Swadhyay - 3 Qualities of Brahmacharis.

 Those who strive for inner beauty or the beauty of the  "मन " ( neither English words mind nor heart adequately describe what it stands for) are Brahmacharis. This is for their own as well as for others, since they do not see themselves separate from others. The best way to describe such people is Sahaj. Means simple. Without much effort.

These men and women are easy to live with and are inspiring. Celibacy definitely enhances the inner beauty and makes one more powerful. It also increases Dhyeyanishtha; as mind is free of lustful thoughts. Celibacy does not mean only physical restraint; but the restraint of the senses from "Taamsi" or excitable thoughts. For example; watching a violent movie or even news channels these days can be termed as taamsi ot that which causes a hindrance to celibacy.

"Ichha Mukti" = Sanyam. Self Control. This is classified into 2 types :

1. When something is out of your reach and you crave it, realise the futility of it and stop wanting it after exerting self restraint over the mind.

2. When something is readily available and even abundant; reachable, attainable, yet you remain detached from it.


Example : Rishi Marich is sitting under the Kalpa vriksha yet not wanting anything.

Self restraint is essential in students as it is said that those encompassed in comforts never attain knowledge. Even the opposite is true:- those who are knowledgeable are rarely engrossed in comfort. The enlightened ones leave the comforts in search of the divine purpose and fulfilment of this purpose.

Those who believe in this divine purpose take up the challenges in their stride. Just as a child knows that if the mother does not let him have something it is for his own good; similarly an enlightened being will take the hurdles in his path as the will of God or as an exercise towards growth in potential and test of spirit and singularity of purpose.

There are those who leave everything to God and do not make an effort to bring about positive changes in their own lives and to the lives of others around them. They are not inspired or motivated. It is the duty of the spiritual leaders to not only inspire, but to guide them in doing what is needed to be done to serve others and find the divine purpose. To give a purpose to people is the biggest duty of spiritual leaders.

God resides within us. Those who realise this are true Brahmacharis. This feeling makes us very powerful. But this realisation should not be accompanied by the wielding of this power over others or even divulged to those around us. Instead, these brahmacharis are the secret police of God, sort of our conscience policing over us and those around us and preventing deeds and words that have the potential to hurt others and as a result; hurt the supreme Parmatma.

We all have God within us, but in a passive state. In Brahmacharis, God residing within achieves an active state. They make a concious effort to do the work of God under the guidance of the inner divine self. It is these divine leaders in every walk of lives that Dadaji refers to as Brahmacharis. They may be married or unmarried, may have any political or religious affiliation; may or may not be polular, may or may not be reverred, may effect may or few lives; but yet they are Brahmacharis as they carry out the work of God.

Swadhyay - 2

Is Bhagvad Gita Gyan Yog or Bhakti Yog? Lokmanya Tilak says it is Karma Yog, Sadhna Yog and Ananta Yog.

Hastasya Bhushanam Daanam.

Giving is ornamental to the hand,

How you give shows your personality.

Some like to show that they are giving, some show what they are giving and some even show without giving. There are those who are proud of what they give. Giving feeds their ego, their sense of well being.

Some give for a sense of feeling less guilty about their wealth. The amassing of wealth is vulgar to those who feel they do not deserve it. They give alms to relieve themselves of this guilt.

Some have genuine concern for the needy. They could have passed through that state and realize the pain and helplessness and genuinely give material and physical help.

True giving is with a deep realization of the divine bond between all things alive; the soul which prevails within us and without. We are all connected with each other because of this divine soul prevailing in each of us and it connects us with the supreme Paramatma.

Swadhyay - 1

Ever since I started going to Swadhyay sessions in March 2014, I wanted to make some record of the teachings of Shri Pandurang Shastri Athavale; or Dadaji as he is fondly called; whatever little I could absorb and retain from these sessions.

Swadhyay Parivar is a very closed organisation. They do not make the discourses of Dadaji public. I wonder why; since such a treasure should be made public for the benefit of humanity in general and for Hindu civilization in particular.

So this blog is a humble effort to reproduce whatever little I could jot down during my sessions.

The first session I attended was on the importance of celibacy or "Brahmacharya".
 Not just celibacy, brahmachari means the one who carries the "Brahma" and does work for him. Rather conducts himself in such a way that he attains the state of Brahma. This is through self control, discipline of the senses and love of the divine. Brahma means Prabhu or the divine. Brahmachari is also the one who roams in search of God and knowledge.

" Dhyeyanishtha"

To have a meaningful purpose which will help one attain the state of Brahma and to follow that purpose with a totally focussed state of being one with and doing the deeds which enables one to serve the divine purpose.

This is Dadaji's favorite word. In each of the sessions that I have attended, this word is used atleast 2 to 3 times if not more in the 40 minute discourse by him.

People remember God in tough times more than happy times. Helplessness is a crippling state. Whenever we feel the need and support of someone and no one is available or those available are not capable of help and support, we inevitably pray to God. This is not wrong. Even remembering him and praying makes us feel stronger if we have faith. If we maintain this state of having faith and trust, the stress of our life will reduce. We will be inspired to do good deeds. This will be the work which we feel will be appreciated by God as his work. This is true brahmacharya. The state of "aacharan" which enables to attain brahma.
In Ramayana, Laxman is addressed as a brahmachari. Inspite of being married to Urmila, Laxman is called Brahmachari as he is doing the needful for the Lord/

Why austerity and restraint? Because in austerity, we are closer to our true self. We feel closer to the divine force within us when we practice austerity. Celibacy, fasting, negating physical comforts etc results in an elevated state of being. This is what Dadaji calls "Atma Gyan".

Here Dadaji recited a story. Once a sage gave a bird to one of his disciples and asked him to kill it when he thought no one was watching. The disciple took the bird deep into the forest away from the ashram and its inhabitants. Then he saw other birds and animals so he did not kill the bird. He took him deeper into a clearing where there were no other animals or birds. He was about to kill it when he realised that himself along with his conscience were present and watching. There can be no place where there is no one watching. This is the realization of the self.
He returned with the live bird and surrendered.

What is that feeling that drives one towards the divine?

After relentless pursuits of material things, we realise the brevity of the happiness it offers. Also, the enthusiasm for such pursuits is often externally stimulated and short lived.

Those pleasures which come with immorality create a sense of helplessness and distress; even disgust with self at some point in time. When you reinforce the belief that God is within you, you stay away from immorality and hence are sure of his support. Free from guilt and generally free.