Offer all our actions and the fruits of all our actions to God

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

I am replying to the list without revealing your identity.

 

When you are doing an action (e.g. a homam, an archana, a service to the poor in

your area etc), it is very unlikely and difficult that you are doing it without

an " I " sense. But it is ok. Atleast, you are engaging your I-sense to work for

the benefit of the world rather than self-gratification. When do a homam or

archana, you are trying to please a deity (personification of a particular good

quality in all the people of the world). When you do social service, you are

helping needy people. And so on.

 

While doing various kinds of sadhana, one tries to take the focus of mind from

the limited self (body, name, status, image etc) and expand it to a larger

entity (e.g. a deity, a community, a society, a country, universe etc). One

tries to focus the mind on others and not think much about oneself. This helps

one overcome mind's natural tendency to focus on limited self and gratification

of that limited self.

 

While doing that, however, thoughts may arise " I am doing this good and

important work " . Such thoughts bring the focus of mind back to the limited self

(body, name, status, image etc). By telling oneself that the Lord is doing it

though one and that one is merely an instrument, i.e. by cultivating the spirit

of " Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamastu " , one tries to overcome that tendency towards

self-gratification and/or self-glorification.

 

After repeated practice, such thinking becomes common sense to one and one's

mind gets focused on doing what one sees as one's dharma, without any sense of

pride or self-gratification or self-glorification.

 

* * *

 

If a priest doing an archana for you takes your name and nakshatra in the

sankalpam before the pooja, there is nothing to be worried. In your mind, try to

think as above.

 

Some priests go much further and say all kinds of highly specific things in

sankalpa. For example, I have seen priests say " to give dharma, artha, kaama,

moksha, well-being, strength, boldness, success, fearless, longevity, health,

wealth etc to so and so person, to remove all past, present and future sins and

all past, present and future problems related to all planets, shadowy planets,

sub-planets in rasi, navamsa, drekkana, trimsamsa etc charts at birth, in dasas

and in transits, and to give results as though all planets are placed in the

11th house and not in the actual house of placement " etc etc. Some priests spend

5-10 minutes mentioning so many specific desires in sankalpam. When you find a

priest saying things like that, I suggest just taking it easy and not getting

either excited or disturbed. Just think in your mind " I am doing this ritual as

a humble offering to you. Please receive it kindly and give whatever you see as

appropriate " and try to focus the mind on the deity. What's in your heart is far

more important than anything else.

 

* * *

 

Cultivating the sense that whatever good work you are doing is being done by the

Lord *through you* and whatever results (including very bad ones) are given to

you are fruits granted by the Lord to your karmas which you should accept

without regrets, is an important activity that should go on outside of the

ritual time.

 

For example, when one's wife or husband (or someone close) yells at one or

abuses one, fairly or unfairly, one has a choice. One can either become upset

and angry and remain in that mood for a few hours wondering why the other person

is so unfair/wrong, or one can just accept it as the fruits given by the Lord

for one's previous actions and focus the mind on what good actions can be

performed *now*. Similarly, when people praise one, one has a choice. One can

either become excited and gloat in the praises or one can think that the Lord

used one as an instrument in getting that work done and focus the mind on what

good actions can be performed *now*.

 

Best regards,

Narasimha

 

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

Spirituality writings:

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Jyotish writings: JyotishWritings

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

 

 

---- <deleted> wrote:

> Dear Narasimha,

>

> <deleted>, you had replied that we must

> always offer all our actions and the fruits of all our actions to

> Krishna.

>

> This is relatively straight forward at the end of a homam. However,

> when we offer archana or group sankalpam at the temple, we mention OUR

> names and OUR nakshatra. This somehow implies that the " I " factor is

> offering and thus runs counter to the principle of offering all

> actions to God.

>

> I need your clarification on how to overcome this.

>

> This question may seem trivial to you, but I sincerely hope you will

> find the time to explain to me.

>

> Thank you.

>

> Warmest Regards,

> <deleted>

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sri Narasimha,

-------

>> From Sri Narasimha

For example, when one's wife or husband (or someone close) yells at one or abuses one, fairly or unfairly, one has a choice. One can either become upset and angry and remain in that mood for a few hours wondering why the other person is so unfair/wrong, or one can just accept it as the fruits given by the Lord for one's previous actions and focus the mind on what good actions can be performed *now*. Similarly, when people praise one, one has a choice. One can either become excited and gloat in the praises or one can think that the Lord used one as an instrument in getting that work done and focus the mind on what good actions can be performed *now*.-------

 

This has been a recurrent theme in the Indian spiritual domain.

When something happens to an "Individual" - take it as a karma, accept it and move on.

But when something happens to "State" - Don't accept it but protect it.

 

I shall try to illustrate this using examples:

a) When pandavas are given Khandavprastha, lord Krishna has told pandavas to accept it as karama boomi (accept) but when Indraprastha has been snatched away by deceit, Krishna has asked pandavas to fight for it as their duty. (fight)

 

b) Gandhiji's satyagraha principle:

When an adversary tries to cause harm to you, submit yourself to the cruelity but don't bow down on your principles (accept)

When a neighbor puts you incharge of his household and when others try to cause harm to that household, protect it even if you had to forsake your life for it. (fight)

c) When cancer affected Ramakrishna, he accepted it and moved on with it.

But when the cancer affected society, Lord Krishna fought and eliminated the cancerous growth in the society.

 

Why can't we apply the similar argument to domestic problem?

e.g, when abuses are thrown at one, why not fight and bring it to logical conclusion as it's causing a conflict in the domestic harmony and hence suffering to children and neighbors at large? Why just accept it?

 

When cancer is affecting bodily function, why not eliminate cancerous growth, prolong the life and hence fulfil rinas rather than bodily suffer and hence unable to fulfil karmas?

 

Applying one rule to Self and other rule to the society, is a bit confusing.

 

Can you please clarify this doubt?

 

Thanks & Regards,

--Murahari

--- On Tue, 11/24/09, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote:

Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr Re: Offer all our actions and the fruits of all our actions to God Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 3:20 AM

Namaste,I am replying to the list without revealing your identity.When you are doing an action (e.g. a homam, an archana, a service to the poor in your area etc), it is very unlikely and difficult that you are doing it without an "I" sense. But it is ok. Atleast, you are engaging your I-sense to work for the benefit of the world rather than self-gratification. When do a homam or archana, you are trying to please a deity (personification of a particular good quality in all the people of the world). When you do social service, you are helping needy people. And so on.While doing various kinds of sadhana, one tries to take the focus of mind from the limited self (body, name, status, image etc) and expand it to a larger entity (e.g. a deity, a community, a society, a country, universe etc). One tries to focus the mind on others and not think much about oneself. This helps one overcome mind's natural tendency to

focus on limited self and gratification of that limited self.While doing that, however, thoughts may arise "I am doing this good and important work". Such thoughts bring the focus of mind back to the limited self (body, name, status, image etc). By telling oneself that the Lord is doing it though one and that one is merely an instrument, i.e. by cultivating the spirit of "Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamastu", one tries to overcome that tendency towards self-gratification and/or self-glorification.After repeated practice, such thinking becomes common sense to one and one's mind gets focused on doing what one sees as one's dharma, without any sense of pride or self-gratification or self-glorification.* * *If a priest doing an archana for you takes your name and nakshatra in the sankalpam before the pooja, there is nothing to be worried. In your mind, try to think as

above.Some priests go much further and say all kinds of highly specific things in sankalpa. For example, I have seen priests say "to give dharma, artha, kaama, moksha, well-being, strength, boldness, success, fearless, longevity, health, wealth etc to so and so person, to remove all past, present and future sins and all past, present and future problems related to all planets, shadowy planets, sub-planets in rasi, navamsa, drekkana, trimsamsa etc charts at birth, in dasas and in transits, and to give results as though all planets are placed in the 11th house and not in the actual house of placement" etc etc. Some priests spend 5-10 minutes mentioning so many specific desires in sankalpam. When you find a priest saying things like that, I suggest just taking it easy and not getting either excited or disturbed. Just think in your mind "I am doing this ritual as a humble offering to you. Please receive it kindly and give whatever you see as

appropriate" and try to focus the mind on the deity. What's in your heart is far more important than anything else.* * *Cultivating the sense that whatever good work you are doing is being done by the Lord *through you* and whatever results (including very bad ones) are given to you are fruits granted by the Lord to your karmas which you should accept without regrets, is an important activity that should go on outside of the ritual time.For example, when one's wife or husband (or someone close) yells at one or abuses one, fairly or unfairly, one has a choice. One can either become upset and angry and remain in that mood for a few hours wondering why the other person is so unfair/wrong, or one can just accept it as the fruits given by the Lord for one's previous actions and focus the mind on what good actions can be performed *now*. Similarly, when people praise one, one has a

choice. One can either become excited and gloat in the praises or one can think that the Lord used one as an instrument in getting that work done and focus the mind on what good actions can be performed *now*.Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamSpirituality writings: Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgJyotish writings: JyotishWritingsFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana---- <deleted> wrote: > Dear Narasimha,> > <deleted>, you had replied that we must > always offer all our actions and the fruits of all our actions to > Krishna.> > This is relatively straight forward at the end of a homam. However, > when we offer archana or group sankalpam at the temple, we mention OUR > names and OUR nakshatra. This somehow implies that the "I" factor is > offering and thus runs counter to the principle of offering all > actions to God.> > I need your clarification on how to overcome this.> > This question may seem

trivial to you, but I sincerely hope you will > find the time to explain to me.> > Thank you.> > Warmest Regards,> <deleted>---|| Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||