Guest guest Posted June 12, 2000 Report Share Posted June 12, 2000 In reference to Swamiji's quote on man's need to subjugate and control nature, he is of course refering to man's mind, body, and senses. The mind is essentially made of the three gunas: satva, rajas, and tamas. Therefore, the mind is in constant motion between these gunas and feels attracted to these aspects of nature, which obscure the pure Self. The Gita provides the best description of the gunas and how they can be controlled and transcended. No description of " nature " is complete without understanding the gunas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2000 Report Share Posted June 12, 2000 Namaste Here 'nature' means basically the world of maya. The laws of maya that binds you down. Swamiji mentioned that nature is like a snare, meaning that the world of maya is constantly elusive. the only means to escape it is by knowing your true nature and not by destroying nature. This was what he could have meant. UDAYAKIRAN_C 'Ramakrishna ' 12/06/00 19:26 [ramakrishna] Pls explain this... There is a Swami vivekananda Quote which goes: I disagree with the idea that freedom is obedience to the laws of nature. I do not understand what that means. According to the history of human progress, it is disobedience to nature that has constituted progress. I had posted it on my Company Bulletin Board. Many people were surprised to find that Swami Vivekananda was advocating the destruction of nature(ie. the environment, trees, ecology etc.) I tried to explain it this way: ************************** I think the interpretation of it is different. Nature described here is not just the plants, trees & eco system. Nature here is used in the sense of property, like 'human nature'. Human nature is to have as much food as and when he wants. If you rebel against it, restrict your food intake only to the extent needed, u will be working against nature. Human nature is to heed to the mind's wishes. Mind being very vacillant, u are not able to concentrate on anything. You concentrate, enslave mind and thereby enslave nature. Look at the great Yogis of yore, they are the ones who had conquered nature. They were unaffected by happiness, sorrow, riches, poverty, wind, rain, summer, winter, and were steadfast in their blissful state. Are these people the conquerors of nature or a person who has 500 gadgets and is constantly worrying abt having more control over 'nature'? ************************** Is that what Swami Vivekananda meant? Can you please help me with this... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Uday<(*¿*)> " Let Noble thoughts come to us from all directions. " -Rig Veda ------ Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! 1. Fill in the brief application 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds 3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR http://click./1/5198/3/_/411454/_/960819036/ ------ Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah Vivekananda Centre London http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 12, 2000 Report Share Posted June 12, 2000 In a message dated 00-06-12 10:12:38 EDT, udayakiran_c writes: << There is a Swami vivekananda Quote which goes: I disagree with the idea that freedom is obedience to the laws of nature. I do not understand what that means. According to the history of human progress, it is disobedience to nature that has constituted progress. >> Well, I don't think the word " nature " was a good choice in translation. At least the way I understand this statement. Perhaps a better choice would have been the " status quo " . I think of such great fights for freedom that have occured in history. It is a disobedience to the status quo that brought about great strides forward. Gandhi, in India, William Wallace in Scotland...They refused to accept what was " expected " of them. They had vision enough to see that freedom was essential and they disobeyed the " laws " of the status quo. Also, I think this statement is also refering to the human nature as you stated. It is in human nature to take the path of least resistance, yet, if we choose instead to take " the road less traveled " that is when we see greatness in ourselves. Overcoming our nature to preserve ourselves, our individuality, preserve our own wants and needs before the needs of others...etc. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2000 Report Share Posted June 14, 2000 "I disagree with the idea that freedom is obedience to the laws of nature. I do not understand what that means. According to the history of human progress, it is disobedience to nature that has constituted progress." - Swami VivekanandaMy understanding is as follows: The nature refers to the physical universe which is a created system. The basic charactertic of nature is STIMULUS - RESPONSE. Being a created system, nature has no ability to CAUSE or CREATE. Its part can only react to each other. When one acts in obedience with the laws of nature, one is simply being a part of that system. One is being "stimulus-response" and not at all causative. There is no original contribution. Hence there cannot be any progress. Freedom exists in the ability to cause (create). The "stimulus-response" behavior is totally bound. There is no freedom in it. Vinaire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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