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Sharing Teachings from Scriptures of Sanātanaḥ Dharmaḥ and Self Realised Masters. Owner - @Vasudevom #spiritual #sanatandharma #hinduism
Loss of Semen
If Semen is lost, the breath gets unsteady. If the breath gets agitated, one becomes nervous.
Then the mind also cannot work properly and the person gets fickle minded. There is mental weakness. Such a person will not be able to engage in selfless service effectively. He will not be able to concentrate properly.
~ Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati
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Balanced Mind
Keep a calm and balanced mind under all conditions. You have to train and discipline the mind. Even though it is not easy, it is worth practicing. You will enjoy peace of mind.
He who can maintain a balanced mind in all situations is really strong. He is always happy. To get this happiness one has to make effort.
~ Swami Sivananda Saraswati
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A weak mind
A fickle-minded person is never satisfied with anything. He changes his friends. He changes his place of work.
He changes his views. His mind is always in a state of agitation. His will is very weak. He is not loyal to anyone. Success is not known to him. He will take up a task and give it up the very next moment.
~ Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati
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The protector of the universe, the Lord of all Souls (or Lord over Self), the perpetual, the auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all creation, the Supreme object worthy of being known, the Soul of all beings.
The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute; Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is the Supreme Light; Narayana
is the Supreme Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator; Narayana is the Supreme Meditation.
Whatever all this universe is, -seen or heard of, -pervading all this from inside and outside alike, stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).
~ Narayana Suktam 3, 4, 5 verse
Self-analysis
What is the goal of life? Am I following the path of light or the path of darkness?
Do the sense pleasures of this world give one real happiness and peace?
Are my actions bringing happiness, or are they causing them pain and sorrow?
Study all your thoughts and actions and see that they improve and ennoble your life.
~ Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati
Significance of Deepavali:
“Deepavali” means – a row of lamps. A Lamp represents Jnana (knowledge).
Move away from darkness towards light of Jnana – this is the message of Deepavali.
Darkness represents ignorance, which is cause of human sufferings and cycle of birth and death. Dispelling Ignorance and Attaining Jnana – is the essence of Deepavali.
Bhagavan says in the Bhagavad Gita – Na hi Jnanena Sadrisham Pavitram iha Vidyate.
There is nothing that is as Pure as Jnana. The Shastras say that Mukti (liberation) can be obtained only by Jnana.
Hence Jnana is of paramount importance. We must acquire this Jnana and dispel ignorance. This is possible only through a Sadguru. Without a Guru’s Grace, ignorance remains and the acquisition of Jnana does not come about. When we realize this fact, and make efforts towards acquiring Jnana, Our life becomes purposeful.
May this Deepavali festival bring about such a realization and inspire everyone. May everyone rid themselves of their mental impurities, be of a pure mind, and cheerfully and lovingly engage with all.
May this Deepavali bring about the welfare of all. May everyone joyfully celebrate this Deepavali and be a recipient of God’s Grace.
~ Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji
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योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ||
Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity of mind is called yoga.
•Bhagavad Gita 2.48
Lord Krishna says that everyone should work, having established themselves firmly in Yoga.
What is Yoga? Equanimity of mind in success and failure is Yoga.
The definition of Yoga should be carefully noted. How can one acquire such perfect mental equilibrium?
Such a state can be had only when one transcends the mind and enter the Atmic state.
That is the yogic position.
The merging of the mind in Atma is Yoga. As this state alone can bring about perfect equanimity, the word Yoga is here applied to samatvam (i.e.) equal-mindedness under all circumstances.
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We live in accordance with our deep, driving desire. It is this desire at the time of death that determines what our next life is to be. We will come back to earth to work out the satisfaction of that desire. But not for those who are free from desire; they are free because all their desires have found fulfillment in the Self. They do not die like the others; but realizing Brahman, they merge in Brahman.
So it is said:
When all the desires that surge in the heart are renounced, the mortal becomes immortal. When all the knots that strangle the heart are loosened, the mortal becomes immortal, here in this very life.
~ Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, 4.4.6-7
All you want is to be happy. All your desires, whatever they may be, are longing for happiness. Basically, you wish yourself well, desire by itself is not wrong. It is life itself, the urge to grow in knowledge and experience. It is choices you make that are wrong.
To imagine that some little thing- food, sex, power, fame- will make you happy is to deceive oneself.
Only something as vast and deep as your real Self can make you truly and lastingly happy.
~Nisargadatta Maharaj
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Learn to perform all duties, great or small, with a concentrated mind.
Whoever can concentrate his mind in action can also concentrate when practicing meditation.
SWAMI BRAHMANANDA
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The main cause of all bondage is ignorance. Man is not wicked by his own nature—not at all.
His nature is pure, perfectly holy. Each man is divine. Each man that you see is a God by his very nature. This nature is covered by ignorance, and it is ignorance that binds us down.
Ignorance is the cause of all misery. Ignorance is the cause of all wickedness; and knowledge will make the world good.
Knowledge will remove all misery. Knowledge will make us free. This is the idea of Jnāna-Yoga: knowledge will make us free!
What knowledge? Chemistry? Physics? Astronomy? Geology? They help us a little, just a little. But the chief knowledge is that of your own nature. “Know thyself.” You must know what you are, what your real nature is. You must become conscious of that infinite nature within. Then your bondages will burst.
~ Swami Vivekananda
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Śrī Durgā Tattvam
‘Durgā’ nāma is very efficacious and powerful. This connotes multiple meanings and each has great significance.
1. Śrī durgā sūktam mentions ‘Nāvēva Sindhum Duritātyagni:’ Just like a boat ferries across the ocean, the very name (nāma) of ‘Durgā’ transports us across this ocean of mundane existence.
2. It is only the ‘Durga’ in whom we can take refuge anytime for anything, especially in times of turbulence.
Durgā Saptaśati elaborates on
the same mentioning ‘Tvām āsritānām Na Vipannarānām Tvāmāsritāhi Āsrayatām Prayāti’.
This means that those who take refuge in Her, took refuge in the most appropriate. They need not again even think of something else, because they shall be soon relieved of all their difficulties.
Hence, another meaning of ‘Durgā’ is ‘One who provides shelter’.
3- ‘Durgamu’ means fort. Just as the safety and protection of a king staying in his own impregnable fort is definite and assured, protection of those who recite the ‘Durgā’ nāma is definite as they live in the unassailable fortification of the Divine Mother.
4. Just like Vishnu, ‘Durgāmba’ is the powerhouse that destroys bad tendencies, wicked influences and evil thoughts completely. Hence, She is also known as ‘Vaiṣṇavi’.
‘Aṣṭami’ i.e. eighth day in the lunar calendar is dear to Mother.
Durgā Saptaśati also extolls Mother as ‘Saranāgata Dīnārta Paritrāṇa Parāyaṇi Sarvasyārti Harē Devī Nārayaṇi Namōstute.’
This means Mother has an addiction – the addiction to immediately save those who take refuge in Her. She is invincible and grants victory to those who pray Her. She assured Gods that She will incarnate whenever it is necessary to destroy demonic forces in this world.
Mahābhārata explicitly mentions that Lord Krishna advocated the worship of Mother Durgā to both Yudhiṣṭhira and Arjuna before going incognito and the war respectively.
Vedas dictate that ‘Durgā’ is that supreme truth beyond which there is none and nothing.
‘Durgā’ is the embodiment of Para Brahman which is beyond the expression of mind and speech. One should worship Mother Durga to eradicate evil influences and propagate virtuous thoughts in and around us.
Śubhā Navarātrē to everyone. May durgā bless you all with happiness and prosperity.
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Sāvitri is Saraswatī. Parashakti has three names in all the three Sandhyās.
They are -
Gāyatri in the morning,
Sāvitri in the afternoon,
Saraswatī in the evening.
The names have been mentioned in the same order in Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stōtraṁ with Gāyatri, Sāvitri, and followed by Saraswatī now.
Looking at the derivation of the word ‘Saraswatī’, this is defined as ‘saras saraṇa śīlatvāt’ - This means to flow, to expand.
Flow or transmission is the characteristic of energy. Remaining inert at one place without any movement is not the feature of energy.
Electricity inducted at the tip of an ordinary copper wire flows all through the wire. The very trait of energy is transmission.
Among the many things seen, light is powerful. This light is being transmitted from one place to another.
Saraswati, who infused energy into the light, also is pervading everywhere.
Worship of ‘Saraswatī’ is the worship of ‘prāṇa śakti’ (Life-energy).
Another name of Saraswati that finds mention in this same Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stōtraṁ is ‘Hamsinī’.
‘Hamsa’ (Swan) denotes - breath through which the life energy flows.
Saraswatī seated on a swan denotes the she is moving around as the life-energy.
yā vasētprāṇi jihvāsu sadā vāgupavartanāt | sarasvatītī nāmnēyansamākhyātā maharṣibhiḥ: ||
Saraswatī that dances on the tongues of all the beings in the form of speech.
Saraswatī is the inter-flowing stream of consciousness in everyone.
Jnana (knowledge) also flows. It flows from Guru to disciple, from that disciple to another disciple, and so on. That which is obtained by means of transmission is ‘Jñāna’.
Both Jñāna (Knowledge) & Vidya (Education) obtained the name Saraswatī because of their characteristic to flow.
vājēbhirvājinīvatē - Saraswatī bestows all kinds of affluence.
Wishing you all a Saraswati Pooja today.
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One can attain everything through bhakti yoga.
I wept before the Mother Kali & prayed, 'O Mother, please tell me, please reveal to me, what the yogis have realized through yoga & the jnanis through discrimination.'
The Mother has revealed everything to me.
~ Paramahamsa Ramakrishna
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As your attachment to the world diminishes, your spiritual knowledge will increase.
Attachment to the world means attachment to 'lust and greed'.
- Paramahamsa Ramakrishna
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What is Dharma?
यतोऽभ्युदयनिःश्रेयससिद्धिः स धर्मः ।
From which results the accomplishment of exaltation and supreme good is called the Dharma.
~ Vaisheshika Sutra 1.1.2
धारणाद् धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मेण विधृताः प्रजाः । यः स्याद् धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥ ११
It is known as 'Dharma' because it sustains and protects everyone from falling into the lower realms and safeguards life.
Dharma is responsible for upholding all beings; therefore, that which supports and nourishes is Dharma. This is the firm belief of those who know about Dharma.
~ Mahabharata 12.109.11
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The Bhagavad-Gita Contains Two Main Topics: yoga-sastra and brahma-vidya.
Together they form the body of knowledge which is very important for every individual.
Yoga-sastra: The knowledge meant to make a person mature as an individual is called yoga-sastra. A mature individual is one who is free from conflicts, fear, agitation, guilt, and hurt.
Brahma-vidya: Brahma-vidya is knowledge of the whole, the knowledge that liberates a person. A person who has become mature by yoga has something more to accomplish – total freedom, generally called moksha. To know Brahman is to know the truth of oneself as the whole, as complete. The discovery of this fact frees you from all sense of limitation and isolation.
So the first message of the Gita, yoga-sastra, helps you to gain maturity as a person, as an individual. It helps one to become relatively composed, tranquil, alert and free – in short, a cheerful person.
You are then fit to gain brahma-vidya, knowledge that you are the whole, knowledge that frees you from the notion of being a small, limited, mortal being. These two topics of the Gita, which form the very essence of all four Vedas, make the Gita a scripture with a message that is relevant for everyone.
~ Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya Gurukulum.
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PRANAYAMA:
If when breathing in and breathing out you maintain a continual awareness on the center between the incoming and outgoing breath, then your breath will spontaneously and progressively become more refined. At that point you are elevated to another world. That is Prāņāyāma.
- Self Realisation in Kashmir Shaivism, page 41.
No one can take a chance & wait for tomorrow to do something good, because life itself is very uncertain.
Hence one must try & engage in the worship of Ishwara and Japa right from a young age when the body is fit & the mind is fresh.
- Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Swami
Peace is not in the heart of the carnal man. Peace is not in the hearts of ministers, advocates, businessmen, dictators, kings and emperors. Peace is in the hearts of Yogins, sages, saints and spiritual men. It is in the heart of a desireless man, who has controlled his senses and the mind.
Greed, lust, jealousy, envy, anger, pride and egoism are the enemies of peace. Slay these enemies by the sword of dispassion, discrimination, and non-attachment. You will enjoy perpetual peace.
Peace is not in money, estate, bungalows and possessions. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but within the soul.
Money cannot give you peace. You can purchase many things, but you cannot purchase peace. You can buy soft beds, but you cannot buy sleep. You can buy good food, but you cannot buy good appetite. You can buy good tonics, but you cannot buy good health. You can buy good books, but you cannot buy wisdom.
Withdraw yourself from external objects. Meditate and rest in your soul. You will realise everlasting peace now.
Nothing can bring you peace, but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace, but the victory over your lower self, triumph over your senses and mind, desires and cravings. If you have no peace within yourself, it is vain to seek it in external objects and outward sources.
~ Swami Shivananda Saraswati
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The jiva itself is Shiva;
Shiva Himself is the jiva.
It is true that the jiva (individual soul) is no other than Shiva.
When the grain is hidden inside the husk, it is called paddy; when it is de-husked, it is called rice.
Similarly, so long as one is bound by karma one remains a jiva; when the bond of ignorance is broken, one shines as Shiva. Thus declares a scriptural text.
Accordingly, the jiva which is mind is in reality the pure Self; but, forgetting this truth, it imagines itself to be an individual soul and gets bound in the shape of mind.
~ Sri Ramana Maharshi
When there is no light in the outside world, we call it Darkness.
When there is no light inside, it is called Ignorance.
The light of Atman that shines like a millions of sun, resides in everyone heart is covered by darkness of ignorance.
The aim of spiritual disciplines is to remove the ignorance so the light of Atman will shine forth in its full glory.
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In 1898 Abhedananda said in his lecture “The Ideal of Vedanta and How to Attain It”:
The ideal of Vedanta is to solve the problem of life, to point out the aim of human existence, to make our ways of living better and more harmonious with the universal will that is working in nature, to make us realize that the will which is now working through our bodies, is, in reality, a part and parcel of that universal will.
Its ideal is to show us how we can live in this world without being overcome by sorrows and misery, without being afflicted by sufferings and misfortunes that are sure to fall on every human being in some way or other; how to conquer death in this life, how we can embrace death without being frightened in the least.
And above all, the chief object of Vedanta is to make us live the life of unselfishness, purity, and attain to perfection in this life. .
The mission of Vedanta is to establish that oneness and to bring harmony, peace, toleration amongst different religions, sects, creeds, and denominations that exist in this world.
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What is the nature of the Lord?
He is birthless, eternal, unchanging, Ever-Existent, the controller of all beings, and the Lord of Universe and Maya.
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Q: "Is it possible to see God?"
Shri Ramakrishna : "Yes, certainly.
Living in solitude now and then, repeating God's name and singing His glories, and discriminating between the Real and the unreal - these are the means to employ to see Him."
~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
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To the man of knowledge (of self), everything appears as Atma, in the same way as everything appears as material objects to the ignorant man. What then can he desire? Whom can he fear or hate?
For the wise man who knows that everything is that One Atma, there can be no delusion and no sorrow. He has realised that all that exists is only the Supreme Self and nothing else. Fear and hatred arise only when there is a second thing.
When all this is One indivisible Satchidananda Absolute, where is fear and where is hate? He is himself everything. Can he hate himself? Can he fear himself? No. That is the state of the Jivanmukta, the Sthitaprajna – supreme and transcendental.
~ Swami Vivekananda Commentary on gita 2.56 verse.
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I have created a WhatsApp channel to share the teachings of Sanatan Dharma.
I request you all to join here 🙏🏻
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaD3LyW5fM5g6azhus0f
Ignorance is the root of all evil. Ignorance means absence of the knowledge of the Self.
Ignorance or Maya may also mean false knowledge.
~ SWAMI ABHEDANANDA
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The Six-Fold Inner Enemies Of The Mind.
An untrained mind is under the control of six inner enemies: desire (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), delusion or lack of discrimination (Moha), pride (Mada) and jealousy (Matsarya).
Whenever there is a desire, there is potential for anger. When there is obstruction to the fulfillment of your desire, you get angry.
If your desire gets fulfilled, it creates a different problem: your mind always wants more. This is greed.
Thus desire gives rise to either anger or greed. Anger and greed, in turn, rob you of sense of discrimination, causing you to make bad decisions.
When you successful, you become proud and arrogant.
A proud person seeks security in his or her own achievements.
When you come across a more successful person, you immediately compare yourself to him or her.
When you find yourself lacking is some aspect to the other person, you become jealous.
These six tendencies are the inner enemies of the mind.
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Practice and detachment are necessary to bring one-pointedness to the naturally restless and outgoing mind.
~ SWAMI SARADANANDA
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