Spirituality (PVR ji,,specially for you..)

[Guest guest]

Dear PVR ji,

 

A very good mail and interesting to read.

 

I donot have any questions related to your statements in this mail

but i will say that...

spirituality is a path to Achieve Moksha.and for that one has to do

follow Karma Kshaya.

 

that is by receiving blessings of people ( to reduce the karma

Debts) doing Karma yog , tapasya as defined in Sri Bhagavada Geeta.

 

Many God empowered persons take birth time to time on earth who are

normal humans till they realise the power they have.

 

Spiritualism can also include that not hurting anyone , neither

physically nor emotionally. Always giving smiles and give others a

reason to smile. Because the blessing when a person is happy by

heart /soul is needed to overcome the Karma Debts and accumulating

good Karma.

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Tarun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao "

<pvr wrote:

>

> Namaste Sir,

>

> > > But What a real spiritualism is still yet to defined....

>

> I will try more. But first I want to recommend a couple of books:

>

> (1) " Yoga Vaasishtham " is undoubtedly one of the best works

available to a spiritually inclined person with interest in vedanta.

It is a practical book with many stories (unlike most dry vedanta

books) and teaches profound lessons through stories.

>

> Interestingly, I am typing this on the eve of Sree Rama Navami (by

the way, happy Sree Rama Navami to all of you!). When Maharshi

Vishwamitra came to request Dasaratha to send Lord Rama with him to

protect his yajna from demons, Dasaratha was hesitant and Lord

Ramachandra was confused. At the request of Maharshi Vishwamitra and

others, Maharshi Vasishtha taught Lord Ramachandra the essence of

the knowledge of Self, in front of other maharshis, kings and gods.

These teachings were captured by Maharshi Valmiki as the book " Yoga

Vaasishtham " .

>

> This work helped even maharshis like Bharadwaja to obtain Brahma

jnana. When Valmiki explained Vasishtha's teachings to Bharadwaja,

he became realized.

>

> There is a truly inspired English translation by Swami

Venkatesananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda of Hrishikesh (Divine

Life Society). Swami Sivananda is considered by some to be a re-

incarnation of Maharshi Vasishtha.

>

> http://www.amazon.com/Vasisthas-Yoga-Venkatesananda/dp/0791413640

>

> This is the best book I have read in my life and I can say this is

the book that influenced me the most and changed my thinking.

>

> (2) Bhagavad Gita is a marvelous compendium on practical

spirituality. It covers various paths like jnana yoga, raja yoga,

bhakti yoga, karma yoga, sannyasa yoga etc. While there are many

commentaries and translations, I prefer the treatment of Sant

Jnaneshwar. He is a rare Krishna bhakta who is also associated with

the path of aghora and nathas! While most Krishna bhaktas follow

dwaita and vivishtaadwaita, Jnaneshwar's treatment is purely

adwaitic.

>

> In Yoga Vasishtham, Vasishtha tells Rama that Vishnu would appear

as Krishna in a later yuga and teach the essence of Veda to Arjuna.

Vasishtha goes to great lengths on what Krishna teaches. Some modern

commentaries on Bhagavad Gita deviate from the adwaitic principles

of vedanta and interpret some teachings of Krishna in a way that

contradicts Vasishtha's take. Sant Jnaneshwar's interpretation is

consistent with Vasishtha's and also consistent with upanishads and

vedanta.

>

> http://www.amazon.com/Jnaneshwars-Gita-Jnaneshwari-Swami-

Kripananda/dp/0911307648

>

> * * *

>

> > > But What a real spiritualism is still yet to defined....

>

> Self-realized person is one who has realized that all is Brahman

and not bound by any limited ego, even though actions continue to

spring from a previously existing ego (that continues to wind down

like a fan after electricity is turned off).

>

> Spiritual person is one who is making *some progress* towards

becoming a self-realized person at a point in future.

>

> * * *

>

> Unfrotunately, scriptures can describe a self-realized person and

how he thinks, but they cannot give any fool-proof steps which, when

followed by one, can ensure self-realization.

>

> Just thinking " all is Brahman " and understanding it

*intellctually* is not sufficient. Let me drive my point home using

an analogy.

>

> Suppose someone goes to a movie and becomes so involved in the

movie that he behaves as through something is really happening on

the screen. For example, suppose there is a scene where the heroine

is in a dark room and villain is about to stab her in the back from

behind her. Suppose there is tense music. One may be shuddering with

expectation. One may jump with shock and tension.

>

> There may be one person who completely realizes that this is just

an illusion and nothing is actually happening and watches it without

any emotional involvement whatsoever. He is anlogous to a realized

person. Suppose someone is so involved and shouts with happiness

when something good happens in the movie and shudders when something

terrible happens in the movie. He is analogous to a person deeply

stuck in maya. Really speaking, this life we live is quite similar

to a big movie, except that it is interactive. Thus, my analogy is

quite appropriate.

>

> Now, one smart person may very well know that this movie thing is

not really happening and hence controlling emotions mostly. But an

odd scene may make him shudder too! Such a person is analogous to

one who intellectually understands and appreciates the essence of

Veda (that all is Brahman and the objects we see are all an

illusion) and yet does not fully comprehend it.

>

> If one fully realizes, then nothing should make one happy or sad

internally. One may act externally as though one is happy or sad,

but the heart should be stable always and not excited or depressed

by *anything*. If all is Brahman, why should anything exicte you

depress you? In our analogy, such a person is like one watching the

movie with zero involvement, realizing at all times that it is only

imaginary and not happening for real and not being shaken even once.

One who has only an intellectual understanding and not a complete

understanding may some times be affected by the illusion.

>

> If someone praises you, does it excite you? If someone humiliates,

does it upset you? If something seems nice, do you want to have it?

If something seems disgusting, do you want to go away?

>

> As long as there is attachment and self-identification with a body

or a name or some other limited object, some ego remains and causes

all of the above. It results in happiness on some events and sadness

on some events. Self-realization cannot come without overcoming ego

*fully*. It never comes from an intellectual understanding of the

dictum " all is Brahman " . It comes from experiencing it.

>

> * * *

>

> How can one go from a limited ego to zero ego? There is no single

path. As I said already, scriptures only describe how a realized

person thinks, but they cannot give a fool-proof path to realization.

>

> However, some scriptures do outline some paths for reference.

While they are not fool-proof and do not guarantee realization, they

can be helpful.

>

> One person may sit down in seclusion in a forest or in Himalayas

or a remote cave and keep eating enough to just survive and actively

contemplate all the time " Who am I? Am I this body? Who am I? What

are all these objects I perceive? What is all this? " and eventually

realize Self. This is jnana yoga.

>

> One person may pray to a specific deity and slowly force oneself

to see the entire universe as another form of that deity and see

that deity in everything. One may eventually realize Self through

that deity. This is bhakti yoga.

>

> One person may consider work and service as god and spend all of

one's time serving people without prejudices, without any self-pride

and without any selfish motives. One may try to see god in all

people and all service and may eventually realize Self. This is

karma yoga.

>

> One person may use forceful methods of raja yoga, control the

body, senses and mind through yogic practices, forcefully raise self-

awareness (Kundalini shakti) to higher realms of consciousness. They

too may eventually realize Self.

>

> In each of these four broad paths, there are many sub-paths. But

please realize that no path guarantees self-realization. They help,

but do not guarantee anything. And the only method of spiritual

progress, IMHO, is how much ego has been overcome.

>

> Most people stick to one method. There are exceptions like

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who tried each path and succeeded. In fact,

I believe the logo of Ramakrishna mutt employs symbols of each of

these paths in it! While each saint is great and one cannot compare

them, Ramakrishna was somebody else. His lila (play) cannot fully be

understood by most people even today, after such a long time. His

lila may in fact continue to play out long after he left the body.

>

> * * *

>

> I just want to share my personal view on the link between the

abobe paths and Jyotish. This is not from any classic and based on

my own intuition.

>

> The path of karma yoga is seen from the element of earth. The path

of bhakti yoga is seen from the element of water. The path of jnaana

yoga is seen from the element of fire. The path of raja yoga is seen

from the element of air. Of course, ether is in all. Ether or space

is the basis of all yoga.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

>

> Do Ganapathi Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> Spirituality:

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

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

> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

>

>

> , " Tarun " <tarun.virgo@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Sir,

> >

> > a very good mail from your side.

> >

> > you covered all points,

> >

> > including the Karma which you mentioned as Arjuna and Krishna's

> > example and Raja Janak

> >

> > Rest sanyas things which you mentioned with examples of Trilinga

> > Swami, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ,Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda)

and

> > few others.

> >

> > Spiritualism of Rajnikant.

> >

> > But What a real spiritualism is still yet to defined....

> >

> > being a sadhu tatva is spiritualism ?? doing karma is

spiritualism ??

> > giving teachings is spiritualism ? doing Social service is

> > spiritualism ?? guiding others is spiritualism.?? being honest

is

> > spiritualism ?? or being a warrior and killing because of duties

is

> > spiritualism ?? or taking sanyas is spiritualism ?? or sitting

in

> > temple and worshipping / doing yajna /doing yoga etc...etc...

> > unlimited things.

> >

> > or not helping people and letting them face the god's decision

is

> > spiritualism.

> >

> >

> > as per you ..a self realised person who finally loses ego ( any

> > planet specific ) is lost that time a person is spiritual ?? but

> > what does he do finally .....again long list as above. ...

> >

> > you have read Geeta and all other puranas , if you can share few

> > things from your vast knowledge , it would be great for those

who

> > donot understands the meaning of spiritualism.

> >

> > But do you agree to me that there are many people who has made

it as

> > moeny earning module in western countries..

> >

> > ////

> > > > > in my view, being a senior astrologer doesnt make one to

> > certify any

> > > > > persons doings as good and spiritual.

> > >

> > > Nobody can " certify " anybody. However, those who know some

> > astrology can give their views on charts that are shared and

> > discussed publicly. If some people see those views as

> > a " certificates " , it is their perception.

> >

> > ////

> >

> > if you read history of Ashoka ...he killed thousands of people

> > before taking sanyas. in the war of kalinga.

> >

> > were you able to define him spiritual before ?? that time no one

was

> > able to be sure that Ashoka will take Sanyas.

> >

> >

> > Basically acceptance of truth / satya and following it can be

> > Spiritualism.

> >

> >

> > due to lack of time i was not able to reply you earlier.

> >

> > hope to receive reply.

> >

> > Tarun.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > , " Narasimha P.V.R. Rao "

> > <pvr@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Namaste Sir,

> > >

> > > > > i will say if the person is spiritual ...go and do tapasya

in

> > > > > Himalay..why sitting in pleasure world and earning money

and

> > > > > enjoying all world pleasures.

> > >

> > > Sitting in pleasure world and earning money is NOT synonymous

> > to " enjoying all world pleasures " . One may be sitting in

pleasure

> > world, earning money and engaging externally in various

activities,

> > but the mind may be established in peace and bliss.

> > >

> > > A realized person is NOT identified by the actions he/she

engages

> > in. Just as an electric fan continues to turn for a few minutes

even

> > after the electricity is turned off, a realized person who is

still

> > in a body continues to engage in actions based on the previous

flow.

> > After King Janaka realized Self, he continued as the king of

Mithila

> > and did all royal duties. After Krishna made Arjuna realize

Self,

> > Arjuna fought a war and killed his gurus, brothers, grandfather

etc.

> > >

> > > One who has not yet realized Self will distinguish between

various

> > objects of this dual world and view some as good and some as

bad.

> > He/she will try to stay away from so-called bad actions. On the

> > other hand, a realized person sees all people, objects and

actions

> > of this universe as the same Self and sees no reason to either

be

> > attracted to or repelled from anything. His/her actions and

> > inactions are thus not based on the principles of attraction and

> > repulsion. They are based on the previous flow.

> > >

> > > Renouncing wife, children, job, money etc is an attempt to

find

> > true mental renunciation. Renouncing external objects can

promote

> > mental renunciation, but not guarantee it. On the other hand,

one

> > can remain in the midst of the material world and all the

external

> > objects and yet have a perfectly stable, peaceful and blissful

mind

> > that is not attracted to or repelled from any of the objects one

is

> > surrounded by. For all you know, a big film star like

Rajinikanth,

> > who makes millions of dollars per movie, surrounded by glamour,

> > money and adulation, may be more detached at the mental level

than

> > many yogis in Himalayas. It is probably true in the case of

> > Rajinikanth.

> > >

> > > When one stays away from objects that may attract one, it is

> > relatively easy to overcome attraction temporarily. Whether one

can

> > retain that renunciation when one comes in contact with the

objects

> > again or not is a questionmark. On the other hand, to be in

contact

> > with the objects that may attract one and yet maintain mental

> > detachment and mental renunciation is tougher. It is the true

test.

> > >

> > > It is not out of place to mention a small story.

> > >

> > > Trilinga Swami lived for about 300 years and did unbelievable

> > austerities in Kashi. When Ramakrishna Paramahamsa met him in

Kashi,

> > he remarked to his sishyas that Trilinga Swami was Shiva Himself

and

> > a fully realized being. Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda) was not

> > with him on that pilgrimage and he made a point to force

> > Narendranath to go to Kashi later to have a darshan of Trilinga

> > Swami!

> > >

> > > Lahiri Mahashaya was the guru of Yukteshwar Maharaj, who was

the

> > guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda. Lahiri Mahashaya was a

householder

> > and had a high-paying job. Yet he realized Self. Trilnga Swami

spoke

> > little, but he once spoke a few words in Lahiri Mahashaya's

praise.

> > He said, " The state of mind I achieved by renouncing everything,

> > Lahiri achieved it while being a householder, being in the

middle of

> > everything. I bow to him. "

> > >

> > > * * *

> > >

> > > > > in my view, being a senior astrologer doesnt make one to

> > certify any

> > > > > persons doings as good and spiritual.

> > >

> > > Nobody can " certify " anybody. However, those who know some

> > astrology can give their views on charts that are shared and

> > discussed publicly. If some people see those views as

> > a " certificates " , it is their perception.

> > >

> > > * * *

> > >

> > > Self-realization can be consistently defined. However,

> > spirituality is tough to define. It will mean different things

to

> > different people.

> > >

> > > The goal of all spiritual journeys is to realize Self, at some

> > time or the other. However, most spiritual journeys of this age

do

> > NOT end in Self-realization.

> > >

> > > It is limited ego that binds one to a limited existence like a

> > body and stops one from realizing the all-pervading true Self.

While

> > a self-realized person's ego is completely killed, it is

possible to

> > make partial progress. There are many people, who overcome ego

to

> > various extents and realize to various degrees that body is

> > temporary and it is not the true self. One can do so by

following

> > many spiritual paths, like the path of knowledge, the path of

> > devotion, the path of pranayama, the path of hatha yoga, the

path of

> > work and service etc. One who overcomes ego to some extent,

using

> > any path, is making some spiritual progress. When the ego is

> > completely subdued, one realizes the true Self. This realization

is

> > the same irrespective of the path followed. However,

intermediate

> > steps look and feel different based on the path.

> > >

> > > Enough of my 2 cents for tonight...

> > >

> > > Best regards,

> > > Narasimha

> > > ------------------------------

---

> > > Do Ganapathi Homam Yourself:

http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

> > > Spirituality:

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

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

> > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

> > > ------------------------------

---

> > >

> > > > > Dear Prashant ji,

> > > > >

> > > > > in my view, being a senior astrologer doesnt make one to

> > certify any

> > > > > persons doings as good and spiritual.

> > > > >

> > > > > There are many factors which one over looks,

> > > > >

> > > > > and in true sense ....what is the real spiritualism.

> > > > >

> > > > > i will say if the person is spiritual ...go and do tapasya

in

> > > > > Himalay..why sitting in pleasure world and earning money

and

> > > > > enjoying all world pleasures.

> > > > >

> > > > > Regards,

> > > > >

> > > > > Tarun

>

>

>