idle talk, forgetting Thee. O Divine Mother! If Thou canst show The slightest mercy to one so frail, It will befit Thy majesty. X Durga! Goddess of Mercy's Ocean! Stricken with grief, to Thee I pray: Do not believe me insincere; A child who is seized with thirst or hunger Thinks of his mother constantly. XI Mother of all the universe! If Thou shouldst show Thy fullest mercy, Would even that be a cause for wonder? A mother cannot refuse her son, Though he have done a million wrongs. XII Nowhere exists, in all the world, Another sinner to equal me, Nowhere, a Power like Thyself For overcoming sinfulness: O Goddess! Keeping this in mind, Do Thou as it pleases Thee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 That is so profoundly beautiful poem Michael. I will pass it on to advaitin list. Thank you Love to all Harsha Michael Bowes wrote: > > Eve of Sri Devi Durga Puja -- > > Jai Ma > > > > Dear Harsha and everyOne, > > > The Goddess, or Shakti, or Sri Yantra seem to be eminent in the lives > of many Mahatmas, no matter how "non-dual" their tendencies. > > > Sri Shankaracharya, the foremost propounder of Advaita, initiated the > worship of Shakti or the Divine Mother at His monasteries. Sri Ramana > worshipped Sri Yantra, a representation of Shakti, the same Sri Yantra > is still worshipped at Ramana Ashrama. > > It is also well known that Shankaracharya composed many devotional > poems. The Goddess and/or Shiva were usually the subjects. > > Once while departing on a journey to worship the divine mother, as I > was packing, I included a copy of Atma Bodha (Self Knowledge) > attributed to Adi Sankara. After arriving and on the first morning of > the Shakti Puja, just before leaving my room for the hall, I randomly > opened the book and my finger fell upon the very beginning of the > following poem written by Shankaracharya and translated by Swami > Nikhilananda. > > I offer the following on the eve of Durga Puja 2006. > > > > Pranam > > > > Hymn to the Divine Mother for Forgiveness of Transgressions > > Attributed to Adi Sankara > > I > > I know, alas! No hymn, no mantra, > > Neither prayer nor meditation; > > Not even how to give Thee praise. > > The proper ritual of the worship, > > The placement of the hands, I know not, > > Nor how to make Thee supplication. > > But Mother, this at least I know: > > Whoever comes to Thee for shelter > > Reaches the end of all his woe. > > > > > > II > > Ignorant of the commands of scripture, > > Utterly devoid of wealth, > > Shiftless, indolent, am I, > > Unable to do as I ought to do. > > Numerous, therefore, are the offences > > I have committed at Thy feet. > > Mother! Saviour of all mankind! > > Auspicious One! Forgive my sins. > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > III > > Here in this world of Thine, O Mother! > > Many are Thy guileless children; > > But restless am I among them all, > > And so it is nothing very strange > > That I should turn myself from Thee. > > Yet surely it were impossible > > That Thou shouldst ever turn from me: > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > IV > > Mother of the world! Thou, my own Mother! > > Never have I served Thee, never yet > > Offered Thee gold or precious gems; > > And still Thy love is beyond compare. > > A wicked son is sometimes born, > > But an unkind mother there cannot be. > > > > > > V > > Bewildered by the rules of conduct, > > By the injunctions of the scriptures, > > I have abandoned, one by one, > > The shining gods; and now my life > > Has passed beyond the meridian. > > Mother, shouldst Thou withhold Thy mercy, > > Where, then, shall I fly for shelter, > > Weak and helpless as I am? > > > > > > VI > > If one who feeds on the flesh of dogs > > Can learn to speak with honeyed words, > > A beggar gain uncounted wealth > > And so live long and fearlessly, > > Simply hearing Thy magic name-- > > Who can describe what must befall > > One who repeats it night and day? > > > > > > VII > > Only by taking Thee for Spouse > > Did Siva become the unrivalled Lord-- > > He who is naked and uncouth, > > Besmeared with ash from the funeral pyre; > > Whose hair is matted on His head, > > About whose neck are venomous snakes-- > > The Lord of every living thing. > > > > > > VIII > > I do not ask of Thee, O Mother! > > Riches, good fortune, or salvation; > > I seek no happiness, no knowledge. > > This is my only prayer to Thee: > > That, as the breath of life forsakes me, > > Still I may chant Thy holy name. > > > > > > IX > > Mother, I have not worshipped Thee > > With proper rituals and the prescribed > > Ingredients of sacrifice. > > Many are my sinful deeds! > > Day and night I have spent myself > > In idle talk, forgetting Thee. > > O Divine Mother! If Thou canst show > > The slightest mercy to one so frail, > > It will befit Thy majesty. > > > > > > X > > Durga! Goddess of Mercy's Ocean! > > Stricken with grief, to Thee I pray: > > Do not believe me insincere; > > A child who is seized with thirst or hunger > > Thinks of his mother constantly. > > > > > > XI > > Mother of all the universe! > > If Thou shouldst show Thy fullest mercy, > > Would even that be a cause for wonder? > > A mother cannot refuse her son, > > Though he have done a million wrongs. > > > > > > XII > > Nowhere exists, in all the world, > > Another sinner to equal me, > > Nowhere, a Power like Thyself > > For overcoming sinfulness: > > O Goddess! Keeping this in mind, > > Do Thou as it pleases Thee. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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