Guest guest Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Dear Friends, Pondering on the best way to express the answer How? posed in Verse 28, I came across, the following apposite dialogue which Bhagavan has with a devotee in the important Book Padamalai,as I continued my daily reading. This book, in my opinion gives the more advanced practice approach for devotees as recorded by Muraganar and commented on by David Godman.. From Chapter 'Advice on Sadhana' P.231-2 (from Talks 26,27) Question: " How is the mind to be eliminated or relative consciousness transcended? Bhagavan: The mind is by nature restless. Begin liberating it from its reslessness; give it peace; make it free from distractions; train it to look inward; make this a habit. This is done by ignoring the external world and removing the obstacles to peace of mind. Q. How is restlessness removed from the mind? Bhagavan: External contacts-contacts with objects other than itself- make the mind restless. Loss of interest in non-Self (vairagya) is the first step. Then the habits of introspection and concentration follow. They are characterised by control of external senses, internal faculties [sama, dama etc.] ending in samahdi [undistracted mind] Q: How are they practiced? Bhagavan: An examionation of the ephemereal nature of external phenomena leads to vairagya. Hence enquiry [vichara] is the first and foremost step to be taken. When vichara continues automatica;;y, it results in a contempt for wealth, fame, ease, pleasure etc. The 'I' thought becomes clearer for introspection. --- On Sun, 21/9/08, Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs Song Celestial Study Group No 28 Sunday, 21 September, 2008, 11:04 PM BHAGAVAD GITA STUDY GROUP V. 28 C.VI:V.26 Bhagavan selects the very next verse which follows his 27th selection of the 42 most important verses in the Gita. " To whatever side the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, one should check it and bring it back controlled to the Self. " A. Osborne and the Prof Kulkarni translation published in Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi. Comment: This is a key statement in the practical sadhana as taught by Bhagavan. Comment is hardly necesary as the verse is clear and self explanatory. The question how? arises and members may have suggestions to offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Dear Alan, OIn this verse, my teacher says that key to establishing vairagya is the understanding that happiness is not to be found in external objects, no matter if gross or subtle. Rather happiness is to be found within. So inquire. Om Arunachala, Richard , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > Pondering on the best way to express the answer How? posed in Verse 28, I came across, the following apposite dialogue which Bhagavan has with a devotee in the important Book Padamalai,as I continued my daily reading. This book, in my opinion gives the more advanced practice approach for devotees as recorded by Muraganar and commented on by David Godman.. > > From Chapter 'Advice on Sadhana' P.231-2 (from Talks 26,27) > > Question: " How is the mind to be eliminated or relative consciousness transcended? > > Bhagavan: The mind is by nature restless. > > Begin liberating it from its reslessness; give it peace; make it free from distractions; train it to look inward; make this a habit. > This is done by ignoring the external world and removing the obstacles to peace of mind. > > Q. How is restlessness removed from the mind? > > Bhagavan: External contacts-contacts with objects other than itself- make the mind restless. Loss of interest in non-Self (vairagya) is the first step. > > Then the habits of introspection and concentration follow. > > They are characterised by control of external senses, internal faculties [sama, dama etc.] ending in samahdi [undistracted mind] > > Q: How are they practiced? > > Bhagavan: An examionation of the ephemereal nature of external phenomena leads to vairagya. Hence enquiry [vichara] is the first and foremost step to be taken. When vichara continues automatica;;y, it results in a contempt for wealth, fame, ease, pleasure etc. The 'I' thought becomes clearer for introspection. > > > --- On Sun, 21/9/08, Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs > Song Celestial Study Group No 28 > > Sunday, 21 September, 2008, 11:04 PM BHAGAVAD GITA STUDY GROUP V. 28 > > C.VI:V.26 > > Bhagavan selects the very next verse which follows his 27th selection of the 42 most important verses in the Gita. > > " To whatever side the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, one should check it and bring it back controlled to the Self. " > > A. Osborne and the Prof Kulkarni translation published in Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi. > > Comment: This is a key statement in the practical sadhana as taught by Bhagavan. Comment is hardly necesary as the verse is clear and self explanatory. The question how? arises and members may have suggestions to offer. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Dear Richard, How right you are in my opinion. Self Enquiry is definately the key.. Love, Alan --- On Mon, 22/9/08, Richard Clarke <richard wrote: Richard Clarke <richardRe: Song Celestial Study Group No 28 cont'd Date: Monday, 22 September, 2008, 9:10 AM Dear Alan,OIn this verse, my teacher says that key to establishing vairagya isthe understanding that happiness is not to be found in externalobjects, no matter if gross or subtle. Rather happiness is to be foundwithin. So inquire.Om Arunachala,Richard, Alan Jacobs<alanadamsjacobs@ ...> wrote:>> Dear Friends,> > Pondering on the best way to express the answer How? posed in Verse28, I came across, the following apposite dialogue which Bhagavan haswith a devotee in the important Book Padamalai,as I continued my dailyreading. This book, in my opinion gives the more advanced practiceapproach for devotees as recorded by Muraganar and commented on byDavid Godman..> > From Chapter 'Advice on Sadhana' P.231-2 (from Talks 26,27)> > Question: "How is the mind to be eliminated or relativeconsciousness transcended?> > Bhagavan: The mind is by nature restless.> > Begin liberating it from its reslessness; give it peace; make itfree from distractions; train it to look inward; make this a habit.> This is done by ignoring the external world and removing theobstacles to peace of mind.> > Q. How is restlessness removed from the mind?> > Bhagavan: External contacts-contacts with objects other than itself-make the mind restless. Loss of interest in non-Self (vairagya) is thefirst step.> > Then the habits of introspection and concentration follow.> > They are characterised by control of external senses, internalfaculties [sama, dama etc.] ending in samahdi [undistracted mind]> > Q: How are they practiced?> > Bhagavan: An examionation of the ephemereal nature of externalphenomena leads to vairagya. Hence enquiry [vichara] is the first andforemost step to be taken. When vichara continues automatica;; y, itresults in a contempt for wealth, fame, ease, pleasure etc. The 'I'thought becomes clearer for introspection.> > > --- On Sun, 21/9/08, Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ ...> wrote:> > Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ ...>> Song Celestial Study Group No 28> > Sunday, 21 September, 2008, 11:04 PM> > > > > > > BHAGAVAD GITA STUDY GROUP V. 28> > C.VI:V.26> > Bhagavan selects the very next verse which follows his 27thselection of the 42 most important verses in the Gita.> > "To whatever side the restless, unsteady mind wanders away, oneshould check it and bring it back controlled to the Self."> > A. Osborne and the Prof Kulkarni translation published in CollectedWorks of Ramana Maharshi.> > Comment: This is a key statement in the practical sadhana as taughtby Bhagavan. Comment is hardly necesary as the verse is clear and selfexplanatory. The question how? arises and members may have suggestionsto offer.> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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