Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Divine World Yoga Family: Namastey! The sun is out and shining bright at noon, and this is very strange for it is the middle of monsoon! (To paraphrase Alice in Wonderland ideas!) We have had some heavy monsoon rains this year, for the first time in several years. Actually, we have had almost a drought state for three-four years and the land has been dry and the earth forlorn. This year we have had some good rains, not daily as is usual in monsoon, but here and there. Al least it has been enough to give some nourishment to the earth. But, this also has a bad side effect, as the sun will be shining in great heat one moment and then, we shiver in cold as big black clouds suddenly cover the sky. One extreme to another! The weather patterns have changed world wide. Many people living in Germany told me that this year the heat was so great, they felt to be in India! Mankind tries to manipulate Nature for his own convenience and pleasure, but She will not long tolerate this. She shows Her own power when the time comes, and then, we can only stand and gaze in awe as her fury expressed in heat waves, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural catastrophes. Knowing all this, we continue to meddle blissfully, trying to change the environment instead of attempting to adjust to it. The ancient Rishis created a culture which was cored in a deep respect and reverence for Nature. Nature was God: Agni, fire; Indra, lightning, thunder and rains; Varuna, the water and the sea; Vayu, the air; Bhumi Devi, the earth Herself; Surya, the sun. Delicate, sensitive rituals and Pujas reinforced that natural awe and reverence and served as a means of communion between man and the natural forces. Man’s mind and mental attitude had the power to placate natural fury. Now, humans merrily “devour the earth” as though there is no future generation who will need a place to stay! We talk in conferences of “blowing up segments of the earth on which other people live” as though that will have no effect on us! The poet said, “You cannot pluck a flower without disturbing a star.” Who realises this deep in their hones? If we did, could we indulge in such greedy consumerism, or fight wars in the name of love? Food for thoughts! Necessary! thoughts. Aurobindo said a good thing when a disciple complained to him that “everyone was selfish and mean.” Aurobindo replied: “Well, we have our work cut out for us, don’t we. We must make certain we ourselves are not selfish and mean.”! Many come to ICYER to study Yoga with us, but few realise what Yoga really is. Most think it is a keep fit exercise, or will bestow peace of mind if we perform a few Asanas. Some hope it will cure disease. Some want to lose weight, some hope it will give meaning to their lives. Unhappy people expect Yoga to make them happy, undisciplined people expect Yoga to give them discipline. However, Yoga may have these things as “spin offs”. The essence of Yoga is its power to make us less selfish and reduce our petty, mean-mindedness. Many can perform Asanas and Pranayama to perfection. Many can sit for hours in “meditation.” But very few are “good people” – Strong, stable, sensitive, alert, skillful, capable, healthy, energetic, aware, open, happy, grateful, appreciative, quiet and controlled. Without those qualities of character, what kind of Yoga can we practice”? Our real job in Yoga is “Swadhyaya” (Self-Study) and the desire to develop “Yogic qualities” so beautifully summarized in the Yamas and Niyamas of Patanjali – non-harmfulness, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of sexual power and non-greed-restraining our animal nature, our mammalian brain, the deep powerful impulses of the animal’s intense urge to survive. Then the sculpting of the higher nature, Manas, consciousness, the cerebral cortex, the pre-frontal lobes – through the Niyama: cleanliness, contentment, spiritual discipline, self study and surrender to Divine Will. How basic these are to spiritual growth! How few embrace them or even care for them, cultivate them, nurture them! The bedrock of Yoga living, the very ground under our feet – the Yamas and Niyamas. A danger in spirituality is getting too tightly “wrapped up in the arms of ourselves.” Self-absorbed, but an absorption in the limited petty ego. Sage Vashishta in the Yoga Vashishta gave a beautiful description of the ego: “The ego is dull, inert and stupid.” Yet, we cling to this heavy, crude lump of stone and sink to the bottom of the sea of ignorance encumbered by its weight! How peculiar life is! How strange we humans are! We always yearn for something which can not exist! Like Sita’s yearning for the golden deer! The illusions of the world hypnotise us and in our mad passion to “grasp them” we become “ignorant, selfish and mean.” Just thoughts on a rainless, sunny monsoon day! May your Yoga Sadhana be based on virtue, may your Yoga Sadhana be based on strength, wisdom and awareness. May your Yoga Sadhana be successful and may the light of the Guru shine in your spirit! Affectionately in Yoga, AMMADr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com Protect your identity with Mail AddressGuard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 - Dr.Ananda Bhavanani Tuesday, November 18, 2003 9:17 AM Re: Random thoughts from Amma Divine World Yoga Family: Namastey! The sun is out and shining bright at noon, and this is very strange for it is the middle of monsoon! (To paraphrase Alice in Wonderland ideas!) We have had some heavy monsoon rains this year, for the first time in several years. Actually, we have had almost a drought state for three-four years and the land has been dry and the earth forlorn. This year we have had some good rains, not daily as is usual in monsoon, but here and there. Al least it has been enough to give some nourishment to the earth. But, this also has a bad side effect, as the sun will be shining in great heat one moment and then, we shiver in cold as big black clouds suddenly cover the sky. One extreme to another! The weather patterns have changed world wide. Many people living in Germany told me that this year the heat was so great, they felt to be in India! Mankind tries to manipulate Nature for his own convenience and pleasure, but She will not long tolerate this. She shows Her own power when the time comes, and then, we can only stand and gaze in awe as her fury expressed in heat waves, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural catastrophes. Knowing all this, we continue to meddle blissfully, trying to change the environment instead of attempting to adjust to it. The ancient Rishis created a culture which was cored in a deep respect and reverence for Nature. Nature was God: Agni, fire; Indra, lightning, thunder and rains; Varuna, the water and the sea; Vayu, the air; Bhumi Devi, the earth Herself; Surya, the sun. Delicate, sensitive rituals and Pujas reinforced that natural awe and reverence and served as a means of communion between man and the natural forces. Man’s mind and mental attitude had the power to placate natural fury. Now, humans merrily “devour the earth” as though there is no future generation who will need a place to stay! We talk in conferences of “blowing up segments of the earth on which other people live” as though that will have no effect on us! The poet said, “You cannot pluck a flower without disturbing a star.” Who realises this deep in their hones? If we did, could we indulge in such greedy consumerism, or fight wars in the name of love? Food for thoughts! Necessary! thoughts. Aurobindo said a good thing when a disciple complained to him that “everyone was selfish and mean.” Aurobindo replied: “Well, we have our work cut out for us, don’t we. We must make certain we ourselves are not selfish and mean.”! Many come to ICYER to study Yoga with us, but few realise what Yoga really is. Most think it is a keep fit exercise, or will bestow peace of mind if we perform a few Asanas. Some hope it will cure disease. Some want to lose weight, some hope it will give meaning to their lives. Unhappy people expect Yoga to make them happy, undisciplined people expect Yoga to give them discipline. However, Yoga may have these things as “spin offs”. The essence of Yoga is its power to make us less selfish and reduce our petty, mean-mindedness. Many can perform Asanas and Pranayama to perfection. Many can sit for hours in “meditation.” But very few are “good people” – Strong, stable, sensitive, alert, skillful, capable, healthy, energetic, aware, open, happy, grateful, appreciative, quiet and controlled. Without those qualities of character, what kind of Yoga can we practice”? Our real job in Yoga is “Swadhyaya” (Self-Study) and the desire to develop “Yogic qualities” so beautifully summarized in the Yamas and Niyamas of Patanjali – non-harmfulness, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of sexual power and non-greed-restraining our animal nature, our mammalian brain, the deep powerful impulses of the animal’s intense urge to survive. Then the sculpting of the higher nature, Manas, consciousness, the cerebral cortex, the pre-frontal lobes – through the Niyama: cleanliness, contentment, spiritual discipline, self study and surrender to Divine Will. How basic these are to spiritual growth! How few embrace them or even care for them, cultivate them, nurture them! The bedrock of Yoga living, the very ground under our feet – the Yamas and Niyamas. A danger in spirituality is getting too tightly “wrapped up in the arms of ourselves.” Self-absorbed, but an absorption in the limited petty ego. Sage Vashishta in the Yoga Vashishta gave a beautiful description of the ego: “The ego is dull, inert and stupid.” Yet, we cling to this heavy, crude lump of stone and sink to the bottom of the sea of ignorance encumbered by its weight! How peculiar life is! How strange we humans are! We always yearn for something which can not exist! Like Sita’s yearning for the golden deer! The illusions of the world hypnotise us and in our mad passion to “grasp them” we become “ignorant, selfish and mean.” Just thoughts on a rainless, sunny monsoon day! May your Yoga Sadhana be based on virtue, may your Yoga Sadhana be based on strength, wisdom and awareness. May your Yoga Sadhana be successful and may the light of the Guru shine in your spirit! Affectionately in Yoga, AMMADr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani25,2nd cross,Iyyanar NagarPondicherry-605 013tel;0413 622902/241561abb,yognat2001Website: www.icyer.com Protect your identity with Mail AddressGuard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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