Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

योगात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं ज्ञानाद्योगः प्रजायते । योगज्ञानाभियुक्तस्य नावाप्यं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥ ~ Through yoga knowledge is attained and knowledge is attained by yoga. Nothing remains unattainable for a seeker with yoga and knowledge. यदेव योगिनो याति सांख्यं तदभिगम्यते । एकं सांख्यं च योगं च यः पश्यति स तत्त्ववित् ॥ ~ The supreme status attained by yogis is, attained by the gyanis as well. Only those who see Yoga and Sankhya as one are the True philosophers. अन्ये च योगिनो वत्स ऐश्वर्यासक्तचेतसः । मज्जान्ति तत्र तत्रैव सत्वात्मैक्यमिति श्रुतिः ॥ ~ O son! Other (not genuine) yogis are attached-minded to wealth and they perish in that. Shruti says that the realization of the oneness of the soul is the ultimate attainment. यत्तत्सर्वगतं दिव्यमैश्वर्यमचलं महत् । ज्ञानयोगाभियुक्तस्तु देहान्ते तदवाप्नुयात् ॥ ~ At the time of death, the gyan yogi attains that omnipresent, divine, great, immutable divine status. एष आत्माहमव्यक्तो मायावी परमेश्वरः । कीर्तितः सर्ववेदेषु सर्वात्मा सर्वतोमुखः ॥सर्वक...

यथा स्वप्रभया केवलः स्फटिकोपलः । भाति उपाधिहीनो विमलस्तथैवात्मा प्रकाशते ॥ ~ Just as a crystal-gem is illumined by its own (clean) radiance, similarly the aatman, which is pure, without any upadhi remains self-illuminated. ज्ञानस्वरूपमेवाहुर्जगदेतद्विचक्षणाः अर्थस्वरूपमेवाज्ञाः पश्यन्त्यन्ये कुबुद्धयः ॥  ~ Intelligent people call this world as the form of knowledge (appearance), but the retarded (fool) consider it to be real (true). कूटस्थो निर्गुणो व्यापी चैतन्यात्मा स्वभावतः । दृश्यते ह्यरूपेण पुरुषैर्भ्रान्तदृष्टिभिः ॥ २९ ॥ यथा संलक्ष्यते व्यक्तः केवलः स्फटिको जनैः । रक्तिकाव्यवधानेन तद्वत्परमपूरुषः ॥ ३० ~ To the delusional people, the kutastha, nirguna, all-pervading in nature, the atma-tattva in the form of consciousness also appears like a substance. Just as people see even a pure crystal stone as red due to contact with a red substance, similarly there is a misconception about the atma tattva. तस्मादात्माक्षरः शुद्धो नित्यः सर्वगतोऽव्ययः ।उपासितव्यो मन्तव्यः श्रोतव्यश्च मुमु...

यदा सर्वाणि भूतानि स्वात्मन्येवाभि पश्यति । एकीभूतः परेणासौ तदा भवति केवलः ॥ ~ When he sees other beings and things in his aatma, then that yogi, who is one with the Supreme Soul, having no control by others, attains the Kevali Bhav. यदा सर्वे प्रमुच्यन्ते कामा येऽस्य हृदि स्थिताः । तदासावमृतीभूतः क्षेमं गच्छति पण्डितः ~ When all desires vanish from the heart of that yogi, then he attains the wisdom of immortality and becomes partaker of the supreme welfare. यदा भूतपृथग्भावमेकस्थमनुपश्यति । तत एव च विस्तारं ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा ॥ ~ When the yogi has a vision of oneness of various beings, then the same (vision) expands and he attains the brahman consciousness. यदा पश्यति चात्मानं केवलं परमार्थतः । मायामात्रं जगत्कृत्स्नं तदा भवति निर्वृतः ॥ ~ When the yogi truly begins to see only the existence of the aatma and knows about the illusion of the whole (external) world, then he attains supreme peace. यदा जन्मजरादुःखव्याधीनामेकभेषजम् । केवलं ब्रह्मविज्ञानं जायतेऽसौ तदा शिवः ॥ ~ When he attai...

तस्माद्विज्ञानमेवास्ति न प्रपञ्चो न संस्थितिः । अज्ञानेनावृतं लोके विज्ञानं तेन मुह्यति ॥ ~ Therefore (in reality) the existence of knowledge alone is there, neither is there any condition of Prapanchk nor of creation. Knowledge is covered by ignorance in the world, because of which attachment arises in people. तज्ज्ञानं निर्मलं सूक्ष्मं अज्ञानमिति तत्सर्वं विज्ञानमिति मे निर्विकल्पं यदव्ययम् । मतम् ॥ ~ That knowledge is pure, subtle, nirvikalpa and imperishable, all the rest (visible prapancha) is mere ignorance. The original authority is of gyana - this is my opinion एतत्ते परमं सांख्यं भाषितं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् । सर्ववेदान्तसारं हि योगस्तत्रैकचित्तता ॥ ~ I have told you this perfect Sankhya form of supreme knowledge. This is the essence of all Vedanta and having a single-mindedness in it is yoga. Sri Rama Gita

तथा प्रकाशतमसो सम्बन्धो नोपपद्यते । तद्वदेव न सम्बन्धः प्रपञ्चपरमात्मनोः ॥ ~ Just as the relation between light and darkness is not possible, similarly the relation between God and the (worldly) fuss is also not possible. छायातरू यथा लोके परस्परविलक्षणौ । तद्वत्प्रपञ्चपुरुषौ विभिन्नौ परमार्थतः ॥ ~ Just as the tree and its shadow in the world are two different things, so the Supreme Soul and the Prapancha are completely different from each other. यद्यात्मा मलिनोऽस्वस्थो विकारी स्यात्स्वभावतः । नहि तस्य भवेन्मुक्तिर्जन्मान्तरशतैरपि ॥ ~ If the soul is by nature impure, unhealthy and disorderly, then its liberation will not be possible even in hundreds of births. पश्यन्ति मुनयो मुक्ताः स्वात्मानं परमार्थतः । विकारहीनं निर्दुःखमानन्दात्मानमव्ययम् ॥ ~ But the Jivan-Mukta Muni sees the Atma as without any fault, without any sorrow, the Form of supreme bliss and without any changes. Sri Rama Gita

अहं कर्ता सुखी दुःखी कृशः स्थूलेति या मतिः । साप्यहङ्कृतिसम्बन्धादात्मन्यारोप्यते जनैः ॥ ~ I am the doer, I am In sorrow, I am happy, I am thin, I am Fat - all these thoughts arising due to ego, is imposed on the aatman by the people.  वदन्ति वेदविद्वांसः साक्षिणं प्रकृतेः परम् । भोक्तारमक्षयं बुद्ध्वा सर्वत्र समवस्थितम् ॥ ~ The Knower of vedic truth knows that the Immortal enjoyer of all, is Omnipresent and is the witness of all, which is beyond the Prakriti.  तस्मादज्ञानमूलोऽयं संसार: सर्वदेहिनाम् । अज्ञानादन्यथा ज्ञातं तच्च प्रकृतिसङ्गतम् ॥ ~ That is why this world is the agyan-mula for all embodied beings. It (the world) would seem otherwise due to ignorance caused by prakriti.  नित्योदितः स्वयंज्योतिः सर्वगः पुरुषः परः । अहङ्काराविवेकेन कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥ ~ The aatma is the eternally awake self-light, pervading everywhere, the Supreme Person. Because of the ignorance of the ego, this (Jiva) considers himself to be the doer. Sri Rama Gita

पश्यन्ति ऋषयो व्यक्तं नित्यं सदसदात्मकम् । प्रधानं प्रकृतिं बुद्ध्वा कारणं ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥ २० ॥ तेनात्र सङ्गतो ह्यात्मा कूटस्थोऽपि निरञ्जनः । आत्मानमरं ब्रह्म नावबुद्ध्यन्ति तत्त्वतः ॥ ~ The sages definitely experience the atma-tattva, which is a form of both sat and asat. They are unable to know the essence of the Kutastha, Niranjan, Akshar Brahma because they are associated with the brahmvaadi Pradhan Prakriti. अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानं तस्माद्दुःखं तथेतरत् ।रागद्वेषादयो दोषा: सर्वभ्रान्तिनिबन्धनाः ॥ २२ ॥ ~ Suffering and happiness occur only because of the intellect of the soul in the anatma-tattva. Doshas like anger, hatred etc. are also associated with the same delusion. कार्ये ह्यस्य भवेदेषा पुण्यापुण्यमिति श्रुतिः । तद्वशादेव सर्वेषां सर्वदेहसमुद्भवः ॥ ~ For this reason, the inclusion of sin and virtue in the work is done according to the scriptures and everyone under its control has to take a body. नित्यः सर्वत्रगो ह्यात्मा कूटस्थो दोषवर्जितः । एकः स भिद्यते शक्त्या मायया न स्वभावतः ...

आत्मा यः केवल: स्वच्छ शान्तः सूक्ष्मः सनातनः ॥ ५ ॥ अस्ति सर्वान्तरः साक्षाच्चिन्मात्रस्तमसः परः ।सोऽन्तर्यामी स पुरुषः स प्राण: स महेश्वरः ॥ ~ The ātmā is pure, peaceful, subtle and eternal. That (ātmā) is clearly luminous and consciously situated in all. That is the inner Supreme self, that is the soul and that is the Supreme Lord. स कालाग्निस्तदव्यक्तं सद्यो वेदयति श्रुतिः ।अस्माद्विजायते विश्वमत्रैव प्रविलीयते ॥ ~ That is Kalagni, that is the unmanifest and Shruti (through word proof) gives its knowledge. The origin and dissolution of the world is in that.  मायावी मायया बद्धः न चाप्ययं संसरति करोति विविधास्तनूः । न च संसारयेत्प्रभुः ॥ ~ That omnipotent elusive assumes many forms (bodies) by his illusion. It does not come and go anywhere and is not driven by anyone. नायं पृथ्वी न सलिलं न तेजः पवनो नभः । न प्राणो न मनो व्यक्तं न शब्दः स्पर्श एव च ॥न रूपरसगन्धाश्च हङ्कर्ता वागपि । न पाणिपादौ नो पायुर्न चोपस्थं प्लवङ्गम ॥ ~ O best monkey! It is neither earth, nor water, nor lightnin...

Chapter 1 : Philosophy of Sankhya yoga राम: प्राह हनूमन्तमात्मानं पुरुषोत्तमः । वत्स वत्स हनूमंस्त्वं भक्तो यत्पृष्टवानसि ॥ १ ॥ तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वाहतो मम । अवाच्यमेतद्विज्ञानमात्मगुह्यं सनातनम् ~ Purushottam Shri Ram said to his devotee Hanuman - O dear Hanuman, you are my devotee, so I am telling you what you have asked. Listen to me attentively. This eternal science is secret in itself and not worth saying anywhere. यन्न देवा विजानन्ति यतन्तोऽपि द्विजातयः । इदं ज्ञानं समाश्रित्य ब्रह्मभूता द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ ~ Even the deities and the striving Dwija seekers do not know this science. Taking shelter of this knowledge, the best brahmins attained the form of the supreme Brahman.  न संसारं प्रपश्यन्ति पूर्वेऽपि ब्रह्मवादिनः । गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं साक्षाद् गोपनीयं प्रयत्नतः । वंशे भक्तिमतो ह्यस्य भवन्ति ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥ ~ Those ancient theologians do not see the world as sat (real). This knowledge is more mystic than the occult and is effortlessly hidden. Those born in this lineag...

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय १०, श्लोक २० अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थित: | अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च || अनुवाद: हे गुडाकेश (निद्राविजयी)! मैं समस्त भूतों के हृदय में स्थित आत्मा हूँ। मैं समस्त भूतों का आदि, मध्य और अंत भी हूँ। O Conqueror of Sleep! I am the self (atman), seated in the hearts of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end of all beings, too. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ५, श्लोक १८ विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि | शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिता: समदर्शिन: || अनुवाद: ज्ञानीजन विद्या और विनय से संपन्न ब्राह्मण, गाय, हाथी, श्वान और श्वानभक्ष्यक चाण्डाल को भी समान दृष्टि से देखते हैं। The wise look equally upon a brahmin endowed with learning and humility, a cow, an elephant, a dog, as well as a dog-eating outcaste. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ९, श्लोक ११ अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् | परं भावमजानन्तो मम भूतमहेश्वरम् || अनुवाद: मूढ़व्यक्ति समस्त भूतों के महान ईश्वर के रूप में मेरी परम दिव्यता को न जानते हुए मानव शरीर में मेरी उपेक्षा करते हैं। Fools, not knowing My Supreme Divinity as the Great Lord of all beings, disregard Me in human form. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ६, श्लोक ४६ तपस्विभ्योऽधिकोयोगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपिमतोऽधिक: | कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिकोयोगी तस्माद्योगीभवार्जुन || अनुवाद: योगी तपस्वियों से, शास्त्रज्ञों से और कर्मियों से भी श्रेष्ठ होते हैं। अतः हे अर्जुन! तुम योगी बनो। The yogi is superior to the ascetics, the learned, and the performers of actions. Therefore, O Arjuna! Be a yogi. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय २, श्लोक ३ क्लैब्यं मा स्म गम: पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते | क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप || अनुवाद: हे पार्थ! नपुंसकता को मत प्राप्त हो, क्योंकि यह तुम्हें शोभा नहीं देता। हे शत्रु विनाशक! हृदय की तुच्छ दुर्बलता का त्याग कर उठ खड़े हो। O Partha! Do not yield to unmanliness, as it doesn't befit you. Give up this petty weakness of heart and arise, O scorcher of foes! Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ४, श्लोक ६ अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् | प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया || अनुवाद: मैं जन्महीन, अविनाशी और समस्त प्राणियों का ईश्वर होते हुए भी अपनी प्रकृति को अधीन करके अपनी योगमाया के द्वारा स्वयं को प्रकट करता हूँ। Despite being birthless, imperishable, and the Lord of all beings, keeping My Nature (Prakriti) under control, I manifest Myself through My Divine Energy (Yogmaya). Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ७, श्लोक ७ मत्त: परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय | मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव || अनुवाद: हे धनञ्जय! मुझसे श्रेष्ठ कुछ भी नहीं है. यह सबकुछ मुझमें ऐसे गूंथे हुए है, जेसे धागे में मोति। O Dhananjaya! There is nothing superior to Me. All this is strung on Me like pearls on a thread. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ६, श्लोक २९ सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि | ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || अनुवाद: सर्वत्र समभाव से देखने वाले योगयुक्त व्यक्ति आत्मा को समस्त भूतों में और समस्त भूतों को आत्मा में देखते हैं। The person harmonized in yoga looks everywhere with equanimity, seeing the self (atman) in all beings and all beings in the self. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ४, श्लोक १३ चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागश: | तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् || अनुवाद: गुणों और कर्मोंके विभागपूर्वक मेरे द्वारा चारों वर्णोंकी रचना की गयी है। यद्यपि मैं इस व्यवस्था का स्रष्टा हूँ, तथापि तुम मुझे अकर्ता और अपरिवर्ती जानो। The four orders of society were created by Me, classifying them in accordance with qualities and actions. Although I am the creator of this system, know Me as non-doer and changeless. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय ११, श्लोक ३८ त्वमादिदेव: पुरुष: पुराण त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् | वेत्तासि वेद्यं च परं च धाम त्वया ततं विश्वमनन्तरूप || अनुवाद: आप आदिदेव और सनातन पुरुष हैं, आप इस विश्व के परम आश्रय हैं। आप सबको जाननेवाले भी हैं और जानने योग्य भी, आप ही परम धाम हैं। केवल आप ही अनंत रूप धारण करके संपूर्ण विश्व में व्याप्त हैं। You are the primal God, the ancient person; you are the ultimate resort of this world. You are both the knower and worth knowing; you are the Supreme Abode. You alone pervade the entire world, assuming endless forms. Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता– अध्याय १८, श्लोक ६७ इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन | न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति || अनुवाद: तुम्हें यह ज्ञान उन्हें कदापि प्रदान नहीं करना चाहिए जो तपस्या या भक्ति से रहित हैं, न ही उन्हें जो सुनने की इच्छा नहीं रखते हैं, और उन्हें भी नही जो मुझमें दोष देखते हैं। You should never impart this knowledge to those who are devoid of austerities or devotion, not even to those who do not desire to listen, and to those who find fault with Me as well. Bhagavad Gita

Day:3 Devi Chandraghanta The third form of the Mother Divine is Chandraghanta. What does the word Chandraghanta mean? Chandra (Moon) means the mind. The mind keeps having its ups and downs. Usually, we fight with our own mind. Negative thoughts such as jealousy, hatred, etc. come in the mind and one starts struggling to get rid of them, but it does not happen. You cannot get rid of your mind. Running away from your mind does not help. The mind is like your shadow. We become dejected and restless the moment our mind is gripped by any negative feeling. We try to wash away all these things from our mind by doing various techniques, but it works only for a short time. After a while, the mind comes back to square one! Do not struggle to get rid of that. Chandra also signifies the various feelings or shades of emotions and thoughts (similar to the different phases of the waxing and waning moon). Ghanta means a bell from which only one kind of sound arises. Do you ever hear multiple sounds fr...

*Day:1 Devi Shailaputri* The first name of Goddess Durga is Shailaputri. Shaila means the peak. Why is Goddess Durga called as the daughter of the peak? The Reason behind Goddess Durga being called daughter of the peak as per scriptures We usually think this means that the Goddess is the daughter of Mount Kailasa, but this is a very basic or lower level of understanding. On the path of Yoga, this means the highest peak or the highest level of consciousness. This is very interesting – when the energy is at its peak, only then can you notice and recognize it. Only then can you understand and experience the pure consciousness – the Devi. Before it reaches its peak you cannot understand it, because it is born out of the peak. Here the peak is the peak of any experience, or any intense feeling. If you are 100% angry, then just see how that anger consumes your whole body. Often we do not express our anger fully. Just see, when you are 100% in anger, when you become that anger so fully, you w...

*Day:2 Devi Brahmacharini* The second name of the Mother Divine is Brahmacharini. What does Brahman mean? That which has no end, no shore nor beginning; That which is omnipresent and beyond which there is nothing; It is the ultimate and all-pervading. If you close your eyes and meditate, then you will realize that when your energy rises to the peak, it becomes one with the Mother Divine; it gets soaked in the energy of the Mother Divine. The Divine is within you, and not somewhere outside. You cannot say, “I know it”, because it is infinite. The moment you know it, it becomes finite. Nor can you say “I do not know it”, because it is definitely there. How can you not know? Can you say “I do not know my own hand”? Your hand is right there. It is there hence you know It, and It is infinite so you do not know It. Both of these realizations go hand in hand. Are you confused enough? If someone asks you, “Do you know the Mother Divine”, you can only keep quiet, because if you say, “I do not k...

Weekly Knowledge 99 Bangalore Ashram 30 Apr 1997  India WHAT ENHANCES YOUR BEAUTY? When your mind is not complaining, responsible, courageous, confident and hollow and empty you are inexplicably beautiful. A person who cannot correct or act has no right to complain. And when a person can correct or act, he will never complain. Complaining is a sign of weakness. Complaining is the nature of utter ignorance where one does not know the Self. Complaint takes away the Beauty that is inborn in you. And it shows up more on the one who is on this path. Worldly mind is a complaining mind; Divine mind is a dancing mind. Just complaining without indicating the solution is irresponsibility. When the solutions are not workable, finding alternative solutions is Courage. For external beauty, you put on things; for real Beauty, you have to drop all the things. For external beauty you have to have Make-up; for your real Beauty you only have to realise that you are MADE-UP! 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸   साप्ता...

Weekly Knowledge 101 Bad Antogast 14 May 1997  Germany THE WORLD BELONGS TO YOU Pleasure or pain is an intense sensation in the 4 to 6 foot body. When we are not caught up in this then we are truly and sincerely able to say, "I belong to you." That is when all the cravings and aversions, desires and doubts fall off -- and in a moment the world belongs to you. All your miseries surround the "I, I, I, . . . ", "I want this, I like that, I don't like this . . ." Just let go. The sun rises and sets, the grass grows, the river flows, the moon shines and I am here forever! How do you feel if someone praises you? Answer: "Shy, happy, great, embarrassed . . . " It does something to you, doesn't it? It doesn't do anything to me! When you praise the moon, the mountains, Lake Lucerne, the Black Forest . . .it doesn't do anything to them. They remain the same. Just like that I am part of nature. If you enjoy praising me, you may do so. In fac...

Weekly Knowledge 95 Rishikesh 03 Apr 1997 India EXPAND YOUR VICES If you cannot get rid of vices, increase them. Worry, pride, anger, lust, grief - give them a bigger dimension and a different direction. Anger - what is the point of getting angry about small events? Be angry about the infinite, about Brahma. Ego, pride - If you cannot get rid of pride, take pride in owning THE DIVINE. Greed - Be greedy for SATSANG. Craving - Crave for truth. Aversion - Be averse to aversions. Jealousy - Be jealous about SEVA. Intoxication - Get intoxicated in the DIVINE. Attachment - Attach yourself to the guru. Joy is love for what is. Sorrow is love for what is not. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸   साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ०९५ ३ अप्रैल , १९९७ ऋषिकेश, भारत अपने अवगुणों को बढ़ाओ अपने अवगुणो से यदि छुटकारा नहीं पा सकते हो तो उनको और बढ़ाओ। चिंता, अहंकार , क्रोध, लालसा , दुःख-इनको एक नया आयाम दो , एक अलग दिशा। क्रोध : छोटी-छोटी घटनाओं पर क्रोधित होने का क्या लाभ ? क्रोध ही करना है तो अनंतता पर करो , ब्रह्म पर करो। अहंकार ...

Weekly Knowledge 96 Rishikesh 10 Apr 1997 India THE PRIMAL INSTINCT Fear is an impression of the past reflecting about the future of the present. When people deny fear, they become egocentric, when they recognize and accept fear, they go beyond...get free from it. Total lack of fear is possible only in utter chaos or utmost orderliness. A saint or a fool have no fear. But everywhere in between there is fear. Fear is essential to preserve orderliness in the world. It is a primal instinct. FEAR OF DEATH PRESERVES LIFE. FEAR OF WRONG KEEPS THE RIGHT. FEAR OF SICKNESS BRINGS HYGIENE. FEAR OF MISERY KEEPS YOU RIGHTEOUS. A CHILD HAS A PINCH OF FEAR SO IT IS CAREFUL AND ALERT WHILE WALKING. A PINCH OF FEAR IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THINGS MOVING SMOOTHLY. Because fear is love standing upside down, everything that can be interpreted with Love can also be interpreted with fear. For example, a child clinging onto its mother. This can be interpreted in both ways - out of Love or out of Fear. This prim...

Weekly Knowledge 97 Calcutta 17 Apr 1997 India SATSANG IS THE SHELTER Why do people need homes? Can they live like animals in the forest without shelter? Even intelligent animals make their homes. Man needs protection from changing nature. So he builds a shelter for physical comforts. In the same way, for spiritual and mental comfort - Satsang is the shelter. One who does not do Satsang is like a wild animal. Satsang alone makes one civilized. Satsang is the shelter from the changing times and its harsh influence on life.  *Satsang is the nest in which you can rest.*  If you are a taker of happiness, you get misery. If you are a giver of happiness, you get joy and love. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸   साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ०९७ १७ अप्रैल, १९९७ कलकत्ता , भारत सत्संग आश्रय है लोगो को घरों की आवश्यकता क्यों है ? क्या वे बिना किसी आश्रय के , पशुओं की तरह, जंगलों में रह सकते है ? बुद्धिमान जानवर भी अपना घर बनाते है मनुष्य को प्रकृति के बदलते हुए वातावरण से सुरक्षा चाहिए , इसलिए वह अपने शारीरिक ...

Weekly Knowledge 93 Rishikesh 19 Mar 1997  India A FRIEND IS AN ENEMY AND AN ENEMY IS A FRIEND In the company of your friends, you lose your centeredness. Your enemy puts you back in yourself. Your friend sympathizes with you and makes you believe in matter. Your enemy makes you feel helpless and takes you to the spirit. So your enemy is your friend and your friend is your enemy! Krishna said to Arjuna: One who is unfriendly everywhere (including himself); his consciousness is stable and awareness is established. 🌸Jai Guru Dev🌸 साप्ताहिक ज्ञानपत्र ०९३ १९, मार्च, १९९७ ऋषिकेश , भारत मित्र शत्रु है, शत्रु एक मित्र मित्रो की संगति में आप अपने केंद्र से विचलित हो जाते है। आपका शत्रु ही आपको वापस आत्म-स्थित करता है। आपका मित्र आपके साथ सहानुभूति दिखा कर आपका विश्वास भौतिकता में लाता है। शत्रु आपको विवश एवं असहाय अनुभव कराता है और आपका मन आत्मा की ओर ले जाता है। इसलिए , शत्रु आपका मित्र है और आपका मित्र, शत्रु !! कृष्ण अर्जुन से कहते है : "जो हमेशा सबसे अमित्रता रखता है (स्वयं से भी)...

Weekly Knowledge 94 Rishikesh 26 Mar 1997  India SIMPLE OR COMPLEX? Life is utterly simple and yet most complex. You have to simultaneously attend to both facets of life. When life appears most complex, turn to the simplicity. Simplicity brings peace. When you are peaceful attend to the complexity within you. That will make you more skillful. If you are only with simplicity, it makes you lazy and dull. Being only with complexity makes you angry and frustrated. The intelligent ones balance them and rejoice in both. If you look only to simplicity, growth is not there. Looking only at the complexity, there is no life at all. All that you need is a skillful balance. If you recognize both simplicity and complexity of life, you will be skillfully peaceful! Colors are the complexity of life. White is the simplicity. When your heart is pure, your life becomes so colorful. Vikram: Guruji, you are all white and yet so colorful. Pramila: Like our knowledge, which is so profound and yet so sim...

Question - Gurudev, until now, we kept our eyes closed while meditating, so we could go inwards. What is the reason for keeping our eyes partly open during meditations? Gurudev Sri Sri - Many times, when you close your eyes, you have the tendency to go into your mental fantasies, or drift off into a dream, or sometimes fall asleep. This is called Mano Rajaya in yogic terminology. Mano Rajaya is a state where the mind starts creating its own kingdom and reels in it, either in conflict or in pleasure. You sit in your own mind, thinking, fantasising or recreating something that makes you feel happy or upset. Either you think everybody is against you, the whole world is against you, your mother in-law, father in-law, husband or boyfriend, everybody is out to get you. Or your mind thinks about how you should convince or impress somebody. These sorts of things go on in the mind. When your mind is stuck in Mano Rajaya, it transpires all the more during (close eyed) meditations. In this medita...

Verse 25 तत्र निरतिशयं सर्वज्ञबीजम् ॥२५॥ tatra niratiśayaṁ sarvajña-bījam ॥25॥ In Him (in Isvara), the seed of Omniscience is unsurpassed. In verse 25, The all knowingness of Ishvara is emphasized. The mind must always travel between two extremes. You can think of limited space, but the very idea of that gives you also unlimited space. Close your eyes and think of a little space, and at the same time that you perceive the little circle, you have a circle round it of unlimited dimensions. It is the same with time. Try to think of a second, you will have, with the same act of perception, to think of time which is unlimited. So with knowledge. Knowledge is only a germ in man, but you will have to think of infinite knowledge around it, so that the very nature of your constitution shows us that there is unlimited knowledge, and the Yogis call that unlimited knowledge God. PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS

Verse 23 ईश्वरप्रणिधानाद्वा ॥२३॥ īśvara-praṇidhānād-vā ॥23॥ Samadhi is attained by devotion to Ishwara. PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS

Verse 24 क्लेश कर्म विपाकाअशयैःअपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेष ईश्वरः ॥२४॥ kleśa karma vipāka-āśayaiḥ-aparāmr‌ṣṭaḥ puruṣa-viśeṣa īśvaraḥ ॥24॥ Isvara is the Supreme Purusha, unaffected by misery, actions, fruits of action or desires. PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS

Verse 22 मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात्ततोऽपि विशेषः ॥२२॥ mr̥du-madhya-adhimātratvāt-tato'pi viśeṣaḥ ॥22॥ They again differ according as the means are mild, medium or supreme. PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS

Question - Gurudev, how to make my home a place of happiness? Even on weekends my wife picks up arguments, how do I deal with this? Gurudev Sri Sri - You know what? I'll give you an advice. Take turns in an argument, don't do it at the same time. You argue on Monday, let her argue on Sunday and you keep smiling. You know, an argument cannot be countered with an argument. Questions cannot be replied with questions. When she argues you smile. Make this a policy, and keep rowing the boat.

Question - Gurudev, after having tried various means I’m still not able to come out of entanglement (attachment). What do I do, please help? Gurudev Sri Sri - It may be some Karma from the last birth or some samskaras (impressions). Do seva. Scriptures say that seva would definitely remove karma of entanglement. If seva cannot remove then knowledge will remove entanglement. If knowledge cannot remove, then bhakti (devotion) can surely remove entanglement. Even if Bhakti is not able to remove entanglement then leave it to time. With time entanglement will surely dissolve but don't just live it to time without trying all the other means (laughter). Do seva, be in knowledge, have bhakti and even after that, if you are not able to get rid of your entanglement, then you just leave it on time.

Question - Gurudev, can you give me a scientific definition of God? Gurudev Sri Sri - God is the substratum of creation, from which everything has come, into which everything goes. GOD is 'Generator', 'Operator' and 'Destroyer', that principle is called GOD. Brahma (generator), Vishnu (operator) and Mahesh (destroyer), but there is only one parmatma (God). Atom, the quantum field itself, you can call as God, the field in which everything has happened. It is that one thing that forms itself into many. If you want to hear in an artist's words, then 'Love is God, and God is Love.

Question - Gurudev, I feel that in this world, the intelligent people are full of doubt, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. Why is it so? Gurudev Sri Sri - Doubt, within a limit, is a sign of intelligence. Beyond a limit, it is a disease. If you have self doubt, then you can't do anything. Doubt can clog your intellect like a disease. Also, if you keep on doubting everybody around you, you can't do business. Business depends on trust. Administration depends on trust. Again, a sincere doubt is good, to awaken you towards knowledge. But beyond limit, it can cause heartaches and drag you backwards. Life should be like when you are in a car, where the windshield is big, you have a side mirror, and a little mirror to see the back. Just imagine if your windshield is as small as the rear mirror, and the rear mirror is as big as your windshield, then you are only seeing the past. You can't move anywhere. So, you need to know a little bit about the past. Sometimes, you ne...

Question - Gurudev, why does the mind wander all the time? Gurudev Sri Sri - It doesn't wander all the time. When you like something, your mind is just fixed there. Suppose you are watching a movie or television series, does it wander all over the place? No. For two and a half hours you are focused on the screen. You are sitting watching the movie and you are so immersed in it, tears come out of your eyes, and you roll and laugh. I don't think your mind is wandering all the time. The mind sticks to what it likes. Where there is some attraction, where there is beauty, where there is love, where there is truth, the mind automatically floats there. When you learn about the mind through yoga and meditation, you will know how you can bring your mind to the centeredness, the focus that you very much want.

Question - Gurudev, does karma follows us forever? Gurudev Sri Sri - Karma simply means action. There are three types of karma : 1. A latent action - If you had done something wrong because of which your car license was taken away, that is your past karma.  2. A tendency - The tendencies in you is your future karma.  3. The effect of an action in your life - Whatever you are doing now is your present karma. Karma is always there. You can get rid of the past. You can make your karma better for the future, and be in the present.

Question - Gurudev, when someone criticizes me I switch off and go into hiding. How to handle criticism without arguing and fighting? Gurudev Sri Sri - Know that you're magnanimous. Every time you face a criticism know that you are vast like the ocean, and you can take in anything. When you feel small that is when you don't feel like taking criticism. When you feel you are very big, then you think, 'I am much bigger than this criticism, let me take it in.