Personality Development through Gita. - Module 1

[Guest guest]

Introduction on Personality Development through Gita.

 

ye yatha mam prapadyante

tams tathaiva bhajamy aham

mama vartmanuvartante

manusyah partha sarvasah Bhagvadgita 4-11

`Oh Arjuna! Whosoever comes to me in whatsoever path, I bless them

in the same way'.

The ways and means of reaching may be different but ultimately all

lead to the salvation or the blessings of god.

 

How deep is the meaning of these two small lines! Arjuna at the

verge of warfare was not willing to fight with his kith and kin.

Krishna had to remind him of his duty `kartrutvam'. That gave rise

to our ancient scripture `Bhagavad-Gita '. It is the quintessence of

Vedas and Upanishads too.

What is the central idea of Bhagavad-Gita? We go back to the first

line `Ye yadamam prapadyante'. In whatever angle you look at it, you

feel that it advocates

Bhakti yoga.

Jnana yoga.

Karma yoga.

Sahaja Raja yoga.

It has been a guideline for Mahatma Gandhi in times of distress. It

has been a text book of personality development for Vivekananda.

 

`Ugadi' our telugu new year day means Yuga+adi= Yugadi-Ugadi. It

refers to the First Ayana, first Ritu, first month, first fortnight,

first Tidhi, first day, first Muhurat of Brahma's sristi which

ranges back to 86,40,000 years. Leaving aside our age old New Year's

day, we give utmost importance to western culture and their new

year's day.

 

The same way Bhagwad Gita is an age-old guideline for personality

development handed down to us through our fore fathers. But today we

undergo artificial training to develop our personality. If we go

through Bhagwad Gita carefully, most of the slokas guide us in many

ways.

 

They teach us - the principles to follow

the approach to life

the attitude to fellow human beings

the religious tolerance

We have endeavored to bring out such personality tips raised in our

scriptures. This is a humble attempt to portray Gita as a catalyst

for personality development. So we would like to present a series of

articles, which depict a behavioral pattern, a thought flow, an

action plan, a good gesture or a spiritual inclination. Our very

first article is on the same sloka again.

 

Madduri Rajya Sri

For Bhakti Pages

 

 

Personality development through Gita –I

 

Mera Bharat Mahan! India is a land of culture and traditions. There

is a unity in diversity and diversity in unity. You take people of

different states to the same river and ask them what it is – Pat

comes reply in various tones `Neeru', `Jal', `Tanneer', `Pani' etc.

But they are all referring to the one and same water. The same way

you ask different people of different religions – who is God? Allah,

Jesus, Ram, Krishna etc. They strongly proclaim that their religion

is the best and their God is the best

 

In France, Political rivalry between Roman Catholics and French

Protestants (known as Huguenots) led to the Massacre of St

Bartholomew's Day in 1572.

 

Later in 17th century Mughal Empire in India disintegrated through

internecine warfare and religious persecution.

 

In Germany, the religious wars of the 16th century and the Thirty

Years' War in

the 17th century were bitter and devastating.

 

Crusade - the long religious war between Christians and Muslims took

place during 12th and 14th centuries.

 

I am totally baffled to see 4000+ items searched by google search

engine for the search word religious wars. I always wonder why

people hate each other in the name of religion. Obviously every one

loves one's own religion. In one's religious fervour or chauvinism

one hates the other religions.

 

The earthenware pots of diffent shapes are all made of clay. The

material or ingredient is same. Only because shapes are different

they are given different names. Is it not silly and foolish to fight

for these names when the object is just the same? We are all humans

first and then Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Zoroastrians etc.,

 

Rig Veda pronounces, " Ekam sat Vibudah Bahuda Vadanti " Truth is only

one but wise men refer to it with various names.

 

ye yatha mam prapadyante

tams tathaiva bhajamy aham

mama vartmanuvartante

manusyah partha sarvasah Bhagvadgita 4-11

Synonyms

ye--all who; yatha--as; mam--unto Me; prapadyante--surrender; tan--

them; tatha--so; eva--certainly; bhajami--reward; aham--I; mama--My;

vartma--path; anuvartante--follow; manusyah--all men; partha--O son

of Prtha; sarvasah--in all respects.

Translation

As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone

follows My path in all respects, O son of Partha.

 

Whatsoever the way people worship me, I oblige them in the same way

they worship me. People tread my path from different ways.

 

This sloka clearly identifies that God is one. But as per the

beliefs and practices of the people He is given different names. One

may address him as Jehovah, One may pray Him as Allah and another

may perceive Krishna in Him. Though the ways and practices are

different, ultimately all paths lead to the Eternal Brahman. Sat

Chit Anand Roopam. Chidanada Rupa! Sivoham!! Sivoham!

 

One says Vishnu is great and another says Siva is great. Still some

say Nirguna Puja is only way to salvation. But according to the

above sloka beauty lies in eyes of the beholder. Srusti depends on

Drusti ! If you Say Acharya Devo Bhava, God is very much present in

your Guru. Automatically the knowledge transcends from Guru to you.

If you imagine your favourite God in a mere stone, yes! He is right

there to take care of your needs. If you remove the unwanted

material from the stone, Idol of your choice is right there.

Fantastic! Isn't it? After all God is omnipresent!

 

That is why Mahatma always used to chant -

" Raghupati Raaghava Raajaa Raam

Patiita Paavana Sita Ram,

Ishwara Allah tere naam,

saba ko sanmati te Bhagavan " . For him God is only one. Ekam Sat!

 

So why hate each other in the name of religion. All religions

ultimately teach humanity and kindness to all beings. A person who

understands the essence of religion sees God in every living being

and a showers love on them and treats them with kindness

(Avyaja Karuna). We have to develop religious tolerance. World is a

small village.

 

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya – Om Namo Bhagavate Yesudevaya.

 

Note: This compilation is an emotional outcome of electrifying

inspiration derived from the works of Swami Vivekananda and Gita

Makarandam. This is meant for personality development. Memorizing

the above Sloka along with meaning and understanding the essence and

implementing it in daily life is highly recommended (especially

children). I stand corrected for any misinterpretation of the

subject. Your valuable suggestions and comments are highly

appreciated – Madduri Rajya Sri

[Guest guest]

Its a great work of Sree Madduri Rajya Sri.,

 

I feel, we should go through the CONCEPT OF GOD in various major

religions from the honest scholars of comparative religion studies.

It helps us to know through their hard (research)work about God,

human being and purpose of life.

 

No one says the water at the end of a river passing through hundreds

thousands of miles still in pure form as was at the starting point.

But it could happen only if the Creator wishes. Everyone knows the

religions is based on holy books and the one who brought to human

beings. Most of scholars ( almost every one ) whoever did research

on world's major religions come across the reality that the holy

books of every major reliongs does not in their original form,

except THE HOLY QURAN, the last and final revealation.Since its time

of reveaeltion it exist it its original language, read every day,

practised by many. It exists in almost whole world, one copy from

once corner doesnot differ from another corner. It descibes past

civilizations how they went wrong and punished, rules and

regulations of life for present people, it gives clear details of

the life coming after our death ( life till day of destruction,

details of Day of Judgement, Heaven and Hell etx )One may surprise

that THE HOLY QURAN addresses several places to whole mankind and

asks try to find out who is the Creator of the Universe. some

sentences of chapter 56 - describes the day of destrucion as follows,

When the Event (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) befalls.

 

2. And there can be no denying of its befalling.

 

3. It will bring low (some); (and others) it will exalt;

 

4. When the earth will be shaken with a terrible shake.

 

5. And the mountains will be powdered to dust.

 

6. So that they will become floating dust particles.

 

7. And you (all) will be in three kinds (i.e. separate groups).

 

8. So those on the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their

Records in their right hands), Who will be those on the Right Hand?

(As a respect for them, because they will enter Paradise).

 

9. And those on the Left Hand (i.e. those who will be given their

Record in their left hands), Who will be those on the Left Hand? (As

a disgrace for them, because they will enter Hell).

 

10. And those foremost [(in Islâmic Faith of Monotheism and in

performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very

first call for to embrace Islâm,] will be foremost (in Paradise).

 

11. These will be those nearest to Allâh.

 

Its a lengthy topic, if any interested , you can mail me, My sincere

intention is every human being should enter Heaven by pleasing our

Creator with our deeds and practising way of worship prescribed for

us.

 

Though i differ her way of defining God, I respect her views of

" We have to develop religious tolerance. World is a

small village. " This is the most need of the present time is "

Tolerance "

 

Best Regards,

Kareemullah

kareem