http://www.karnatik.com/c3348.shtml
Song: raamacandram raajeevaaksham (note)
rAmachandram rAjIvakSham
raagam: shankaraabharaNam
29 dheera shankaraabharaNam mela
Aa: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S
Av: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
taaLam: catushra Eka
Composer: Muttuswaami Dikshitar
Language: Sanskrit
rAmacandram rAjIvakSam shyAmaLAngam shAshvata kIrtim kOmaLahastam kOshalarAjam
mAmaka hrtkamalAkaram mArutiyuktam dHimantam mAnita bhaktam shrImantam
kaumAravaram guruguha mitram kAruNyanidhim dasharatha putram bhUmisutAbham
bhUpati rUpam kOmala pallava pAdam mOdam kAmagurum sitArAmam kaustubhabhUSam vandEham
If someone has the meaning please post it
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
eppaDi paaDinarO
http://www.karnatik.com/c1265.shtml
Song: eppaDi paaDinarO
eppaDi pADinarO
raagam: karnaaTaka dEvagaandhaari
28 harikaambhOji janya
Aa: S G3 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
taaLam: aadi
Composer: Suddhaananda Bhaarati
Language: Tamil
pallavi
eppaDi pADinarO tiruvadiyAr appaDi pADa nAn Ashai koNDEn shivanE
(eppaDi)
anupallavi
apparum sundararum ALuDai piLLaiyum aruL maNi vAcakarum poruLuNarnDu unnaiyE
(eppaDi)
caraNam
gurumaNi shankararum arumai tAyumAnArum aruNagirinAtharum arutjyOti vaLLalum
karuNaikkaDal perugi kAdalinAl urugi kanittamizh sollinAl inidunai anudinam
(eppaDi)
Meaning:
pallavi: I desire to sing of you, oh Lord Shiva, as your devotees (aDiyaar) sang!
anupallavi: As the saints Appar, Sundararar, Aaludaippillai and Manivaasagar (MaaNikkavaasagar, a great Tamil poet) sang of you with knowledge (also of the Truth of Brahman) and understanding.
caraNam: As the great teacher Sankara (not a Tamil poet), dear Thaayumaanavar, Arunagirinathar and ArulJyoti Vallal (a reference to the poet commonly known as Vallalaar), their oceans of compassion overflowing (karunaik kadal perugi ), melting in their love for you(kaadhalinaal urugi), sang of you sweetly (inidhunai) each day (anudhinam) in chaste tamil words (kannith thamizh chollinaal), I also wish to sing.
Song: eppaDi paaDinarO
eppaDi pADinarO
raagam: karnaaTaka dEvagaandhaari
28 harikaambhOji janya
Aa: S G3 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
taaLam: aadi
Composer: Suddhaananda Bhaarati
Language: Tamil
pallavi
eppaDi pADinarO tiruvadiyAr appaDi pADa nAn Ashai koNDEn shivanE
(eppaDi)
anupallavi
apparum sundararum ALuDai piLLaiyum aruL maNi vAcakarum poruLuNarnDu unnaiyE
(eppaDi)
caraNam
gurumaNi shankararum arumai tAyumAnArum aruNagirinAtharum arutjyOti vaLLalum
karuNaikkaDal perugi kAdalinAl urugi kanittamizh sollinAl inidunai anudinam
(eppaDi)
Meaning:
pallavi: I desire to sing of you, oh Lord Shiva, as your devotees (aDiyaar) sang!
anupallavi: As the saints Appar, Sundararar, Aaludaippillai and Manivaasagar (MaaNikkavaasagar, a great Tamil poet) sang of you with knowledge (also of the Truth of Brahman) and understanding.
caraNam: As the great teacher Sankara (not a Tamil poet), dear Thaayumaanavar, Arunagirinathar and ArulJyoti Vallal (a reference to the poet commonly known as Vallalaar), their oceans of compassion overflowing (karunaik kadal perugi ), melting in their love for you(kaadhalinaal urugi), sang of you sweetly (inidhunai) each day (anudhinam) in chaste tamil words (kannith thamizh chollinaal), I also wish to sing.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Meeting Swami Dayananda
I wondered what it would be
To worry about Him, His deeds
His safety, His life
Him I always thought all powerful
All knowing, all Vishwan
He is to protect me the helpless
I was told that His Bhaktas
the Azhwars worried for Him,
Cared for Him, Waited for Him,
For they feared His safety out of Love
I wondered how, how this is possible
How could one even in ultimate Love
fear for the Lord
Fear Him they can, but fear for(?)
I could not believe, understand
I wondered how
In He walked today, in guise
In His 80s slow and careful
Held by His disciples
Clad in saffron, a simple man
I fell at His feet
And He recognized me
Asked about me and I was happy, joyed, in bliss
Oh what luck, what Divine event
My flight was delayed, so was His
And He took me to His lounge
Held my hands and laughed
like He was a 2 year old
Like my daughter carefree, lovely
Wanting nothing, just joy
And He said laughing
That His sugar level qwent to 65
and He almost fainted
Still laughing, still carefree
Still holding my hand
And I was overcome
with tears for my wonderment
became and emotion
I suddenly cared for Him
I suddenly wished, prayed for Him
I felt I should not leave Him
Yet, He was smiling, laughing, carefree
The Divine One, the Guru
My Guru, Sri Dayananda Saraswati
the saffron clad, He reveals
He teaches, He shows the way
Suddenly I cared
Suddenly I realized that mine
this emotion was just budding
He showed me the way
Oh Lord, show me the way
I know not what lies ahead
But I pray Oh Lord
Show me Love, Teach me Love
Teach me show Love
Let my thoughts not hinder Your words
Om Tat Sat
-----------------------------------
On 9/11/9, my flight was delayed on the way to Delhi. I met one of His devotees while clearing my baggage at the airport and she told me that He was also expected at the airport. I was joyed as I was trying to meet Him at the ashram the whole week but couldnt make it.
Also I had been listening to Sri Velukkudi Krishnans lecture and he was explainging about the Azhwars Love and devotion to Lord Narayana and how they would wait for Him and show emotions that normally a father, mother or lover would show to their beloved. I could not fathom this behaviour.
As though in tune to these thoughts I met Him and he had been given a lounge by the Airport authorities. He pulled me in along with Him and we were talking for about 30 minutes along with many others but he kept holding my hands.
Nothing strange happened, only my thoughts cleared and I suddenly cared for someone whom I had revered. I did not ask anything even as a thought. I only prayed for His well being that He continue what He is doing and suddenly the words of the Azhwars and my emotions connected. I am not poet I just write down the words in my mind. But even this gave me so much joy so much tears, I wonder how much the Love of the Azhwars would have been....
Sat Chit Ananda
To worry about Him, His deeds
His safety, His life
Him I always thought all powerful
All knowing, all Vishwan
He is to protect me the helpless
I was told that His Bhaktas
the Azhwars worried for Him,
Cared for Him, Waited for Him,
For they feared His safety out of Love
I wondered how, how this is possible
How could one even in ultimate Love
fear for the Lord
Fear Him they can, but fear for(?)
I could not believe, understand
I wondered how
In He walked today, in guise
In His 80s slow and careful
Held by His disciples
Clad in saffron, a simple man
I fell at His feet
And He recognized me
Asked about me and I was happy, joyed, in bliss
Oh what luck, what Divine event
My flight was delayed, so was His
And He took me to His lounge
Held my hands and laughed
like He was a 2 year old
Like my daughter carefree, lovely
Wanting nothing, just joy
And He said laughing
That His sugar level qwent to 65
and He almost fainted
Still laughing, still carefree
Still holding my hand
And I was overcome
with tears for my wonderment
became and emotion
I suddenly cared for Him
I suddenly wished, prayed for Him
I felt I should not leave Him
Yet, He was smiling, laughing, carefree
The Divine One, the Guru
My Guru, Sri Dayananda Saraswati
the saffron clad, He reveals
He teaches, He shows the way
Suddenly I cared
Suddenly I realized that mine
this emotion was just budding
He showed me the way
Oh Lord, show me the way
I know not what lies ahead
But I pray Oh Lord
Show me Love, Teach me Love
Teach me show Love
Let my thoughts not hinder Your words
Om Tat Sat
-----------------------------------
On 9/11/9, my flight was delayed on the way to Delhi. I met one of His devotees while clearing my baggage at the airport and she told me that He was also expected at the airport. I was joyed as I was trying to meet Him at the ashram the whole week but couldnt make it.
Also I had been listening to Sri Velukkudi Krishnans lecture and he was explainging about the Azhwars Love and devotion to Lord Narayana and how they would wait for Him and show emotions that normally a father, mother or lover would show to their beloved. I could not fathom this behaviour.
As though in tune to these thoughts I met Him and he had been given a lounge by the Airport authorities. He pulled me in along with Him and we were talking for about 30 minutes along with many others but he kept holding my hands.
Nothing strange happened, only my thoughts cleared and I suddenly cared for someone whom I had revered. I did not ask anything even as a thought. I only prayed for His well being that He continue what He is doing and suddenly the words of the Azhwars and my emotions connected. I am not poet I just write down the words in my mind. But even this gave me so much joy so much tears, I wonder how much the Love of the Azhwars would have been....
Sat Chit Ananda
Sunday, January 03, 2010
THE VEDAS INTERPRETATION AND CRITICAL ANALYSIS
An interpretation or a critical analysis of a book is a series of logic based thought with respect to the “understanding of the given book in the light of the knowledge acquired or that already present”. Hence it is to be understood that the readers choice in interpreting or criticizing a book is subject to change depending on the circumstance and instance of “when” the book is read.
What are the Vedas and why interpretation or critical analysis of the Vedas is useless!!
“Vedas” is derived from “Vid”. “Vid” literally means “to know”. “Veda” means “knowledge”. The Vedas are a collection of fourteen books or parts and they are also called as “Chaturdasa Vidya”. The main purpose of the Vedas is to establish happiness or to remove sorrow by acquiring knowledge of the TRUTH. Hence the Vedas is also called as “Shoka Nivritti Shastra”.
Every man searches for a means to stay happy. Happiness drove the rishis (ascetics) to seek the basis of happiness and we have what we call the Vedas – the establishment of TRUE knowledge to give continuous happiness or BLISS.
The state of mind during the process of knowledge acquirement is unique to the Vedas. It is by a basis of “Understanding and the Establishment of a Strong Foundation for TRUTH to Maintain Knowledge thereby Giving Bliss” unlike the other fields where the knowledge acquired is dissipated during an act in a field other than the knowledge specified by it.
Hence it is necessary to study the entire Vedas drinking (assimilating) it’s meaning and continuing its study that one comes to apprehend the simplest TRUTH explained in the Vedas. So unless and until one has fully understood the Vedas in the perspective of the rishis, one will not be able to apprehend this “eternal” Truth.
Why is the message of the Vedas said to be simple. Sri Adi Sankara explains that the Truth is available to everyone as clear as water held in ones palm. All the religions in the world cry out only one message “The Lord is omnipresent”. Yet very few people have come to realize this Truth. We find every religion fighting with every other one establishing their “Lord” who is called omni present as they did not “understand” the SIMPLE Truth in the EXACT sense.
The message of the Vedas is said to be a “Rahasyam”- A secret and a very unique secret. In the general sense a secret is information held by an individual or a group of individuals. But this Rahasyam is unique in the sense that even though the prophets around the world have screamed out the Truth very few have understood it. Hence the Vedas are called as a Rahasyam.
Why should not one try to interpret or criticize the Vedas!?
The Truth of the Vedas is achieved by a sequence of logic entirely different from what a person “generally” follows. Hence unless the method of understanding, used to logically understand the Truth is known, it is futile to debate on the Vedas.
Further when one brings to light the conditionings of his mind in understanding the Vedas he is forced to interpret it and if he does not find/experience the Truth of the Vedas in his daily life he tends to reject the Vedas.
Hence the Vedas is best understood by a gradual continuous study under a Guru who teaches the Truth of the Vedas according to the conditioning of the seekers mind so that he can readily interpret the teachings in his daily life. Therefore it is also peremptory that the Teacher be a “jnani” a SEER of the Truth. Hence a self effort to understand the Vedas by individual analysis might lead to a conditioned knowledge of the Truth. A conditioned knowledge of the Truth is as good or as bad as ignorance. Where there is light, there darkness cannot be and where there is darkness even a single beam of light will illumine the place thus there is light only. Similarly there is either knowledge or darkness. There is no state of a mixture. Until knowledge is complete anything lesser is ignorance. When knowledge occurs, ignorance disappears or vanishes or removed as explained in the Vedas. There can be no room for doubt any more.
Hence the Vedas are not to be analyzed before completely understanding the Vedas by discussion with a Guru- a jnani.
What are the Vedas and why interpretation or critical analysis of the Vedas is useless!!
“Vedas” is derived from “Vid”. “Vid” literally means “to know”. “Veda” means “knowledge”. The Vedas are a collection of fourteen books or parts and they are also called as “Chaturdasa Vidya”. The main purpose of the Vedas is to establish happiness or to remove sorrow by acquiring knowledge of the TRUTH. Hence the Vedas is also called as “Shoka Nivritti Shastra”.
Every man searches for a means to stay happy. Happiness drove the rishis (ascetics) to seek the basis of happiness and we have what we call the Vedas – the establishment of TRUE knowledge to give continuous happiness or BLISS.
The state of mind during the process of knowledge acquirement is unique to the Vedas. It is by a basis of “Understanding and the Establishment of a Strong Foundation for TRUTH to Maintain Knowledge thereby Giving Bliss” unlike the other fields where the knowledge acquired is dissipated during an act in a field other than the knowledge specified by it.
Hence it is necessary to study the entire Vedas drinking (assimilating) it’s meaning and continuing its study that one comes to apprehend the simplest TRUTH explained in the Vedas. So unless and until one has fully understood the Vedas in the perspective of the rishis, one will not be able to apprehend this “eternal” Truth.
Why is the message of the Vedas said to be simple. Sri Adi Sankara explains that the Truth is available to everyone as clear as water held in ones palm. All the religions in the world cry out only one message “The Lord is omnipresent”. Yet very few people have come to realize this Truth. We find every religion fighting with every other one establishing their “Lord” who is called omni present as they did not “understand” the SIMPLE Truth in the EXACT sense.
The message of the Vedas is said to be a “Rahasyam”- A secret and a very unique secret. In the general sense a secret is information held by an individual or a group of individuals. But this Rahasyam is unique in the sense that even though the prophets around the world have screamed out the Truth very few have understood it. Hence the Vedas are called as a Rahasyam.
Why should not one try to interpret or criticize the Vedas!?
The Truth of the Vedas is achieved by a sequence of logic entirely different from what a person “generally” follows. Hence unless the method of understanding, used to logically understand the Truth is known, it is futile to debate on the Vedas.
Further when one brings to light the conditionings of his mind in understanding the Vedas he is forced to interpret it and if he does not find/experience the Truth of the Vedas in his daily life he tends to reject the Vedas.
Hence the Vedas is best understood by a gradual continuous study under a Guru who teaches the Truth of the Vedas according to the conditioning of the seekers mind so that he can readily interpret the teachings in his daily life. Therefore it is also peremptory that the Teacher be a “jnani” a SEER of the Truth. Hence a self effort to understand the Vedas by individual analysis might lead to a conditioned knowledge of the Truth. A conditioned knowledge of the Truth is as good or as bad as ignorance. Where there is light, there darkness cannot be and where there is darkness even a single beam of light will illumine the place thus there is light only. Similarly there is either knowledge or darkness. There is no state of a mixture. Until knowledge is complete anything lesser is ignorance. When knowledge occurs, ignorance disappears or vanishes or removed as explained in the Vedas. There can be no room for doubt any more.
Hence the Vedas are not to be analyzed before completely understanding the Vedas by discussion with a Guru- a jnani.
HOW SHOULD ONE RELATE HIMSELF TO THE VEDAS?
The interpretation of the Vedas is very difficult before coming to a full & complete understanding of the Vedas themselves. Hence it becomes necessary to learn it from a Guru – a jnani who has come to understand the Truth.
What should be ones attitude while learning?
It becomes a trade off to begin with for some. But it is necessary to have a full faith in the Vedas. How to come about to this stage? The wise have said that the first stage is to have an “Ishta Devata”- a personal God by the seeker and to devote himself to this Devata by “Naama Samkeertanam” – chanting the name of the Lord and by reading the stories of the Lord in the Puranas.
The trust in the Lord should be equal to the trust that Arjuna has on his friend Sri Krishna.
Life is always quoted as a roller coaster ride. Ups and Downs, joys and sorrow, thrills and fear. If the attitude of the person riding the roller coaster is of courage and cheerfulness, the working of the roller coaster known to him and there is a trust(faith) in the person who designed the roller coaster, the rider will enjoy every moment of the ride.
If the working of the roller coaster is unknown or the courage on riding this tremendous design wears/dwindles or the trust on the designer is absent, every moment of the ride is a misery and a cause for sickness. The whole purpose of the roller coaster is lost.
The designer of life is the Lord. Many have a doubt in the existence of the Lord. The Vedas proclaim “The Lord is omni present” If the studies of the Vedas is not undergone fully the purpose of the study itself is lost. This is the trade off.
Come to ride the roller coaster with a faith in the designer and one would come to enjoy it. The movement of the roller coaster and the thrills are that of a design that is brought about by an intellect that made it.
The world is a roller coaster. The designer is the Lords mind. Once the roller coaster is pushed slightly from its state of rest the car travels the entire distance of the design. Similarly, the moment – “Shrishti”- creation is kicked off life follows the design of nature in its movement and it continues. It is hence necessary to have that faith to ride this roller-coaster.
In Mahabharata, the charioteer of Arjuna is the Lord driving Arjunas’ chariot with His skills excellently through the mazes of battle formation. Arjuna uses all his skills in fighting the war having full faith in his charioteer the Lord. Arjunas chariot is driven by the Lord which represents the body and the five horses the five senses. Arjuna having complete faith in the Lord continues his work – fighting the Great War of Life. The battle field represents the world with all the good and evil forces, which is nothing but our daily life. Arjuna had several gains and several loses. He lost his own son in the battle. Yet his faith in the Lord did not shake.
To have an Ishta Devata and to have complete faith on the Devata similar to Arjunas faith in his friend Sri Krishna is all that is required to start with. A friendly/trust based unshakable attitude.
What should be ones attitude while learning?
It becomes a trade off to begin with for some. But it is necessary to have a full faith in the Vedas. How to come about to this stage? The wise have said that the first stage is to have an “Ishta Devata”- a personal God by the seeker and to devote himself to this Devata by “Naama Samkeertanam” – chanting the name of the Lord and by reading the stories of the Lord in the Puranas.
The trust in the Lord should be equal to the trust that Arjuna has on his friend Sri Krishna.
Life is always quoted as a roller coaster ride. Ups and Downs, joys and sorrow, thrills and fear. If the attitude of the person riding the roller coaster is of courage and cheerfulness, the working of the roller coaster known to him and there is a trust(faith) in the person who designed the roller coaster, the rider will enjoy every moment of the ride.
If the working of the roller coaster is unknown or the courage on riding this tremendous design wears/dwindles or the trust on the designer is absent, every moment of the ride is a misery and a cause for sickness. The whole purpose of the roller coaster is lost.
The designer of life is the Lord. Many have a doubt in the existence of the Lord. The Vedas proclaim “The Lord is omni present” If the studies of the Vedas is not undergone fully the purpose of the study itself is lost. This is the trade off.
Come to ride the roller coaster with a faith in the designer and one would come to enjoy it. The movement of the roller coaster and the thrills are that of a design that is brought about by an intellect that made it.
The world is a roller coaster. The designer is the Lords mind. Once the roller coaster is pushed slightly from its state of rest the car travels the entire distance of the design. Similarly, the moment – “Shrishti”- creation is kicked off life follows the design of nature in its movement and it continues. It is hence necessary to have that faith to ride this roller-coaster.
In Mahabharata, the charioteer of Arjuna is the Lord driving Arjunas’ chariot with His skills excellently through the mazes of battle formation. Arjuna uses all his skills in fighting the war having full faith in his charioteer the Lord. Arjunas chariot is driven by the Lord which represents the body and the five horses the five senses. Arjuna having complete faith in the Lord continues his work – fighting the Great War of Life. The battle field represents the world with all the good and evil forces, which is nothing but our daily life. Arjuna had several gains and several loses. He lost his own son in the battle. Yet his faith in the Lord did not shake.
To have an Ishta Devata and to have complete faith on the Devata similar to Arjunas faith in his friend Sri Krishna is all that is required to start with. A friendly/trust based unshakable attitude.
MY PURPOSE IN WRITING MY UNDERSTANDING
The joy experienced by the child when he holds a toy can be understood by the child best. The mother watching the child “reflects” on the happiness and enjoys. If one analysis the happiness of both it will be seen that the child enjoys the toy “ignorant” of what it is and what the world is. The mother with all her experiences enjoys the happiness that the child is excited with a toy which has no value beyond a certain age. Hence by mere reflection and understanding of the use of the toy the mother enjoys the scene in front of her.
When I read the interpretations of my Guru and I try to understand them, the acts which I perform everyday appear as a running movie which I enjoy like the mother watching her child with an understanding of what the child is doing. My own actions amuse me though I myself am doing them with these hands. As a child I play with the toys of daily life which we call necessities and also which hold no significance beyond their limited use. As a mother watching her child, I watch myself when I reflect upon the teachings of my Guru. Is my joy doubled? ,….No! My understanding has…
I have tried explaining this wonder to many people in the past, with an aim of sharing his teachings. A comedy is best watched when there is company. Joy is exponential when it is shared. When I tried sharing these teaching I have been advised that this subject is too early for my age.
It is my understanding that the Truth about the Atman is too difficult to grasp. A study of such a subject after retirement for me is equal to procrastination. If there is an itch in one heart about the Truth, the best time to start is “here and now” says the Vedas. How then can this challenge be left for a later period. Never at a later point of time will something fructify if the effort does not begin right away and the sustaining interest in that Goal is not strong enough.
As explained in the first summary, “Knowledge, Understanding and Decision Making”, I state that “My understanding of the Vedas is conditioned to the state of my mind today”. Conditioned knowledge is a beautified form of the word “ignorance”. Hence the topics that are written are only “My Understanding” and not “knowledge”. Knowledge is pure.
Impure knowledge = conditioned knowledge = ignorance
Therefore I wish that everyone reading this will refer to books written by Gurus which are interpretations of the Vedas after understanding the Eternal Truth of the Atman.
My purpose in writing is to share my understanding as a logical sequence of thought so that I can analyze and correct myself at various stages of my studies by discussing ideas to gain a clear understanding.
I am open to discussion on Vedanta but am not sport to debate the same. A debate is for realized souls to establish the Truth in the hearts of men. I am a seeker. A “Mumukshu”. This is only a call for company is discussing to gain a better understanding.
My path was brought about by “Naama Samkeertanam” and “Sandhyavanthanam” as it was a conscious effort from my part. My accomplishment in life is not worth mentioning when I see my Gurus a bunch of renunciates qualified as M.S., PhD. Etc, sitting under trees teaching.
It is my desire that every individual atleast undertakes a study of the Vedas before coming to a conclusion based on stray comments. I welcome everyone to come and experience this roller coaster ride called life in the light of the Vedas.
When I read the interpretations of my Guru and I try to understand them, the acts which I perform everyday appear as a running movie which I enjoy like the mother watching her child with an understanding of what the child is doing. My own actions amuse me though I myself am doing them with these hands. As a child I play with the toys of daily life which we call necessities and also which hold no significance beyond their limited use. As a mother watching her child, I watch myself when I reflect upon the teachings of my Guru. Is my joy doubled? ,….No! My understanding has…
I have tried explaining this wonder to many people in the past, with an aim of sharing his teachings. A comedy is best watched when there is company. Joy is exponential when it is shared. When I tried sharing these teaching I have been advised that this subject is too early for my age.
It is my understanding that the Truth about the Atman is too difficult to grasp. A study of such a subject after retirement for me is equal to procrastination. If there is an itch in one heart about the Truth, the best time to start is “here and now” says the Vedas. How then can this challenge be left for a later period. Never at a later point of time will something fructify if the effort does not begin right away and the sustaining interest in that Goal is not strong enough.
As explained in the first summary, “Knowledge, Understanding and Decision Making”, I state that “My understanding of the Vedas is conditioned to the state of my mind today”. Conditioned knowledge is a beautified form of the word “ignorance”. Hence the topics that are written are only “My Understanding” and not “knowledge”. Knowledge is pure.
Impure knowledge = conditioned knowledge = ignorance
Therefore I wish that everyone reading this will refer to books written by Gurus which are interpretations of the Vedas after understanding the Eternal Truth of the Atman.
My purpose in writing is to share my understanding as a logical sequence of thought so that I can analyze and correct myself at various stages of my studies by discussing ideas to gain a clear understanding.
I am open to discussion on Vedanta but am not sport to debate the same. A debate is for realized souls to establish the Truth in the hearts of men. I am a seeker. A “Mumukshu”. This is only a call for company is discussing to gain a better understanding.
My path was brought about by “Naama Samkeertanam” and “Sandhyavanthanam” as it was a conscious effort from my part. My accomplishment in life is not worth mentioning when I see my Gurus a bunch of renunciates qualified as M.S., PhD. Etc, sitting under trees teaching.
It is my desire that every individual atleast undertakes a study of the Vedas before coming to a conclusion based on stray comments. I welcome everyone to come and experience this roller coaster ride called life in the light of the Vedas.
LORD THE OMNIPRESENT BEING
As seen in the chart the unchanging Supreme Truth, the “Para Prakriti” is the Atman, The Lord and also termed as Sivatattva. The changing existence, the “As though” Supreme Truth, “Apara Prakriti” or Maya is the inherent strength of the Lord also known as the Shakti Tattva.
The Shrishti – creation (used for now) of the Lord is said to be like that of the spider weaving its net. The spider “designs” the web using its “intelligence” and “makes” the web using its saliva. The intelligence and instrument of making and the material for the same is inherent in the spider itself.
Similarly, the Lord, the EXISTENT (Sat) cause, is the intelligent cause, the instrumental cause and the material cause for the universe. He employs His inherent strength the Maya Shakti for “Shrishti” and “Pralaya”.
Shrishti is “projection” NOT CREATION. It is called projection because it comes from Himself. Pralaya is “withdrawal” or “dissolution” NOT DESTRUCTION as the projection from Himself is withdrawn INTO Himself.
How can He create and destroy Himself? This is a wrong interpretation due to a misunderstanding of the Truth. Not only the Lord projects and withdraws the universe, He also sustains it. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are the manifestations of the same Truth, the “Sat-Chit-Ananda” Atman manifesting as the Projector, Sustainer and Dissolver of the Jagat - universe.
This is why we do “namaskar” to another person, the mother, father, Guru are equated to God, a paper stamped is respected for by touching it and seeking forgiveness as it is a source of knowledge. Even Land walked on becomes the Divine Land. All this can be understood only with a complete “knowledge” or “VEDA”.
Hence the Lord Brahma, the projector has four faces representing the four Vedas and in using that knowledge he projects the universe. The Sustainer, Lord Vishnu sleeping as he is in “Ananda-sayanam” – sustains the projected phenomena of the universe “as though asleep” – Apara Prakriti. The Lord Shiva using his “Third Eye” – Eye of knowledge comes to dissolve the Universe from the sustaining principle by merging it with the One Truth of the Atman.
The Lord Nataraja dances to His own tune, the of “kala”-time as the five elements, space, fire, wind, water and earth which are the constituents of the Universe as we perceive it “here and now”.
Open your minds eye, the eye of knowledge and understand the knowledge of the Vedas in its full import. Where is Death? Where is hell? Where is heaven?
“Where his God? Show Him to me!” – screamed the atheist
“Where is God not to show Him to you. He is omnipresent” – said the Vedantin.
This is an open invitation to one and all to come and see the Lord Nataraja in His Omnipresence.
My salutations to my Guru who is in the form of Lord Sri Dakshinamurthy Himself.
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
The Shrishti – creation (used for now) of the Lord is said to be like that of the spider weaving its net. The spider “designs” the web using its “intelligence” and “makes” the web using its saliva. The intelligence and instrument of making and the material for the same is inherent in the spider itself.
Similarly, the Lord, the EXISTENT (Sat) cause, is the intelligent cause, the instrumental cause and the material cause for the universe. He employs His inherent strength the Maya Shakti for “Shrishti” and “Pralaya”.
Shrishti is “projection” NOT CREATION. It is called projection because it comes from Himself. Pralaya is “withdrawal” or “dissolution” NOT DESTRUCTION as the projection from Himself is withdrawn INTO Himself.
How can He create and destroy Himself? This is a wrong interpretation due to a misunderstanding of the Truth. Not only the Lord projects and withdraws the universe, He also sustains it. Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are the manifestations of the same Truth, the “Sat-Chit-Ananda” Atman manifesting as the Projector, Sustainer and Dissolver of the Jagat - universe.
This is why we do “namaskar” to another person, the mother, father, Guru are equated to God, a paper stamped is respected for by touching it and seeking forgiveness as it is a source of knowledge. Even Land walked on becomes the Divine Land. All this can be understood only with a complete “knowledge” or “VEDA”.
Hence the Lord Brahma, the projector has four faces representing the four Vedas and in using that knowledge he projects the universe. The Sustainer, Lord Vishnu sleeping as he is in “Ananda-sayanam” – sustains the projected phenomena of the universe “as though asleep” – Apara Prakriti. The Lord Shiva using his “Third Eye” – Eye of knowledge comes to dissolve the Universe from the sustaining principle by merging it with the One Truth of the Atman.
The Lord Nataraja dances to His own tune, the of “kala”-time as the five elements, space, fire, wind, water and earth which are the constituents of the Universe as we perceive it “here and now”.
Open your minds eye, the eye of knowledge and understand the knowledge of the Vedas in its full import. Where is Death? Where is hell? Where is heaven?
“Where his God? Show Him to me!” – screamed the atheist
“Where is God not to show Him to you. He is omnipresent” – said the Vedantin.
This is an open invitation to one and all to come and see the Lord Nataraja in His Omnipresence.
My salutations to my Guru who is in the form of Lord Sri Dakshinamurthy Himself.
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
KNOWLEDGE OF ABSTRACTION
The method employed by one person to abstract from one perspective to another may not be appreciated or understood by another. Hence it is necessary to study under a Guru so that one does not get lost in irrational logic trying to disprove another perspective. This is a personal experience.
There are just too many distractions and philosophies that exist in each realm of abstraction. One needs to keep in mind that this study is of the Vedas and the goal is that of the Vedas that is being pursued.
One should not dream about being rich businessman while his duty is only to study. This is a waste of time and intellectual capacity. Concentration should be focused on the achievement of the Goal as much as the Goal itself.
Necessity of a Guru:
The study of the Vedas is also seen as a dry philosophy and confusing logic. This study has to be coupled with devotion and motivation and a constant prodding necessary to keep the goal in mind
When each realm is being studied, one may come to feel that the level of thought is unnecessary as the world is suffering from the pangs of sorrow. There is a chance that the subject is discarded as useless to the world.
When a person works as a social worker the attitude should be that of happiness and the support should be that of care and understanding. So the understanding part plays an important role as the social worker should not be affected and depressed by the sufferings of the needy. Hence an abstraction is a must for the social worker to strengthen her emotional capabilities to work continuously and tirelessly. Also there must be an availability of funds. So the work is doubled, as the minds of the donators must be convinced to come to an “understanding” of the problem faced.
Hence abstraction becomes necessary. The statement of Swami Vivekananda-“Arise Awake and Stop not till the Goal is reached”. This can be interpreted in as many ways as possible depending on what the conditioning of the mind of the person may be and what the Goal is that person thinks about. Whatever said and done it is a positive statement said with such a force that the first thing that comes to the mind of any person who is acquainted with the name of Vivekananda, is this one call for an awakening.
To make the person understand the abstraction of this statement itself requires one to “know” what the Goal is!
There are just too many distractions and philosophies that exist in each realm of abstraction. One needs to keep in mind that this study is of the Vedas and the goal is that of the Vedas that is being pursued.
One should not dream about being rich businessman while his duty is only to study. This is a waste of time and intellectual capacity. Concentration should be focused on the achievement of the Goal as much as the Goal itself.
Necessity of a Guru:
The study of the Vedas is also seen as a dry philosophy and confusing logic. This study has to be coupled with devotion and motivation and a constant prodding necessary to keep the goal in mind
When each realm is being studied, one may come to feel that the level of thought is unnecessary as the world is suffering from the pangs of sorrow. There is a chance that the subject is discarded as useless to the world.
When a person works as a social worker the attitude should be that of happiness and the support should be that of care and understanding. So the understanding part plays an important role as the social worker should not be affected and depressed by the sufferings of the needy. Hence an abstraction is a must for the social worker to strengthen her emotional capabilities to work continuously and tirelessly. Also there must be an availability of funds. So the work is doubled, as the minds of the donators must be convinced to come to an “understanding” of the problem faced.
Hence abstraction becomes necessary. The statement of Swami Vivekananda-“Arise Awake and Stop not till the Goal is reached”. This can be interpreted in as many ways as possible depending on what the conditioning of the mind of the person may be and what the Goal is that person thinks about. Whatever said and done it is a positive statement said with such a force that the first thing that comes to the mind of any person who is acquainted with the name of Vivekananda, is this one call for an awakening.
To make the person understand the abstraction of this statement itself requires one to “know” what the Goal is!
KNOWLEDGE AND ABSTRACTION
Abstraction – A perspective:
When solving a problem the method employed is a “decision made conditioned by the understanding in the light of the knowledge acquired”. Hence the emphasis here is “on the problem to be solved”. The focus is on the current moment, on an object external to the person solving the problem.
Now, if the focus is shifted from the problem to be solved into the “conditioned understanding” of the problem, it is an abstraction. The shift in focus is from a “physical realm” external to the problem solver to an “emotional realm” that is inherent in the person himself. The understanding of the problem is termed as “emotional” because the problem solver brings into play his likes and dislikes in solving the given problem. This is one stage of abstraction.
The second stage of abstraction is the shift in focus from the “emotional realm” to an “intellectual realm” which is the knowledge factor used by the person in understanding the problem.
Abstraction and the Vedas:
The abstraction followed in the Vedas as understood by me is shown in the table below:
When solving a problem the method employed is a “decision made conditioned by the understanding in the light of the knowledge acquired”. Hence the emphasis here is “on the problem to be solved”. The focus is on the current moment, on an object external to the person solving the problem.
Now, if the focus is shifted from the problem to be solved into the “conditioned understanding” of the problem, it is an abstraction. The shift in focus is from a “physical realm” external to the problem solver to an “emotional realm” that is inherent in the person himself. The understanding of the problem is termed as “emotional” because the problem solver brings into play his likes and dislikes in solving the given problem. This is one stage of abstraction.
The second stage of abstraction is the shift in focus from the “emotional realm” to an “intellectual realm” which is the knowledge factor used by the person in understanding the problem.
Abstraction and the Vedas:
The abstraction followed in the Vedas as understood by me is shown in the table below:
KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND DECISION MAKING
Any problem given today to be solved involves three principles to reach a conclusion on how to carry on. Firstly, on reading the problem we try to think whether we have had a similar case in the past. If yes, we have “knowledge” of the case in another circumstance under different conditions. If no, then we refer other sources of to find out about the “knowledge” of a similar problem in the past.
Now that we have the knowledge of a similar problem, we try to “understand” the given problem IN THE LIGHT OF the knowledge acquired. With THIS UNDERSTANDING we analyze the problem to be solved and we come to a conclusion on what is to be done. Hence the given problem is solved or is tried to be solved by coming to a “decision” [DECISION MAKING] CONDITIONED BY an UNDERSTANDING BASED ON PAST KNOWLEDGE.
If the solution and the result obtained after solving the problem is desirable, then the approach has paid off. If the result is not fulfilled what went wrong? One can come up with hundreds of reasons and logic, set up talk shows and write papers based on this problem, its solution and the undesirable effect it produced, THOUGH THE PROBLEM REMAINS YET TO BE APPROACHED AGAIN WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
But whatever the decision of this discussion could be, the approach will be a method of, “A solution based on the Decision conditioned by the Understanding based on past Knowledge.” Hence we fall into a loop repeating what we already did. It is therefore no surprise when we see the fact that “History repeats itself”. Man evolves from animals, kingdoms are formed, kingdoms are demolished, man becomes an animal in his behavior/nature, looting, drinking which even animals avoid, governments formed, war, formed, fall……
It is to be noted here that throughout history the common factor has been an EXISTENCE of a common BEING, a life force in varying shapes and natural instincts, an evolution in form yet a life form, the source unknown, present CONSCIOUSLY AT ALL TIMES though varying in INTELLIGENCE and itself remaining same on what is happening in the realm of the physical phenomena. This BEING, the common factor is the LIFE that has been in various forms. No matter what has been happening, this life form has EXISTED from a small amoeba to man today.
I approach this discussion on the TRUTH of the CONSCIOUS, CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE (SAT-CHIT) conditioned by “my” understanding of the knowledge talked about in Vedanta. I shall not make any decision on this topic because the decision is subject to change at the instance of an improved understanding of the “extra and known” knowledge that I “might” acquire from the Vedas.
It is necessary for me to change my approach in trying to understand the books I read on Vedanta. It is not a one time change that I had to undertake but a continuous chain of change. I find that the progress is futile unless one statement is fully understood in the perspective written before the next line is read or at least a re-reading necessary before claiming a full understanding of the words. By the time the words have sunk in and the next sentence is approached, a new perspective will have to be drawn. So a constant adaptation is necessary in reading. So I will not claim that I have understood the full import of Vedanta as I read only from interpretations of the Vedas and not the words of the Vedas themselves. It is hence only my understanding of Vedanta.
Now that we have the knowledge of a similar problem, we try to “understand” the given problem IN THE LIGHT OF the knowledge acquired. With THIS UNDERSTANDING we analyze the problem to be solved and we come to a conclusion on what is to be done. Hence the given problem is solved or is tried to be solved by coming to a “decision” [DECISION MAKING] CONDITIONED BY an UNDERSTANDING BASED ON PAST KNOWLEDGE.
If the solution and the result obtained after solving the problem is desirable, then the approach has paid off. If the result is not fulfilled what went wrong? One can come up with hundreds of reasons and logic, set up talk shows and write papers based on this problem, its solution and the undesirable effect it produced, THOUGH THE PROBLEM REMAINS YET TO BE APPROACHED AGAIN WITH A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
But whatever the decision of this discussion could be, the approach will be a method of, “A solution based on the Decision conditioned by the Understanding based on past Knowledge.” Hence we fall into a loop repeating what we already did. It is therefore no surprise when we see the fact that “History repeats itself”. Man evolves from animals, kingdoms are formed, kingdoms are demolished, man becomes an animal in his behavior/nature, looting, drinking which even animals avoid, governments formed, war, formed, fall……
It is to be noted here that throughout history the common factor has been an EXISTENCE of a common BEING, a life force in varying shapes and natural instincts, an evolution in form yet a life form, the source unknown, present CONSCIOUSLY AT ALL TIMES though varying in INTELLIGENCE and itself remaining same on what is happening in the realm of the physical phenomena. This BEING, the common factor is the LIFE that has been in various forms. No matter what has been happening, this life form has EXISTED from a small amoeba to man today.
I approach this discussion on the TRUTH of the CONSCIOUS, CONTINUOUS EXISTENCE (SAT-CHIT) conditioned by “my” understanding of the knowledge talked about in Vedanta. I shall not make any decision on this topic because the decision is subject to change at the instance of an improved understanding of the “extra and known” knowledge that I “might” acquire from the Vedas.
It is necessary for me to change my approach in trying to understand the books I read on Vedanta. It is not a one time change that I had to undertake but a continuous chain of change. I find that the progress is futile unless one statement is fully understood in the perspective written before the next line is read or at least a re-reading necessary before claiming a full understanding of the words. By the time the words have sunk in and the next sentence is approached, a new perspective will have to be drawn. So a constant adaptation is necessary in reading. So I will not claim that I have understood the full import of Vedanta as I read only from interpretations of the Vedas and not the words of the Vedas themselves. It is hence only my understanding of Vedanta.
WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE? WHAT IS IGNORANCE? HOW DOES IGNORANCE PLAY A ROLE IN WRONG INTERPRETATION LEADING TO CRITICISM?
Knowledge is a state of knowing. If I say this is a clock, I understand the purpose of the clock, viz., to know time. I apprehend the shape and function of the clock in recognizing its purpose and of course I know what time is!!
The state of “not knowing” is ignorance. When I don’t know what the word “clock” means, when I don’t know the numeric display digitally or the movement of the 2 arms to represent time and I have no concept called time, I am fascinated by this wonder device an object of amusement which gives me a thrill in holding and possessing it. This is ignorance and its effect. This phenomenon is best seen when a child plays with a time piece.
The Vedas use a simple example to illustrate the outcome of a state of mind in of a person in ignorance. A man was walking in the dark. He felt something dangling on his shoulders. Terror struck he ran from the place shouting “snake, snake”. On reaching the village he panted and between bated breaths he shouted “snake”. The people looked at him and asked “Where? Did it bite you? Are you alright?” He looks alright but he exhibits a state of fear and pain. He babbles something and urges everyone to take fire and sticks and to go back and kill it. Bewildered everyone does so and go along with him to the place.
At the place where he “felt” the snake, on closer inspection in the brightness of light now present due to the fire, he comes to recognize the snake which he imagined and misunderstood to be a snake was only a rope hanging from a tree. Due to his movement the rope was dangling on his shoulders. Not only did the person “not apprehend” the Truth that it was a rope, but also he “misinterpreted/misapprehended” the rope to be a snake as he did not “know” the Real nature of the rope in the dark. This is one illustration of a man in ignorance. “The misapprehension that occurs due to the non apprehension of Truth” is a definition that Swami Chinamayananda uses in Vivekachoodamani (Author Sri Adi Sankara).
The person did not investigate the rope properly. His ignorance drove him to an immediate “fear” and the mind added the attributes of a snake with a mouth, a slimy surface and hissing tongue for him to shout “snake”.
The Vedas have to be studied, investigated, tried and discussed with a Guru (who is a jnani) to be fully understood. The wise say that when there is a discrepancy in understanding the Puranas, the Vedas (Rig, Yajur...) should be referred. And if there is again a doubt the Upanishad should be referred for interpretation.
The Puranas themselves a part of the Caturdasa Vidya, come under a rigid supervision by a “higher” means of knowledge. What happens to a person who in his ignorance tries to understand the Puranas, the Vedas and the Upanishads by self effort without a first hand knowledge of the Supreme Truth that the Vedas talks about? There is a possibility of rejection of the Puranas as fancy and the Vedas as babble.
A child going to school is considered ignorant of the various sciences that are used in the world today. So the child is taught from language to mathematics to science so that the child may come to understand the Truth of the sciences and put the “knowledge” to a good use by exhibiting the skills that the child possesses. Similarly the Vedas also have to be studied in a gradual way from simple understanding to a logic based analysis that will be emphasized later. One can start the study of any subject at any point of time in the small life time that once possesses. But the studies of such subjects have also come to be as a process of gradual understanding over a period of time. Why then is there a rejection of the Vedas? No subject can yield its secret the moment it is touched. It has to be studied, understood and has to be put to practice. Only than the knowledge acquired is called first hand knowledge.
Ignorance of the subject will lead to a criticism if the subject and its study will not bear the fruits that it should. The study of the Vedas should be under a Guru as much as the study of any science is under a professor.
Hence the wise say “learn under the constant vigilance of a Guru who is none other than Lord Dakshinamurthy himself.”
The state of “not knowing” is ignorance. When I don’t know what the word “clock” means, when I don’t know the numeric display digitally or the movement of the 2 arms to represent time and I have no concept called time, I am fascinated by this wonder device an object of amusement which gives me a thrill in holding and possessing it. This is ignorance and its effect. This phenomenon is best seen when a child plays with a time piece.
The Vedas use a simple example to illustrate the outcome of a state of mind in of a person in ignorance. A man was walking in the dark. He felt something dangling on his shoulders. Terror struck he ran from the place shouting “snake, snake”. On reaching the village he panted and between bated breaths he shouted “snake”. The people looked at him and asked “Where? Did it bite you? Are you alright?” He looks alright but he exhibits a state of fear and pain. He babbles something and urges everyone to take fire and sticks and to go back and kill it. Bewildered everyone does so and go along with him to the place.
At the place where he “felt” the snake, on closer inspection in the brightness of light now present due to the fire, he comes to recognize the snake which he imagined and misunderstood to be a snake was only a rope hanging from a tree. Due to his movement the rope was dangling on his shoulders. Not only did the person “not apprehend” the Truth that it was a rope, but also he “misinterpreted/misapprehended” the rope to be a snake as he did not “know” the Real nature of the rope in the dark. This is one illustration of a man in ignorance. “The misapprehension that occurs due to the non apprehension of Truth” is a definition that Swami Chinamayananda uses in Vivekachoodamani (Author Sri Adi Sankara).
The person did not investigate the rope properly. His ignorance drove him to an immediate “fear” and the mind added the attributes of a snake with a mouth, a slimy surface and hissing tongue for him to shout “snake”.
The Vedas have to be studied, investigated, tried and discussed with a Guru (who is a jnani) to be fully understood. The wise say that when there is a discrepancy in understanding the Puranas, the Vedas (Rig, Yajur...) should be referred. And if there is again a doubt the Upanishad should be referred for interpretation.
The Puranas themselves a part of the Caturdasa Vidya, come under a rigid supervision by a “higher” means of knowledge. What happens to a person who in his ignorance tries to understand the Puranas, the Vedas and the Upanishads by self effort without a first hand knowledge of the Supreme Truth that the Vedas talks about? There is a possibility of rejection of the Puranas as fancy and the Vedas as babble.
A child going to school is considered ignorant of the various sciences that are used in the world today. So the child is taught from language to mathematics to science so that the child may come to understand the Truth of the sciences and put the “knowledge” to a good use by exhibiting the skills that the child possesses. Similarly the Vedas also have to be studied in a gradual way from simple understanding to a logic based analysis that will be emphasized later. One can start the study of any subject at any point of time in the small life time that once possesses. But the studies of such subjects have also come to be as a process of gradual understanding over a period of time. Why then is there a rejection of the Vedas? No subject can yield its secret the moment it is touched. It has to be studied, understood and has to be put to practice. Only than the knowledge acquired is called first hand knowledge.
Ignorance of the subject will lead to a criticism if the subject and its study will not bear the fruits that it should. The study of the Vedas should be under a Guru as much as the study of any science is under a professor.
Hence the wise say “learn under the constant vigilance of a Guru who is none other than Lord Dakshinamurthy himself.”
KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION
Devotion and faith go hand in hand. Only when a person has faith in his friend will he be devoted to him. The opposite also is true and will be true. But to have a faith or devotion the knowledge that the person and his friends have been close and their past tested by either of them is necessary for their being devoted to each other. So the increase in knowledge, faith and devotion is gradual.
Mere knowledge is of no use. When the rocket scientist has a full knowledge of the working of the rocket but not an equal amount of faith in its working, the rocket is a failure before it even takes off as no sensible pilot would be ready to travel in it.
Mere faith is the same case. Knowledge and devotion are the two sides of the same coin. Even if one side is not stamped or the value of the coin is not known the coin is useless to the person.
If the devotion and knowledge of the Lord and the seeker is not equal and is not one that is recognized in the mind of the seeker than the subtle Truth of the Vedas cannot be apprehended. The relationship of the Lord with His Bhaktas can be had from the Puranas, why even from the Bible. The nature of the seeker with his friends is best known by the seeker himself. If the relationship between the seeker and the Lord is not mature in knowledge and devotion it is difficult to proceed.
This is why a Guru is needed to feed in knowledge and to plant the seeds of devotion in the minds of the seeker to an equal degree. Hence the Puranas become valid for the seeker and shall remain so for one can understand the full import of the stories only under a clear knowledge and a purer state of mind which will occur with a continuous study.
Mere knowledge is of no use. When the rocket scientist has a full knowledge of the working of the rocket but not an equal amount of faith in its working, the rocket is a failure before it even takes off as no sensible pilot would be ready to travel in it.
Mere faith is the same case. Knowledge and devotion are the two sides of the same coin. Even if one side is not stamped or the value of the coin is not known the coin is useless to the person.
If the devotion and knowledge of the Lord and the seeker is not equal and is not one that is recognized in the mind of the seeker than the subtle Truth of the Vedas cannot be apprehended. The relationship of the Lord with His Bhaktas can be had from the Puranas, why even from the Bible. The nature of the seeker with his friends is best known by the seeker himself. If the relationship between the seeker and the Lord is not mature in knowledge and devotion it is difficult to proceed.
This is why a Guru is needed to feed in knowledge and to plant the seeds of devotion in the minds of the seeker to an equal degree. Hence the Puranas become valid for the seeker and shall remain so for one can understand the full import of the stories only under a clear knowledge and a purer state of mind which will occur with a continuous study.
WHAT IS INTERPRETATION? WHAT IS CRITICAL ANALYSIS? A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE –
When reading a novel, the reader gets intimately attached to the sequence of events described in the book. The moods of the reader and his expectation of the outcome of the current scene read keeps varying in different degrees. At the end of the book reading his opinion on the book varies according to his intimate attachment or the memory of the varying sequential events. If the reader “likes” the book he “interprets” the events and personality of the characters and tries to imitate or recall the novel in his daily life. If he does not understand OR if he dislikes the story OR had something else in mind about how the events and characters should have been he makes a critical analysis of the book.
An interpretation is a series of thought which is logic based analysis of the book events and characters, and how the mind of the interpreter is oriented in a positive sense. Until he picks up a new book to gain more knowledge and new “experiences” (of the characters in the book) he will be fresh with all the interpretations he makes. When he picks up a new book his expectations will be oriented in a new way (= thought process before reading first book + interpretations of the first book that have been fully understood). If the new book also is an “add on” giving him the same type of “experiences” or “more” he likes the new book also and interprets it thus assimilating new “knowledge”.
If the new book does not add-on new experiences the series of logic based analysis of thought becomes negatively oriented and “interpretation” becomes a “critical analysis”. The reader will use every circumstance in his “present” experience to prove that what was written had no meaning as he is not able to gain anything new OR does not even see any similarity in “his” life and the sequence of events in the book. In simple words he rejects the book as well as its author…
An interpretation is a series of thought which is logic based analysis of the book events and characters, and how the mind of the interpreter is oriented in a positive sense. Until he picks up a new book to gain more knowledge and new “experiences” (of the characters in the book) he will be fresh with all the interpretations he makes. When he picks up a new book his expectations will be oriented in a new way (= thought process before reading first book + interpretations of the first book that have been fully understood). If the new book also is an “add on” giving him the same type of “experiences” or “more” he likes the new book also and interprets it thus assimilating new “knowledge”.
If the new book does not add-on new experiences the series of logic based analysis of thought becomes negatively oriented and “interpretation” becomes a “critical analysis”. The reader will use every circumstance in his “present” experience to prove that what was written had no meaning as he is not able to gain anything new OR does not even see any similarity in “his” life and the sequence of events in the book. In simple words he rejects the book as well as its author…
ILLUSION AND EXISTENCE
The magic performed on stage has been called illusory or hypnosis. Something vanished into thin air, snakes flew, ropes stand etc. If this is to be termed illusion then the world we see today is an illusion too. Illusion is something that is not existent.
But on further analysis it is to be noted that the intelligent cause the magician/performer knows the sequence of operation of this “illusion”. Not only do the audience perceive this “illusion” but also the magician himself. When the phenomena exhibited is perceived by one and all within the reach of vision, then the “illusion” seizes to be one and becomes and “existing” phenomena AT THAT INSTANT when it is perceived. What follows the event is only a sequence but this sequence is fully “known” to the performer of the “illusion”. Not only does he “know” the method but also he has practiced its performance at an earlier time until it was mastered. His knowledge on this act is complete. A person who studied “magic” under him studies it with devotion and also is able to acquire the knowledge from his master.
The audience on their part, dazed, fascinated and overcome with amusement exhibit the state of the man who mistook the rope for the snake.
The magic that I am referring to is the famous ROPE TRICK performed in the court of TRAVANCORE.
Maya has been termed as illusion and is referred to in the wrong places by many. The world is all Maya. The world is an illusion- it is said. If the world is an illusion then one must not perceive it. What is perceived by one is not perceived by the other etc. The world becomes something that is not there. But I perceive it, I live in it and I am sustained by it. Therefore I say Maya – Illusion is a fancy concept and due to my direct experience with this so called “illusion” I come to reject the Theory of Maya. This had been my own line of thought for sometime.
Maya does not mean illusion. The definition of Maya is too complex to be explained as far as I understand it. It can be referred to though. Maya is “Shakti” of the Lord. Shakti is strength or power inherent in the user. I display my Shakti in lifting up weights. Similarly Maya is an inherent strength, a property of Himself which He exhibits. Since Maya belongs to the Lord, Maya also becomes One with the Lord. Hence Maya is also the Mother or Ambal or Shakti.
Maya is the principle which is used by the Lord in “creating” the world as we see it. When the working of Maya is not understood, or when one is ignorant of what Maya is, then Maya is an illusion or in the words of the earlier definition “the misapprehension due to the nonapprehension of Reality”.
When one comes to respect and love this Maya then only one comes to apprehend her. Maya hence becomes existence because it being the source of creation of the world it becomes and existing phenomena when understood in its full import or it becomes an illusory phenomena if it becomes an illusory phenomena due to ignorance.
The world is hence existent and not therefore an illusion. Therefore knowledge becomes a pre-requisite for a proper understanding of this existing phenomena.
But on further analysis it is to be noted that the intelligent cause the magician/performer knows the sequence of operation of this “illusion”. Not only do the audience perceive this “illusion” but also the magician himself. When the phenomena exhibited is perceived by one and all within the reach of vision, then the “illusion” seizes to be one and becomes and “existing” phenomena AT THAT INSTANT when it is perceived. What follows the event is only a sequence but this sequence is fully “known” to the performer of the “illusion”. Not only does he “know” the method but also he has practiced its performance at an earlier time until it was mastered. His knowledge on this act is complete. A person who studied “magic” under him studies it with devotion and also is able to acquire the knowledge from his master.
The audience on their part, dazed, fascinated and overcome with amusement exhibit the state of the man who mistook the rope for the snake.
The magic that I am referring to is the famous ROPE TRICK performed in the court of TRAVANCORE.
Maya has been termed as illusion and is referred to in the wrong places by many. The world is all Maya. The world is an illusion- it is said. If the world is an illusion then one must not perceive it. What is perceived by one is not perceived by the other etc. The world becomes something that is not there. But I perceive it, I live in it and I am sustained by it. Therefore I say Maya – Illusion is a fancy concept and due to my direct experience with this so called “illusion” I come to reject the Theory of Maya. This had been my own line of thought for sometime.
Maya does not mean illusion. The definition of Maya is too complex to be explained as far as I understand it. It can be referred to though. Maya is “Shakti” of the Lord. Shakti is strength or power inherent in the user. I display my Shakti in lifting up weights. Similarly Maya is an inherent strength, a property of Himself which He exhibits. Since Maya belongs to the Lord, Maya also becomes One with the Lord. Hence Maya is also the Mother or Ambal or Shakti.
Maya is the principle which is used by the Lord in “creating” the world as we see it. When the working of Maya is not understood, or when one is ignorant of what Maya is, then Maya is an illusion or in the words of the earlier definition “the misapprehension due to the nonapprehension of Reality”.
When one comes to respect and love this Maya then only one comes to apprehend her. Maya hence becomes existence because it being the source of creation of the world it becomes and existing phenomena when understood in its full import or it becomes an illusory phenomena if it becomes an illusory phenomena due to ignorance.
The world is hence existent and not therefore an illusion. Therefore knowledge becomes a pre-requisite for a proper understanding of this existing phenomena.
THE MAGICIAN, HIS PERFORMANCE AND THE AUDIENCE IN CAPTIVATION
The magician on stage is a very knowledgeable person. He can walk, talk, and behave like every person attending the show. But he possesses a rare gem which the audience is devoid of. That gem, is one of knowledge.
The “illusion” which the magician creates should captivate and inspire the magician as much as the audience is captivated, if what he displays is really an “illusion”. But he remains unmoved by and careful, even after the display of his skills.
What is happening? The magician is a possessor of the mast of knowledge. By manipulating the objects known to the audience and the extra knowledge on the working of the objects IN HIS HANDS, the magician works his trick and pulls off a so called illusion. The audience “ignorant” as they are of the “special” object the magician uses, are totally knocked off from their poise by a display of magnificence they term as “illusion” or “magic”. This is verily the “misapprehension due to the nonapprehansion of reality”.
The “illusion” which the magician creates should captivate and inspire the magician as much as the audience is captivated, if what he displays is really an “illusion”. But he remains unmoved by and careful, even after the display of his skills.
What is happening? The magician is a possessor of the mast of knowledge. By manipulating the objects known to the audience and the extra knowledge on the working of the objects IN HIS HANDS, the magician works his trick and pulls off a so called illusion. The audience “ignorant” as they are of the “special” object the magician uses, are totally knocked off from their poise by a display of magnificence they term as “illusion” or “magic”. This is verily the “misapprehension due to the nonapprehansion of reality”.
WHO IS A GURU?
The word “Guru” can be split into two – “Gu” and “Ru”. Gu means darkness or ignorance. Ru means removal or dispel. The person who helps in the dispelling of ignorance is called Guru. There are several fields of knowledge. Math ignorance is removed by math Guru. Science ignorance is removed by science Guru. The ignorance about “who I am” is cleared by The Guru.
The person who teaches in order to remove the ignorance of what life is, who I am and what is death, what is knowledge and what is the source of happiness is the guru who teaches the Vedas. He becomes the embodiment of Vedas themselves as he has understood the Truth referred in the Vedas and hence he is a jnani- a knowledgeable person.
The definition of the Atman is the most abstract and difficult riddle. If the guru says “I have read the Vedas and am trying to understand the Vedas. Let us all have faith in the Ishta Devata and continue the search”, he is no Guru. A Guru is one who has understood the meaning of the Atman as well.
If the doctor prescribes a medicine and says “The Lord is all merciful. Hence you must have faith and you will get better” such a doctor is the worst that shall ever be found. The doctor curing the disease must have full knowledge of the disease, full knowledge of the patient, full knowledge of the side effects and the full knowledge of how to cure the disease. Only then he becomes the fit example of the word “doctor” because he doctors the patient out of their illness. Hence we find doctors “specializing” in a particular field, viz., the research goes on…
A Guru knows fully well the disease of ignorance, full knowledge of the person by his attitude and talk, full knowledge of the side effects by teaching him the Truth directly and a full knowledge of the cure namely the knowledge. Not only this, the method of cure is an approach that is based on the teachings of the Veda by a system known as “Guru-Sishya Paramapara”. Hence the mere understanding is not a sufficient condition to teach the Vedas. A jnani is one who has understood the Truth of the Vedas. He need not know the actual text of the Vedas. But a Guru is one who teaches the Vedas. A Guru is hence a jnani as well as one proficient with the Vedas.
Hence a Guru = (jnani + knowledge of the Vedas + knowledge of the method of teaching)
A seeker of Truth, the student of the Vedas must continue his daily chores and must attend to his Guru and study the scriptures with an open mind until he becomes a jnani. The faith in the Ishta Devata and the Guru must be 100% to study the Vedas.
The person who teaches in order to remove the ignorance of what life is, who I am and what is death, what is knowledge and what is the source of happiness is the guru who teaches the Vedas. He becomes the embodiment of Vedas themselves as he has understood the Truth referred in the Vedas and hence he is a jnani- a knowledgeable person.
The definition of the Atman is the most abstract and difficult riddle. If the guru says “I have read the Vedas and am trying to understand the Vedas. Let us all have faith in the Ishta Devata and continue the search”, he is no Guru. A Guru is one who has understood the meaning of the Atman as well.
If the doctor prescribes a medicine and says “The Lord is all merciful. Hence you must have faith and you will get better” such a doctor is the worst that shall ever be found. The doctor curing the disease must have full knowledge of the disease, full knowledge of the patient, full knowledge of the side effects and the full knowledge of how to cure the disease. Only then he becomes the fit example of the word “doctor” because he doctors the patient out of their illness. Hence we find doctors “specializing” in a particular field, viz., the research goes on…
A Guru knows fully well the disease of ignorance, full knowledge of the person by his attitude and talk, full knowledge of the side effects by teaching him the Truth directly and a full knowledge of the cure namely the knowledge. Not only this, the method of cure is an approach that is based on the teachings of the Veda by a system known as “Guru-Sishya Paramapara”. Hence the mere understanding is not a sufficient condition to teach the Vedas. A jnani is one who has understood the Truth of the Vedas. He need not know the actual text of the Vedas. But a Guru is one who teaches the Vedas. A Guru is hence a jnani as well as one proficient with the Vedas.
Hence a Guru = (jnani + knowledge of the Vedas + knowledge of the method of teaching)
A seeker of Truth, the student of the Vedas must continue his daily chores and must attend to his Guru and study the scriptures with an open mind until he becomes a jnani. The faith in the Ishta Devata and the Guru must be 100% to study the Vedas.
A PRAYER TO LORD DAKSHINAMURTHY
Oh Lord, the Primordial Cause
You are the first teacher
And also my sustainer
Your feet I seek, save me
Oh conqueror of Death
Oh Intelligent One
Take me Unto Thee
Grant me my wish
Let me study Your Truth
Let me clear this ignorance
Let me not be lost
In the maze of Your Magnificence
You are the Creator
You are the Sustainer
You are the Destroyer
Lord You are That Atman
You are Sat-Chit-Aananda
Pray let me study unhindered
Let there be happiness
Grant me the knowledge of Moksha
Oh Lord Sri Dakshinamurthy
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
You are the first teacher
And also my sustainer
Your feet I seek, save me
Oh conqueror of Death
Oh Intelligent One
Take me Unto Thee
Grant me my wish
Let me study Your Truth
Let me clear this ignorance
Let me not be lost
In the maze of Your Magnificence
You are the Creator
You are the Sustainer
You are the Destroyer
Lord You are That Atman
You are Sat-Chit-Aananda
Pray let me study unhindered
Let there be happiness
Grant me the knowledge of Moksha
Oh Lord Sri Dakshinamurthy
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
Tillana: Dance of Krishna
Oh Krishna ! You dance on your Lotus Feet
Your dance I've heard as Shiva
As Krishna on the snake Kalinga
With the Gopis, with Radha in Vrindavan
Ignorant am I to not see your dance
You still dance with heavenly Bliss I hear
Oh Krishna you come to me in various forms
To hold me to love me
Yet I dont see you in my ignorance
You play with me covering my eyes
You hold me to your bosom
Yet I dont see your dance
Oh Lord, remove this veil
Show thyself in Your glory
With your Divine Conch and Flute
Oh Lord play thy music
Show me your Dance
Let me behold the joy
Oh Lord, where should I come
Where should I run
Nay you say, in my heart you say
Show me the way Oh Lord,
I lack the direction, I lack the knowledge
To travel within to witness the Dance
Show me the Way Oh Krishna
I plead and beg to see this vision
Stop this play, I know you enjoy
Show me the Way
Your dance I've heard as Shiva
As Krishna on the snake Kalinga
With the Gopis, with Radha in Vrindavan
Ignorant am I to not see your dance
You still dance with heavenly Bliss I hear
Oh Krishna you come to me in various forms
To hold me to love me
Yet I dont see you in my ignorance
You play with me covering my eyes
You hold me to your bosom
Yet I dont see your dance
Oh Lord, remove this veil
Show thyself in Your glory
With your Divine Conch and Flute
Oh Lord play thy music
Show me your Dance
Let me behold the joy
Oh Lord, where should I come
Where should I run
Nay you say, in my heart you say
Show me the way Oh Lord,
I lack the direction, I lack the knowledge
To travel within to witness the Dance
Show me the Way Oh Krishna
I plead and beg to see this vision
Stop this play, I know you enjoy
Show me the Way
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