From Swami ANANDAKAPILA

[Guest guest]

Dr Jonn Mumford <drjonnm wrote: “Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with thedarkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.”- Pema Chodron (contemporary Buddhist teacher When we enlarge our perspective regarding the Yamas our sensitivity to our instinctive whims increases and we move a step closer to becoming the charioteer of our life, more able to “Drive” and less “Driven”! The Yamas are interlocked, a virtual network of cogs, each movement of one affects all five wheels: as an example; “Satya” the “truth”, with carelessness, becomes violence, and an apparent “lie” may in fact be “Ahimsa” and so the meshing extends to all five of the Yamas. “Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, forI am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.”- Robert Brault (American poet, writer) The Yamas blend into an internal whole forming a holistic, holy, psychic mechanism ticking inside us and moving us ever closer to alchemical transmutation of our being - provided we exercise consciousness. The Yamas are neither “Commandments” nor simple moral rules – rather they are subtle psychological mechanisms capable of fine tuning our inner psychic network. The conscious application of “Satya” involves Viveka (discernment) and this is by no means a simple judgement. At a practical level the “Four Way Test” may be helpful. 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? “Satya” has an esoteric implication which is often unknown to students who have taken the principles of

“Satya” as a Hindu variation on the Ten Commandments. Illustrating this I am going to take two translations over a hundred years apart. “By the establishment of truthfulness the Yogi gets the power of attaining for himself and others the fruits of work without the works”II. 36 Yoga Sutras, Swami Vivekananda Translation and commentary (1863-1902) originally published as “Raja Yoga: Conquering the internal Nature” late 18oo’s. “On being firmly established in truthfulness, the actions result in fruits, entirely depending on it.” II. 36 Yoga Sutras, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Translation and commentary, Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar, India, 1976 “These are the two meanings of the Sutra: Firstly it means that whatever he speaks comes true and secondly, it means that the result of his actions follow from his will” Swami Satyananda Saraswati OM TAT SAT Much Love ANANDAKAPILA ARTICLE OF THE WEEK: Very good article by my brilliant alter-ego CLEAVES - at his best: [Anandakapila] Violence by quin Sunday, Feb 3 2008, 6:11pminternational / personal development / article Violence has always been a problematic issue for humankind. The world is characterised by violence from storms/weather to the behaviour of microbes and large carnivores. However, the wanton

violence of mankind is in a category all by itself. It is little wonder violence poses a major dilemma for all human societies. Philosophers have taken extreme views on the subject, from ‘might is right,’ to gently sweeping ants from one’s path in order to avoid stepping on them! Numerous combinations and permutations of these two extreme positions exist today; however, they only serve to highlight how violence and non-violence pose major dilemmas for human society and every responsible human being. Please note that editing a text is also a violent act; a broad perspective is required to understand this issue!For aspirants of Truth the most violent act of all is Self-Realisation or realising Truth, as it totally subverts the prevailing worldview and ALL ITS VALUES! Ramana of South India is reputed to have said

the perfect ‘State’ is the ‘fourth,’ turiya avastha, a reference to Realisation – I shall return to other controversial statements Ramana made regarding Adolf Hitler but first a brief reference to some texts that have fundamentally changed society and human behaviour.The Hindu Bhagavad Gita relates the story of Lord Krisna and his faithful servant Arjuna; the scenario or context is a battlefield, perfect! Lord Krisna seems to encourage if not order the vacillating, doubt-filled, Arjuna to engage in battle though the ranks of the opposition force are filled with his relatives and loved ones. Krisna’s response to Arjuna’s dilemma is plain, to paraphrase for western readers; Krisna admonishes Arjuna for his ignorance and veiled arrogance and orders him to engage in battle and kill with absolute dedication (duty) and CLARITY! However, Krisna qualifies the order to kill with the Truth that all life and death emanate and are resolved in HIM -- the personification of the

creative/destructive principle of the universe! Arjuna’s arrogant false perception that it is he who kills is eliminated by Krisna who distinguishes/discriminates between the ultimate REALITY and the apparent ‘reality’ of the world. Arjuna is vindicated and absolved of the consequences of his actions PROVIDING he is able to ACT WITH CLARITY and DETACHMENT ie. performing acts free of any notion of GAIN or LOSS arising from personal desire or attachment! A very difficult balancing act for modern man to achieve but then, the prize of existence is only attained by the few.It should be noted the above text also carries an esoteric interpretation, the ‘battle’ also refers to personal challenges and development. Nevertheless, the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most pragmatic of all theological texts and the exoteric interpretation should not be disregarded – you see, WE ARE THE WORLD!The Old Testament relates a story of Jehovah requesting Abraham, the

patriarch of three major religions, to sacrifice (kill) his own son – there are too many interpretations to this story to detail in this short paper; nevertheless, the story revolves around our values in relation to an extremely violent act!Prior to dealing with Ramana’s controversial statement in relation to Hilter and WWII, a brief reference to two famous figures, Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ, may assist in our understanding of the concept of violence.We stated earlier that Realisation/Truth is the most subversive act that a human being can engage. After 20 years ‘sitting under a tree,’ the Buddha immediately after achieving Enlightenment, attacked the corrupt ruling Brahmin elites and the caste system that sustained their power – this was an undisguised act of social SUBVERSION or violence! Jesus Christ makes his attitude to the ruling priests of his time clear in Matthew 23; he railed against the corrupt priest class and wealthy

merchants!Regardless of whether a violent act involves blood-letting/killing or is a bloodless subversion of prevailing values and institutions – both acts involve DESTRUCTION; the question is when is destruction warranted or justified, the end may provide an answer!Now to Ramana, I must confess that when I first encountered this information relating to a revered Indian Saint, it blew my mind, as you may appreciate!During the Second World War an English student of Ramana was reading newspaper accounts of the atrocities and mass murders the Nazis were committing as their murderous campaign expanded throughout Europe and Russia. The Englishman could not hide his shock and disgust, which prompted Ramana to inquire what distressed the Englishman so? The English student, who held Ramana in the highest regard, answered that a European leader by the name of Hitler was

responsible for killing millions of human beings in Europe! Ramana in a detached manner, replied, “how do you know Hitler is not a Jnani (realised being)?” Whoa! However, Ramana was acutely aware that it’s not the action that is important, rather it is the manner in which it is performed/committed – we are immediately reminded of Krisna’s discourse in the Bhagavad Gita!Perhaps the above only serves to further confuse the issue for western students. It may be fact that only Realised beings are able to fully understand the real implications of what we consider to be violent acts. Nonetheless, I can assure the reader that the Saints and philosophers of India are not psychopaths!Revered leaders, religious or otherwise, have all displayed extreme violence

on occasion. Rest comfortably in the knowledge that violence is unavoidable for all living beings. However, wanton violence for the sake of personal gratification or gain is anathema.The wise person when confronting a ‘foaming mad dog’ does not resort to discussion or deliberation, without hesitation he dispatches the animal with a single shot to the brain. The community at large is thereby saved from the ravages of a demented beast.Perhaps the most extreme violent acts are passive in nature – food for thought!Are YOU aware of any ‘foaming mad dogs’ affecting your life?Peace. Cleaves Independent Publishing www.cleaves.zapto.org/news . Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER Hon

General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Mobile: 9842311433 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda

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