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.

Bhavani Ashtakam

Bhavani Ashtakam


न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दाता न पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता । न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैव गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥१॥


Neither the Father, nor the Mother; Neither the Relation and Friend, nor the Donor,
Neither the Son, nor the Daughter; Neither the Servant, nor the Husband,
Neither the Wife, nor the (worldly) Knowledge; Neither my Profession,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः । कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥२॥


In this Ocean of Worldly Existence which is Endless, I am full of Sorrow and Very much Afraid,
I have Fallen with Excessive Desires and Greed, Drunken and Intoxicated,
Always Tied in the Bondage of this miserable Samsara (worldly existence),
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् । न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥३॥


Neither do I know Charity, nor Meditation and Yoga,
Neither do I know the practice of Tantra, nor Hymns and Prayers,
Neither do I know Worship, nor dedication to Yoga,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थ न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् । न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥४॥


Neither do I Know Virtuous Deeds, nor Pilgrimage,
I do not know the way to Liberation, and with little Concentration and Absorption,
I know neither Devotion, nor Religious Vows; Nevertheless Oh Mother,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः । कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥५॥

I performed Bad Deeds, associated with Bad Company, cherished Bad Thoughts, have been a Bad Servant,
I did not perform my Traditional Duties, deeply engaged in Bad Conducts,
My eyes Saw with Bad Intentions, tongue always Spoke Bad Words,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् । न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥६॥

Little do I know about The Lord of Creation (Brahma), The Lord of Ramaa (Goddess Lakshmi) (Vishnu), The Great Lord (Shiva), The Lord of the Devas (Indra),
The Lord of the Day (Surya) or The Lord of the Night (Chandra),
I do not know about other gods, but always seeking Your Refuge,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.


विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये । अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥७॥

During Dispute and Quarrel, during Despair and Dejection, during Intoxication and Insanity, in Foreign Land,
In Water, and Fire, in Mountains and Hills, amidst Enemies,
In Forest, please Protect me,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः । विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहं गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥

I am Helpless, Poor, Afflicted by Old Age and Disease,
Very Weak and Miserable, always with a Pale Countenance,
Fallen Asunder, Always surrounded by and Lost in Troubles and Miseries,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Choose right..

 Every day we are faced with hundreds of choices, Do we choose the right or the pleasurable.

If we could choose the right more often, we can transform ourselves and the world.


श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः
तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः ।
श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते
प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ॥ ॥ कठ उपनिषद् – 1.2.2 ॥

Translation:

The preferable and the pleasurable approach man.
The intelligent one examines both and separates them.
Yea, the intelligent one prefers the preferable to the pleasurable,
(whereas) the ignorant one selects the pleasurable
for the sake of yoga (attainment of that which is not already possessed)
and kshema (the preservation of that which is already in possession). – Katha Upanishad – 1.2.2

Raavan as Sita's father

This is a version told to me by my mother.


Sita was a reincarnation of Vedavati (an avatar of Lakshmi), an orphan lady. Sita as Daughter of Ravana – The Story of Sita Born as Daughter of Raavan


Legend has it that Vedavati, a very pious woman wanted to marry Lord Vishnu. She was meditating on a river bank when Raavan was enamoured by her and tried to violate her. To escape from him, Vedavati jumped into the fire meant for yagna and before dying cursed Raavan that she would be responsible for Raavan's death in her next birth.


In her next birth Vedavati was born unto Raavan and Mandodari. As she was born, there was an 'Akashwani' stating that she would be responsible for his death. She was bundled and threw into the sea whereupon sea Goddess Varuni in turn gave her to Prithvi, the Goddess earth. She was given by Prithvi to Janaka who was performing a yagna for a child.


We know the rest of the story.


There are 2 stories to her abduction.. one which is common knowledge. The other is that

as she was Raavan's daughter, upon knowing that she was suffering due to Vanvaas thrust upon Ram by his father, Ravan took Sita away to Lanka to save her from the suffering. He tried to persuade her to stay with him, but did not reveal that he was her father, since he was ashamed of having abandoned her.


There is another version saying that Raavan was unaware of Sita being his daughter and since he lusted after his own daughter, though unaware of this fact, it was one crime too many, and that was the reason of his total destruction.


Whatever the story, my intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiments..


Whenever I pray before the Lord in the temple I visit every week, the beautiful idols of Raam Laxman Sita..I never fail to feel the agony of Sita.. for all she went through.. even though we each idol of Ram is incomplete without that of Sita.. they hardly enjoyed any life together.


Same true for Radha.. Since after having left Radha and Vrindava, Krishna never returned.


I feel the pain and agony of Radha.. forever waiting for her beloved..


Maybe it is their selfless unrequited love which have made them immortal.

An Interesting Debate

Twin Babies were talking in the womb of a mother..

Here are some excerpts --

-- Do you believe in life after birth?

-- No I don't. There is no such thing as life after birth. Life ends with birth. Period.

-- I feel there is life after birth. Perhaps we are here to prepare for that.

-- Don't be ridiculous.. There is no such thing. How do you know?  has anyone returned to tell us about it?

-- Think there is light after birth..I feel we will be able to walk with our feet and eat with our own mouths. There will be plenty of space and we will move around. There will be many like us and we will laugh and play!

-- What rubbish are you talking? Be quiet!  how could we move about? What about the umbilical cord? It is too short. We could kill ourselves if we tried to move about or play!

-- I think Mother will take care of us. She will make sure we do not kill ourselves.

-Mother? I don't believe in Mother. I will believe her only when I see her.

-- You don't see her now, but you will, after birth. Even now, I can feel her around me, loving me, caressing me, protecting me.

-- Ah well.. I give up.. No point in arguing with you.. Live in your dream world.. Let me sleep...

Adapted by Hetal Thakkar

Rambling on a Saturday morning..

There are those who are dynamic and those who are static,
There are those who are forever in quest and those who have found peace..

The search of knowledge of the outside world
and that of the world within..

But I am too greedy..
I want both.. to be tranquil and to be dynamic..

To work and yet be at rest

To know the world within
the world without..

To be popular yet truthful.
To be proud of oneself, yet without ego..

To love and not to hurt..
To be loved and not hurt..

Life is full of contradictions..
and there is so much to achieve
in so little time.