*Stages in spiritual growth*

Forum for Hindu Awakening

‎*Stages in spiritual growth*

To realise the importance of Spirituality and to begin its practice first we need to have belief and that is created through verbal information. When we start practising Spirituality with belief we get spiritual experiences. It is only after we get spiritual experiences that faith develops. As faith, spiritual practice and spiritual experiences go on increasing, spiritual emotion (bhav) develops. This results in God-realisation, that is a state of Bliss.

http://forumforhinduawakening.org/living/six-basic-principles

1. Enter the Heart from MESSAGE OF MASTERS- RAMANA

1. Enter the Heart A devotee who had suddenly lost his only son came to Bhagavan in a state of acute grief, seeking relief. He asked a few questions in which his grief was evident. Bhagavan, as usual, asked him to enquire into the Self and find out who is grieving. The devotee was not satisfied. Bhagavan then said, “All right. I will tell you a story from Vichara Sagaram. Listen”. Two Youngsters name Rama and Krishna, told their respective parents that they would go to foreign countries to prosecute further studies and then earn a lot of money. After some time, one of them died suddenly. The other studied well, earned a lot and was living happily. Some time later the one that was alive requested a merchant who was going to his native place to tell his father that he was wealthy and happy and that the other boy who had come with him had passed away. Instead of passing on the information correctly, the merchant told the father of the person who was alive, that his son was dead, and the father of the person that was dead, that his son had earned a lot of money and was living happily. The parents of the person that was actually dead, were happy in the thought that their son would come back after some time, while the parents of the person whose son was alive, but was reported to be dead, were in great grief. In fact, neither of them saw their son but they were experiencing happiness or grief according to the reports they received. That is all. We too are similarly situated. We believe all sorts of things that the mind tells us and get deluded into thinking that what exists does not exist and that what does not exist exists. If we do not believe the mind but enter the heart and see the son that is inside, there is no need to see the children outside. 2. One Pointedness A visitor wrote some questions in Tamil and presented them to Bhagavan. Bhagavan said, “He wants to know how to turn the mind from sense enjoyments and realise that bliss which is said to be so much above sense enjoyments. There is only one way – making the mind merge in That which is above sense enjoyments. As you concentrate on that, the sense attractions will fall of their own accord. Again he asked, ‘When can I attain that bliss?’ We are daily enjoying that bliss in sleep. We have not to attain bliss. We are bliss itself. Bliss is another name for us. It is our nature. Merging of the mind alone is necessary. After a pause Bhagavan added, “The story of Indra and Ahalya in Yoga Vasishta clearly illustrates how, by the force of the mind being merged in the one Reality, all other things will cease to affect one.” Ahalya, The wife, THE WIFE of a king, falls in love with a rake called Indra. The matter reaches the king’s ears and attains the magnitude of a great public scandal. The king then orders the couple to be put through various cruel tortures. But neither of them is affected by the tortures. Their faces do not even show a twitch of pain but are blissfully smiling at each other. The king, baffled by all this, asks them what the secret of their strength and resistance is. They say, “What! Don’t you know? We are looking at each other, and so engrossed are we with each other, that our minds has no room for any other thoughts. So far as we are concerned, we two alone exist, each for the other, and nothing else exists. How then can we be affected by other things?” Such is the power of the merged mind.

How and when do we get trapped by fraudulent Gurus? and The rudrāksha

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हम ढोंगी गुरुके चुंगलमें कब और कैसे फँस जाते हैं?
१. यदि हमने अध्यात्मशास्त्रका अभ्यास नहीं किया होता है |
२. यदि हमें सूक्ष्मका ज्ञान नहीं होता |
३. यदि हम भौतिक जगतकी वस्तु प्राप्त करनेके लिए गुरु ढूंढते हैं |
४. जब स्वयंकी साधनाका ठोस आधार नहीं होता |
५. जब हम अपनी जीवनकी समस्याओंसे पीछा छुडानेके हेतु भगोड़ेपनकी वृत्ति रख अध्यात्मका आधार लेना चाहते हैं |
६. जब हमें गुरु-शास्त्रपर पूर्ण श्रद्धा नहीं होती |
७. जैसा शिष्य होता हो, वैसे ही गुरु मिलते हैं, अतः उच्च कोटिके गुरु चाहिए तो अपनी पात्रता बढायें |
८. जब कोई भीड़ देखकर गुरु धारण करने जाते हैं | वास्तविकता यह है कि गुरुको हम धारण नहीं करते, अपितु गुरु हमें शिष्यके रूपमें स्वीकार करते हैं |

How and when do we get trapped by fraudulent Gurus?

(i) If we are not familiar with the science of spirituality.
(ii) If we do not possess the knowledge of the Sukshma (subtle dimension).
(iii) If we look for a Guru with a purpose of acquiring material gains.
(iv) When there is no solid foundation of our own Sadhana.
(v) When we want to pursue spirituality in order to get rid of life’s routine problems.
(vi) When we do not have full faith on Guru Shastra.
(vii) One gets a Guru as per one’s own Sadhakatva (Seekership qualities). Thus if we want a Guru of a high level, we will have to enhance our seeker-ship qualities.
(viii) When we get influenced by the size of the crowd to accept someone our Guru. The reality is that we do not accept a Guru, but Gurus accept us as disciples.

The rudrāksha

Its fruits ripen on the tree and fall during winter. Then the seeds in it dry up. Each fruit has fifteen to sixteen seeds (that is rudrākshas). The more the number of seeds, the smaller is their size and the less is their cost. Instead of using a small rudrāksha solitarily, several small rudrākshas are strung together along with a large one. A rudrāksha has a natural opening from one side to the other. It need not be created. This opening throughout its length is called a vahini (channel). A rudrāksha is reddish in colour with yellow stripes and is flat like a fish. On one side it has an open mouth.

http://www.forumforhinduawakening.org/understandingdharma/hindudeities/what-is-the-significance-of-adorning-rudraksha-when-performing-ritualistic-worship

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खरी विद्या वह है, जो हमें ईश्वरसे एकरूप होने हेतु हमारा मार्गदर्शन करे !

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वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥ श्रीमद भगवदगीता – (२:२२ )

अर्थ : जैसे मनुष्य पुराने वस्त्रोंको त्यागकर दूसरे नए वस्त्रोंको ग्रहण करता है, वैसे ही जीवात्मा, जीर्ण शरीरोंको त्यागकर दूसरे नए शरीरोंको प्राप्त होती है |
भावार्थ : मनुष्यका यह शरीर नश्वर है और आत्मा अविनाशी है | वास्तविकता यह है कि जीर्ण शरीर, जो साधनाके योग्य नहीं रह पाता, उसका नाश होना एक प्रकारसे ईश्वरीय वरदान है और पुनः नए वस्त्र-समान नया शरीर लेकर जन्म लेना, साधना हेतु एक उत्तम माध्यम है | पुराने वस्त्रका त्याग जैसे हम स्वाभाविक ही कर देते हैं और हमें उसका मोह नहीं होता, उसी प्रकारसे किसीकी मृत्युका भी शोक करना उचित नहीं क्योंकि यह उस जीवात्माकी आध्यात्मिक प्रगतिके लिए सृष्टिद्वारा रचित एक प्रक्रिया है | अतः ज्ञानी मृत्युपर शोक नहीं करते, क्योंकि शरीरमें स्थित आत्मा अविनाशी है और जब तक जीवात्माकी मन, बुद्धि, वासना और अहमका अंश रहता है, तब तक उसे ‘पुनर्पि जन्मम पुनर्पि मरणम’ के चक्रमें बंधे रहना पड़ता है | इस चक्रसे छुटकारा पाने हेतु साधना करनेकी आवश्यकता होती है |

“vasaansI jeernaa~nI yathaa vihaay
navaa~nI gruhyaa~tI naro~paraa~nI
tathaa shareeranI sanyaa~tI navaanI dehee” - Shrimad Bhagwad Gita – (2.22)
Meaning: Just as a person discard worn out clothes and wears new clothes, in the same way Jivatma (subtle soul) gives up an old body and acquires new bodies.
Implied meaning: The human body is mortal and the soul is eternal and immortal. The reality is when the mortal old body which is not capable of performing the Sadhana (spiritual practice) perishes, it’s a kind of a divine blessing and being born again in a new body (with new clothes) is an excellent medium to do Sadhana. Just as we naturally discard old clothes without any attachment towards them, similarly it is not appropriate to mourn anyone’s demise. Thus, Dnyani (wise ones) do not mourn death, for the soul in the body is immortal and till the time the dissolution of mind, intellect, desires and ego doesn’t happen , it has to remain trapped in the vicious cycle of life and death. To attain liberation from this cycle, performing Sadhana (spiritual practice) is a must.

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Rudrashtakam by the great saint Goswami Tulsidas.

रुद्राश्ह्टकम
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम l
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेअहम ll
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा घ्य़ान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम l
करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं गुणागार संसारपारं नतोअहम ll
तुश्हाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं मनोभूत कोटिप्रभा श्री शरीरम l
स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गङ्गा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ll
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम l
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि ll
प्रचण्डं प्रकृश्ह्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम l
त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजे.अहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम ll
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी l
चिदानन्द संदोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ll
न यावत.ह उमानाथ पादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम l
न तावत.ह सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम ll
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतो.अहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम l
जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ll
रुद्राश्ह्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोश्हये l
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेश्हां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ll
इति श्री गोस्वामी तुलसिदास कृतम श्रीरुद्राश्ह्टकम संपूर्णम ll
English Translation
Namam Meesana nirvana roopam,Vibhum vyapakam Brahma Veda swaroopam l
Nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham,Chidakasamaakasa vasam Bhajeham ll
Niraakara monkaara moolam thureeyam ,Giraa jnana gotheethamesam gireesam l
Karalam maha kala kalam krupalam,Gunaa gara samsara param athoham ll
Thushaaraadhi sankasa gowram gabheeram,Mano bhootha koti prabha sree sareeram l
Sphuran mouli kallolini charu ganga,Lasaddala balendu kante bhujanga.ll
Chalath kundalam bru sunethram vishaalam,Prasannananam neela kandam dhayalam l
Mugadheesa charmambaeam munda malam Priyam shankaram sarva nadham bhajami ll
Prachandam prakrushtam Prakalbham paresam,Akhandam ajam bhanu koti prakasam l
Thraya soola nirmoolanam soola panim,Bhajeham bhavani pathim bhava gamyam ll
.Kalatheetha kalyani kalpanthakari,Sada sajjananda datha purari l
Chidananda sandoha mohapahari,Praseeda praseeda prabho mamamadhari ll
Na yavad Umanada padaravindam ,Bhajantheeha loke pare vaa naraanaam l
Na thath sukham shanthi santhapa nasam,Praseedha prabho Sarva bhoothadhivasam ll
Na janami yogam , japam , naiva poojaam,Nathoham sada sarvadha Shambhu thubhyam l
Jara janma dukhogha thathpyamanam,Prabho pahi aapannamameesa Shambho ll
Rudhrashtakamidham proktham Viprena hara thoshaye l
Ye padanthi naraa bhakthya thesham Shambhu praseedathi ll
Ithi Sri Goswami Thulasi dasa krutham Sri Rudhrashtakam sampurnam ll

Meaning : O Ishan! I pray You, the one Who is the lord of all, Who is in eternal Nirvana-bliss, Who is resplendent, Who is omni-present, and Who is Brahman and Ved in totality. I adore You, Who is for self, Who is formless, Who is without change, Who is passionless, Who is like the sky (immeasurable), and Who lives in the sky.||1||
I bow prostrate to You, Who is without a form, Who is the root of sounds, Who is the fourth impersonal state of the Atman, Who is beyond the scope of tongue, knowledge and sense-organs, Who is the Lord, Who is the Lord of Himalaya, Who is fierce, Who is the destroyer of fierce Kala, Who is benevolent, Who is the abode of qualities, and is beyond the universe.||2||
I bow to You, Who is white on all like the snow, Who is profound, Who is mind, Who is in the form of living beings, Who has immense splendor and wealth. He has shining forehead with playful and enticing Ganga, He has shiny forehead with a crescent moon, and He has snake garlands in the neck.||3||
I adore Shankara, Who has swaying earrings, Who has beautiful eye on the forehead, Who is spreadout and large, Who is happy at face, Who has a blue-throat, Who is benevolent, Who has a lion-skin around His waist, Who has skull-cap garland, and Who is the dear-Lord of everyone.||4||
I adore the Lord of Bhavani, Who is fierce, Who is immense, Who is mature and brave, Who is beyond everyone, Who is indivisible, Who is unborn, Who is resplendent like millions of sun, Who uproots the three qualities (and makes us dispassionate), Who holds a trident, and Who can be achieved with emotions.||5||
O Destroyer of Kamadev, Who is beyond artwork, Who is auspicious, Who causes the end of the universe, Who always provides bliss to good people, Who destroyed Pura, Who is eternal bliss, Who absolves abundant passion! O Prabhu! Please be happy, be happy.||6||
Those who don't adore the lotus-feet of the Lord of Uma (Shiv), that men don't get happiness, comfort, and peace — in this world or the other worlds after death. O the abode of all the living beings! O Prabhu! Please be happy.||7||
I don't know yoga, japa (chanting of names), or prayers. Still, I am bowing continuously and always to You. O Shambhu! O Prabhu! Save me from the unhappiness due to old age, birth, grief, sins, and troubles. I bow to You, Who is the Lord.||8||

 

 

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खरी विद्या वह है, जो हमें ईश्वरसे एकरूप होने हेतु हमारा मार्गदर्शन करे ! आधुनिक विज्ञान और शिक्षाकी भिन्न शाखायें मायासे संबन्धित होती हैं और माया, सुख प्राप्तिका साधन मात्र है, यह ईश्वरसे दूर कर देती है | अतः इसका महत्त्व शून्य है |
- परम पूज्य डॉ. जयंत बालाजी आठवले |
भावार्थ : विद्याकी परिभाषा है, “सा विद्या या मुक्तये”, अर्थात जो हमें ईश्वरप्राप्ति हेतु मार्गदर्शन करे, उसे विद्या कहते हैं | आधुनिक विज्ञान एवं वर्तमान शिक्षण पद्धतिमें इस विषयका लेश मात्र भी समावेश नहीं है | अतः इससे व्यक्ति भौतिक सुखका साधन तो प्राप्त कर लेता है, वस्तु-निरपेक्ष आनंदकी प्राप्ति एवं आध्यात्मिक प्रगति नहीं कर पाता, जो इस मनुष्य योनिमें आनेका एक मुख्य उद्देश्य होता है | अतः इसका महत्त्व शून्य है | आज भौतिक सुख-साधनकी भरमार होते हुए भी अनेक व्याधियां बढ़ रहीं हैं | व्यष्टि एवं समष्टि जीवनमें आध्यात्मिक जीवन एवं मूल्योंका पतन हो रहा है और चारो ओर ‘त्राहि मां’ की स्थिति निर्मित हो रही है | ध्यान रहे यह वसुंधरा भोग-भूमि नहीं, अपितु साधना-भूमि है; परंतु आधुनिक विज्ञान और वर्तमान धर्मनिरपेक्ष शिक्षण पद्धतिने इसे भोग-भूमि बना दिया है | अतः शिक्षाकी अपेक्षा पुनः विद्या-अर्जन हेतु सभीको प्रवृत्त करना होगा |

“Real education is that which guides us towards achieving unison with God. Various streams of modern science and education take us closer to Maya (illusion) and are means to possess mere luxuries and comforts. Since these drive us away and alienate us from God, their significance in our life is zero. - His Holiness Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale
Implied meaning: The definition of vidya(real knowledge) is, “सा विद्या या मुक्तये”, “Sa Vidya Ya Muktaye”, meaning it guides us to the path where we can attain God. Modern science and the existing education system don’t have an iota on this subject. Therefore, a person is able to possess and get material comforts, but unable to experience the intangible bliss and make spiritual progress, one of the foremost objectives of human birth. Hence, it has zero value. Today, despite an abundance of material comforts, several afflictions are increasing, there is decrease in values both at the individual and social level. A situation of chaos now exists around us. Remember that our Vasundhara (Mother Earth) is not a Bhog Bhoomi (land for mirth), but Sadhana Bhoomi (land for spiritual practice). But modern science and secular education have converted it into a Bhog Bhoomi. Thus, rather than education, everyone will have to engage in Vidya-Arjan (gaining knowledge about self realisaton) once again.

वेद एवं मन्त्रोंका उच्चारण सही होना आवश्यक है Tanuja Thakur

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वेद एवं मन्त्रोंका उच्चारण सही होना आवश्यक है, अन्यथा हमें उनके अशुद्ध उच्चारणसे हमें कष्ट होता है, मात्र नामजप हम किसी भी प्रकार कर सकते हैं, ऐसा क्यों ?
पाणिनीय व्याकरणमें कहा गया है :
अनक्षरं हतायुष्यं विस्वरं व्याधिपीडितम्‌ ।
अक्षता शस्त्रषरूपेण वज्रं पतति मस्तके ।।
अर्थात व्यंजन वर्णके अशुद्ध उच्चारणसे आयुका नाश होता है और स्वर वर्णके अशुद्ध उच्चारणसे रोग होते हैं, अशुद्ध उच्चारणसे युक्त मंत्रद्वारा अभिमंत्रित अक्षत सिरपर वज्रपात सामान गिरता है |
परन्तु नामजपके सन्दर्भमें पञ्चरत्रगम नामक धर्म शास्त्रमें कुछ इस प्रकार कहा गया है
मूर्खो वदति विष्णाय बुधो वदति विष्णवे |
नं इत्येव अर्थम् च द्वयोरपि समं फलं ||
अर्थात मूर्ख व्यक्ति अयोग्य उच्चारणकर, विष्णाय नमः कहता है और बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति विष्णवे नमः कहता है, परन्तु दोनोंका हेतु नमन करना है | अतः दोनोंको समान फल मिलता है |
देसी भाषामें इसलिए कहा गया है ‘रामनाम टेढो भला’ |
इस सन्दर्भमें एक अनुभूति बताती हूँ | अक्टूबर १९९९ में झारखण्डके बोकारो जिलेमें एक मंदिरमें साप्ताहिक सत्संग लिया करती थी | एक दिन मैं कहीं जा रही थी, एक अनपढ़ स्त्री राहमें मेरी दो पहिये वाहनको रोक कर, अत्यंत भावपूर्ण होकर बोलीं, "मैं आपको कुछ बताना चाहती हूँ" |
मैंने कहा, "क्या" ? उसने बताया कि तीन महीने पहले एक दिन मंदिरके बाहर वह किसीके घरके बर्तन नल पर धो रही थी और उसने नामजपके विषयमें मुझे सत्संग लेते हुए ध्वनिप्रक्षेपकके (माइक) माध्यमसे सुना था | उसने अपने हाथ पैरकी ओर दिखाते हुए कहा, "चर्मरोगसे मेरा शरीर लगभग सड़ गया था और आपके बताये जप करनेपर मेरा चर्म रोग ठीक हो गया" | उसके शरीरपर चर्मरोगके हलके धब्बे, निशानके रूपमें दिख रहे थे | मुझे यह सुनकर अत्यंत आनंद हुआ, क्योंकि मैं उससे कभी मिली भी नहीं थी और तब भी वह नामजप कर रही थी | मैंने यूँ ही पुछा, "आप कौनसा जप कर रही हैं" ? उसने कहा, "श्री गुरुदेवे दत्ते नमः” |
! मैं मुस्कराने लगी तो उसने कहा "क्या मुझसे कोई चूक हो गयी" ? मैंने कहा, "हां, नामजप सही पद्धतिसे नहीं कर रही और मैंने उन्हें ‘श्री गुरुदेव दत्त’ जप करनेके लिए बताया और उसी समय उसे पांच बार दोहरानेके लिए भी कहा | उसने आनंद पूर्वक अपने जपमें सुधारकर, मुझे कृतज्ञतापूर्ण नमस्कार कर चली गयी | मैं वहीँ खड़ी, उपर्युक्त श्लोकका स्मरण कर मुस्कुराने लगी | वह स्त्री अनपढ़ थी | अतः वह जप सही प्रकारसे नहीं कर पाई; परन्तु हेतु शुद्ध था | अतः उसे अनुभूति हुई |
उस स्त्रीको अतृप्त पितरोंके कारण कष्ट था और उसी कारण उसे चर्मरोग हो गया था, 'श्री गुरुदेव दत्त', अर्थात दत्तात्रेय देवताका जप करनेसे उसके पितरोंको गति मिल गयी और उसका कष्ट समाप्त हो गया | यद्यपि उसने जपको सही पद्धतिसे नहीं जपा तथापि उसके भावके कारण उसे योग्य लाभ प्राप्त हुआ | अतः कहते हैं, ‘न पाप मारक है, न पुण्य तारक है, मात्र भाव ही तारक है’ |

The correct pronunciation of Vedas and Mantras is essential as the incorrect pronunciation can cause serious troubles for us. But Naamjap (chanting of God’s name) can be done in any manner. Why is it so?
Panini’s grammar says:
अनक्षरं हतायुष्यं विस्वरं व्यांधिपीडितम्‌ ।
अक्षता शस्त्रषरूपेण वज्रं पतति मस्तके ।।
“anaksharaM hatayushyaM viswaraM vyaadhipeeditaM
akshataa shastrashrupen vajraM patati mastake”
It means incorrect pronunciation of consonants destroys age and faulty pronunciation of vowels causes diseases. If the Akshat (unbroken rice ) is energised with faulty pronunciation of mantras and offered on someone’s head, it falls as a thunderbolt.
However, in the context of Naamjap, it has been mentioned in a scripture titled Panchratragam thus:
मूर्खो वदति विष्णाय बुधो वदति विष्णवे |
नं इत्येव अर्थम् च द्वयोरपि समं फलं ||
“murkho vadati vishnaaya buddho vadati vishnave
naM ityeva arthaM cha dwayorapi samaM phalaM”
It means that through an ignorant fool wrongly pronounces the Lord’s name as Vishnaaya Namah instead of the correct Vishnave Namah as pronounced by the literate Seeker, yet both get the same result as the motive of both is to venerate.

That is why there is a saying Ram naam tedho bhala, meaning Lord’s name can give bliss even if it is pronounced in an incorrect manner.
I will narrate a spiritual experience in this context. It was October 1999. I used to conduct weekly Satsang (discourses) in a temple in Bokaro district of Jharkhand. One day, an illiterate woman stopped me when I was going out and in a highly emotional tone, said that about three months ago while cleaning utensils at someone’s house located next to the temple, she had heard my discourse on chanting. Pointing towards her body, she said, “Due to some skin disease, my entire body had almost become rotten, but the chanting prescribed by you cured my disease.” Her body still bore faint marks. I felt very happy upon hearing this. I had never met her, and yet she had been chanting. I casually asked her, “What have you been chanting?” She replied, “Guru Deve Datte Namah.”
Seeing me break into a smile, she asked, “Why? Have I made a mistake?” I told her, “Yes, you are not doing the chanting correctly,” and asked her to chant “Shree Guru Dev Dutt” instead. Then I made her repeat it five times. Blissfully, she corrected her chanting, greeted me and left. I stood there smiling as I recollected the above-mentioned Shloka (Sanskrut couplet). The woman was illiterate. Hence, she could not pick or do the chant correctly, but since her objective was pure and she had faith, she got the desired positive experience.
This woman had been troubled by Pitru Dosh (problems due to unsatiated ancestral souls) and had got eczema as a result.
By chanting “Shree Guru Dev Dutt”, ie. Lord Dattatreya’s chant, her ancestors got their Gati (onward movement of the embodied soul after life) and her troubles vanished. Although she did not do chanting the correct way, yet through her Bhav (spiritual emotion) she achieved the desired result. Hence, it is said, “Neither can sins ruin us, nor can merits alleviate us. Only Bhav (spiritual emotion) can provide us salvation.”

Shivratri thoughts by Abhilash Rajendran

 Shiva represents the pure and Shivratri is the night when this pure form appeared to annihilate the sufferings of human beings. Why are we human beings suffering because we are not able to realize the Shiva in us? The formless, the all pervading one with no beginning and no end, took a form to pull us out from the never-ending suffering.

Most festivals associated with Hindu tradition are noted for its mirth, fun and frolic but Shivratri is associated with contemplation, prayers and meditation.

Shiva represents the truth and we humans are far removed from the truth. Shiva in human form represents the true human and we have become everything but human.

Shivratri provides us with an opportunity to clear the dust that is covering the Shiva in us. The dusts of ignorance, attachments, ego, jealousy, anger, insecurity, prejudice and false ideas have hidden the Shiva in us.

Realize the Shiva in us and life becomes bliss – We travel to a plane beyond birth and death.

Today is Shivratri - all prayers to Mahadev for self realization.

Om Namah Shivaya

Shivratri thoughts by Abhilash Rajendran

The first image that comes to mind when one thinks about Shiva is the Shivling and the Snakes around the neck of Shiva. We tremble with fear on encountering a snake. So imagine using snake as a garland. To attain bliss we have to be fearless. We have to drop the fear of tomorrow, fear of losing social status, fear of losing wealth, fear of losing family members, fear of death, and fear of all that is fleeting… When all fear is dropped, we drop ignorance. This leads to bliss. The snake on Shiva extols this truth. The snake is the fear of the world and future. He who is to make the snake a garland attains bliss.

What is bliss? It is the realization of the Supreme Truth in all animate and inanimate. That there is no second.

What is Shivling? It is a symbol of the fiery seed responsible for all forms of creation in the world – which we know and of which we have no knowledge. We are here because of that primordial column of fire. And we return back to the only source. Shivling makes our path to self realization easy. Constant meditation on it removes ignorance and a day will come when we will not even need the Shivling. All forms will drop and we will merge in the formless.

www.hindu-blog.com - Abhilash Rajendran

"Lord~~Ganesha"

spiritual

ma Granth shared a photo.

ಈ ಜಗತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿದ ಹುಳು ಹುಪ್ಪಟೆಗಳಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠವೆನಿಸಿದ ಮಾನವನ ತನಕದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಂದು ಜೀವಿಯೂ ಅನುಕ್ಷಣವೂ ಸುಖ ಸಿಗಬೇಕೆಂದು ಚಡಪಡಿಸುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ನಾವು ಏನೆಲ್ಲ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇವೋ ಅದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಸುಖ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿಗಾಗಿಯೇ ಇದೆ ಎಂದರೂ ತಪ್ಪಲ್ಲ. ಸುಖ ಎಂಬ ಶಬ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಪರ್ಯಾಯವಾಗಿ ನಾವು ಬಳಸುವ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಶಬ್ದವೇ ಆನಂದ. ಆದರೆ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೂ ಆನಂದಕ್ಕೂ ಅಜಗಜಾಂತರ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸವಿದೆಯೆಂಬುದು ಬಹುಮಂದಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿದೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಮುಂದೆ ಓದಿ...
http://dharmagranth.blogspot.com/2012/12/blog-post_8025.html

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Importance of the Guru

piritual Science Research Foundation

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Importance of the Guru - from the perspective of educating a student

The Guru comes in many forms. He teaches us through situations, books, in human form, etc. The following table is a comparison between these various forms and it shows the importance of the Guru in the human form.

The all-pervading unmanifest Guru or the Teaching Principle of God keeps a constant watch on all of us. By doing regular spiritual practice according to the six basic principles of Spirituality we can make spiritual progress. When one achieves a spiritual level of around 55%, a Guru in the human form comes into one’s life.

http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/guru

Who is a Guru?

www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org

Explains basic information on who a Guru is and some of His characteristics.

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

 

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

 

श्री शिर्डी साईं बाबा

साईं ने मुझे बुलाया था, मुझे अपने पास बैठाया था ,
फिर प्यार से सर पर रख के हाथ, साईं ने यही समझाया था,
दुःख सारे दूर करूँगा मैं , बाबा ने यही समझाया था!
साईं मेरे घर आये थे या मैंने सपना देखा था !!

OM SAI RAM

 

 

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

विश् धातु से बना है विश्व। इसी धातु से विष्णु बनता है। ब्रह्मांड समूचे विश्व का दूसरा नाम है। इसमें जीव और निर्जीव दोनों सम्मिलित हैं। संसार जन्म और मृत्यु के क्रम को कहते हैं। जगत का अर्थ होता है संसार। यही सब कुछ सृष्टि है, जो बनती-बिगड़ती रहती है।
सृष्टि मूलतः संस्कृत का शब्द है। इसे संसार, विश्व, जगत या ब्रह्मांड भी कह सकते हैं। सनातन धर्म के स्मृति के अंतर्गत आने वाले इतिहास ग्रंथ पुराणों अनुसार इस सृष्टि के सृष्टा ब्रह्मा हैं। इस सृष्टि का सृष्टिकाल पूर्ण होने पर यह अंतिम 'प्राकृत प्रलय' काल में ब्रह्मलीन हो जाएगी। फिर कुछ कल्प के बाद पुन: सृष्टि चक्र शुरू होगा।

 

वेदांत के अनुसार जड़ और चेतन दो तत्व होते हैं। इसे ही गीता में अपरा और परा कहा गया है। इसे ही सांख्य योगी प्रकृति और पुरुष कहते हैं, यही जगत और आत्मा कहलाता है। दार्शनिक इन दो तत्वों को भिन्न-भिन्न नाम से परिभाषित करते हैं और इसी के अनेक भेद करते हैं।

 

‎'सृष्टि के आदिकाल में न सत् था न असत्, न वायु था न आकाश, न मृत्यु थी और न अमरता, न रात थी न दिन, उस समय केवल वही एक था जो वायुरहित स्थिति में भी अपनी शक्ति से साँस ले रहा था। उसके अतिरिक्त कुछ नहीं था।

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

जगत संबंधी सत्य को जानने के लिए ऐंद्रिक ज्ञान से उपजी भ्रांति को दूर करना जरूरी है। जैसा कि विज्ञान कहता है कि कुछ पशुओं को काला और सफेद रंग ही दिखाई देता है- वह जगत को काला और सफेद ही मानते होंगे। तब मनुष्य को जो दिखाई दे रहा है उसके सत्य होने का क्या प्रमाण?
यही कारण है कि प्रत्येक विचारक या धार्मिक व्यक्ति इस जगत को अपनी बुद्धि की को‍टियों के अनुसार परिभाषित करता है जो कि मिथ्याज्ञान है, क्योंकि जगत को विचार से नहीं जाना जा सकता।

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

हमारे ऋषियों ने विचार और चिंतन की शक्ति से ऊपर उठकर इस जगत को जाना और देखा। उन्होंने उसे वैसा ही कहा जैसा देखा और उन ऋषि-मुनियों में मतभेद नहीं था, क्योंकि मतभेद तो सिर्फ विचारवानों में ही होता है-अंतरज्ञानियों में नहीं।
इस जगत को अविद्या कहा गया है। अविद्या को ही वेदांती माया कहते हैं और माया को ही गीता में अपरा कहा गया है। इसे ही प्रकृति और सृष्‍टि कहते हैं। इस प्रकृति का स्थूल और तरल रूप ही जड़ और जल है। प्रकृति के सूक्ष्म रूप भी हैं- जैसे वायु, अग्नि और आकाश।

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

श्रु‍ति के अंतर्गत आने वाले सनातन धर्मग्रंथ वेद सृष्‍टि को प्रकृति, अविद्या या माया कहते हैं- इसका अर्थ अज्ञान या कल्पना नहीं। उपनिषद् कहते हैं कि ऐंद्रिक अनुभव एक प्रकार का भ्रम है। इसके समस्त विषय मिथ्या हैं। जगत मिथ्‍या है: इसका अर्थ यह है कि जैसा हम देख रहे हैं जगत वैसा नहीं है इसीलिए इसे माया या मिथ्‍या कहते हैं अर्थात भ्रमपूर्ण। जब तक इस जगत को हम अपनी इंद्रियों से जानने का प्रयास करेंगे हमारे हाथ में कोई एक परिपूर्ण सत्य नहीं होगा।

 

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

वेद इस ब्रह्मांड को पंच कोषों वाला जानकर इसकी महिमा का वर्णन करते हैं। गीता इन्हीं पंच कोशों को आठ भागों में विभक्त कर इसकी महिमा का वर्णन करती है। स्मृति में वेदों की स्पष्ट व्याख्‍या है। पुराणों में वेदों की बातों को मिथकीय ‍विस्तार मिला। इस मिथकीय विस्तार से कहीं-कहीं भ्रम की उत्पत्ति होती है। पुराणकार वेदव्यास कहते हैं कि वेदों को ही प्रमाण मानना चाहिए।

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सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

इस सृष्टि में मनु के पुत्र मानव बसते हैं। सूर्य को सम्पूर्ण सृष्टि की आत्मा कहा गया है। सूर्य अनेक हैं। प्रलय के बाद सृष्टि और सृष्टि के बाद प्रलय प्रकृति का नियम है।
ब्रह्मांड को प्रकृति या जड़ जगत कहा जा सकता है। इसे यहाँ हम समझने की दृष्टि से सृष्टि भी कह सकते हैं। इस ब्रह्मांड या सृष्टि में उत्पत्ति, पालन और प्रलय लगातार चलती रही है और अभी भी जारी है और जारी रहेगी। चार तरह की प्रलय है, नित्य, नैमित्तिक, द्विपार्ध और प्राकृत। प्राकृत में प्रकृति हो जाती है भस्मरूप। भस्मरूप बिखरकर अणुरूप हो जाता है।

 

 

 

सृष्टि को ब्रह्मांड कहा जाता है ब्रह्मांड अर्थात ब्रह्म के प्रभाव से उत्पन्न अंडाकार सृष्टि। पुराणों में ब्रह्मा को ब्रह्म (ईश्वर) का पुत्र माना जाता है इसीलिए उनके अनुसार ब्रह्मा द्वारा ही इस ब्रह्मांड की रचना मानी जाती है। समूचे ब्रह्मांड या सृष्टि में उत्पत्ति, पालन और प्रलय होता रहता है। ब्रह्मांड में इस वक्त भी कहीं न कहीं सृष्टि और प्रलय चल ही रहा है।

Cow & Hinduism / Gau Mata ki Jai

Cow & Hinduism / Gau Mata ki Jai

PLEASE LIKE- Ancient Shankaracharya Temple Kashmir, शंकराचार्य मंदिर श्रीनगर (कश्मीर )
जल और बेलपत्र से महादेव की पूजा का रहस्य:

भगवान शिव को औढ़र दानी कहते हैं। शिव का यह नाम इसलिए है क्योंकि यह जब देने पर आते हैं तो भक्त जो भी मांग ले बिना हिचक दे देते हैं। इसलिए सकाम भावना से पूजा-पाठ करने वाले लोगों को भगवान शिव अति प्रिय हैं। भगवान विष्णु को प्रसन्न करना कठिन भी है और इनसे वरदान प्राप्त करना उससे भी कठिन क्योंकि, यह बहुत ही सोच-समझकर वरदान देते हैं।

भगवान विष्णु को प्रसन्न करने के लिए कठिन तपस्या और भोग सामग्री की भी जरूरत होती है जबकि शिव जी थोड़ी सी भक्ति और बेलपत्र एवं जल से भी खुश हो जाते हैं। यही कारण है कि भक्तगण जल और बेलपत्र से शिवलिंग की पूजा करते हैं। शिव जी को ये दोनों चीजें क्यों पसंद हैं इसका उत्तर पुराणों में दिया गया है।

सागर मंथन के समय जब हालाहल नाम का विष निकलने लग तब विष के प्रभाव से सभी देवता एवं जीव-जंतु व्याकुल होने लगे। ऐसे समय में भगवान शिव ने विष को अपनी अंजुली में लेकर पी लिया। विष के प्रभाव से स्वयं को बचाने के लिए शिव जी ने इसे अपनी कंठ में रख लिया इससे शिव जी का कंठ नीला पड़ गया और शिव जी नीलकंठ कहलाने लगे।

लेकिन विष के प्रभाव से शिव जी का मस्तिष्क गर्म हो गया। ऐसे समय में देवताओं ने शिव जी के मस्तिष्क पर जल उड़लेना शुरू किया जिससे मस्तिष्क की गर्मी कम हुई। बेल के पत्तों की तासीर भी ठंढ़ी होती है इसलिए शिव जी को बेलपत्र भी चढ़ाया गया। इसी समय से शिव जी की पूजा जल और बेलपत्र से शुरू हो गयी।

बेलपत्र और जल से शिव जी का मस्तिष्क शीतल रहता और उन्हें शांति मिलती है। इसलिए बेलपत्र और जल से पूजा करने वाले पर शिव जी प्रसन्न होते हैं। शिवरात्रि की कथा में प्रसंग है कि, शिवरात्रि की रात में एक भील शाम हो जाने की वजह से घर नहीं जा सका। उस रात उसे बेल के वृक्ष पर रात बितानी पड़ी। नींद आने से वृक्ष से गिर न जाए इसलिए रात भर बेल के पत्तों को तोड़कर नीचे फेंकता रहा। संयोगवश बेल के वृक्ष के नीचे शिवलिंग था। बेल के पत्ते शिवलिंग पर गिरने से शिव जी प्रसन्न हो गये। शिव जी भील के सामने प्रकट हुए और परिवार सहित भील को मुक्ति का वरदान दिया।

WHY IAM A HINDU

A Hindu was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA.

An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.

He was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.He told her that I am from India

Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' He didn't understand the question.

'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'

'No!' He replied, 'He am neither Christian nor Muslim'.

Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, He said.

She looked at him as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what He was talking about.

A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today.

But a Hindu, what?

He explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.

'Who is your prophet?' she asked.

'We don't have a prophet,' He replied.

'What's your Holy Book?'

'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,'
He replied.

'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'

He thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.

According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. He understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.

He tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.'

This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.

'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'

What can He tell to this American girl?

He said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'.

'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'

'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'

She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'

'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' He told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..

'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.

'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'

'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'

'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' He told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.

'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'

'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'
लोका समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु !!! ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः !!!

'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'

'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.'

'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.

'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'

'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'

'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'

He told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru to the next.

For a real seeker, He told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.

Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.

Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.

Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.

He said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'

He said "I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.

A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.

Hinduism was the first religion originated.
ॐ नमः शिवा

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