Teachings from Kathopanishad - Part II

Nachiketa asked Bhagwan YAMA, " Tell me that knowledge or karma by which we will be able to go to Heaven." He asked this for the sake of other people's welfare. By this question, we get the insight that :

• Our life is not limited to me and my people but extend beyond our small limited cocoon.
• Individuality does not have an independent existence. Individuality becomes meaningful only if associated with the totality. In addition to leading life properly, we also have responsibility for the society where we are living. So, our life should be lived in such a manner that others are also benefited.
• Unless we accepted the principle that we existed before this body was born, we existed in this body and when the body is dropped, we continue to exist, further study is meaningless. Can we say that we began from non-existence or nothingness? From nothing, nothing is created. Therefore, we have to accept that we do not begin from non-existence. 
• There is an EMBODIED, our scriptures call it as JEEVA, that is living in the body, once you accept this, the second step starts. 
• The Body is born, the body grows, the body decays, the body dies; the JEEVA is not born, the JEEVA doesn't grow, the JEEVA doesn't decay, the JEEVA doesn't die. 
• We are all miserable because we always identify as somebody and this somebody has no existence.  
• There is no DEATH in the HEAVEN (Heaven is not a place but a condition of mind where there is no fear). How we take our life determines whether we're in heaven or we're in hell. Happiness comes from within, we don't require anything outside. If we're able to discover this happiness over silly things, like the children as they don't need great things to be happy. If we're at peace with ourselves without going to sleep, we're the source of happiness. 
• To remain in peace is to remain in the utter present.
• The moment we go away from us in TIME, SPACE & OBJECT, Miseries begin. Go away in Time, in old days or in future, we'll be miserable; where ever we're, whatever we're, whenever we're, BE 100%. Living in this wisdom dynamically is meditation. Whatever we do, we should do it cheerfully or we shouldn't do it. 
• When we come to know that we have no choice, we learn, lesser the choice we exercise, more happy we're. When there is 0 choice, we're the happiest. That experience is called as reaching Heaven. The net result will be our mind will stop reacting in life. If we observe, we constantly reacting. And these reactions create Hell in our life. When we're living in the Heaven, we lead a life of zero choice, therefore, no reactions. 
• When we live in utter presence, the mind is calm & quiet, alert and vigilant. With such a mind, when you come in contact with the world, in one go, the TRUTH is grasped. Nachiketa's mind was having these three qualities, so he was the best student and grasped the TRUTH in one go told by his teacher. 

In the absolute, there are no fractions. In the absolute, nothing can be added, nothing can be taken out. The time, space and object disappear the moment we detach ourself from the body identification.  Here is the second Boon ended and the stage has been set for the third and the most important Boon in the form of question that is about the "SELF" by Nachiketa to Lord YAMA.
(From the Spiritual Discourse of Respected Swami Anubhavanand Saraswati)

Teachings From Kathopanishad - Part I

Kathopanishad is one of the primary and the most beautiful Upanishad. This Upanishad indicates what is required for the evolution of a seeker. It is based on the conversation between a little boy Nachiketa and the lord of Death Yama about Human nature, Atman (the real self) and Moksha. Nachiketa was a determined and spiritually conscious son of Vājashravas. He was gifted to the lord Yama by his father in the fit of rage. Nachiketa is considered to be the perfect example of a seeker who denied all the worldly gains offered by the lord Yama in his third boon and sticks to his query, "what happens after death and what is the true nature of Atman".

Kathopanishad showers us with the unattainable heights of wisdom and insight. It is consisted of two chapters, each divided into three sections. The important points extracted from the first chapter are :

• The ABSOLUTE TRUTH is beyond time and has no simile to compare. It can only be indicated by parables or stories. So, the ABSOLUTE REALITY/TRUTH is indicated by the most popular story of Kathopanishad.
• Negative thinking is the biggest obstacle in the spiritual path. When we see something wrong around us, we generally respond in a negative manner. But when we respond in a negative manner, we're not constructive but become destructive in our life. We start developing a negative vision and start condemning and fault finding in everybody even in GOD. So, we must have unshakable faith that is 'shradha' in us to see something good in everything in life. Therefore, when we develop a positive attitude, then only we are walking in the spiritual path. 
• We should never advise elders. We have to have one place of absolute reverence wherein we can drop our intellect and stop arguments. Because it is the intellect that keeps us away from everybody. 
• There are three stages of mind under which work should not be done. When we're happy, never promise anything to anybody. When we're angry, never discuss anything with anybody. When we're confused never take any decisions. Anger destroys our peace, we should never function under anger. In the same way, Nachiketa's father did foolish act in his anger instead of understanding his son's advice for his own goodness.
• This human world is impermanent. We're not here for eternity. Man decays and dies like corn, and emerges again like corn. It is wise to keep one's own word and uphold one's truth. This was said by Nachiketa to his father when his father realized his mistake of giving his own son to the lord YAMA out of anger.
• We have to treat the father as God, we have to treat the Guru as God and we have to treat the guests as God. If this is not done, then whatever we expect to happen in our life will not happen, good activities will also go in vain and all our wealth will be destroyed.
• Address everybody respectfully. When we respect somebody, we are benefited, not the other person. Because it is our need.
• Nachiketa waited for three 'nights'. Night signifies ignorance and Day signifies wisdom. In night only, in ignorance only, the things go wrong. 
• We as children have our first duties towards our parents. A home is a home only when parents take care of children and children take care of Parents. There should be mutual understanding, mutual care and mutual love. Therefore, Nachiketa has fulfilled his first duty towards his father in his first boon.
• Anger does not come slowly but as an attack. In the fit of rage, Nachiketa's father had lost his son to Death. So, Nachiketa asked to YAMA for relieving his father's emotional pain in his first boon.
• Life must be duty-oriented, not right-oriented.
• Heaven is not a place but an experience of mind where six types of fear is totally absent.
• A real spiritual life is we have to lead a fearless life. And the spiritual practice for the fearless life is to rise above the body identification. We have to rise above the prana, we have to rise above the mind. Then we can start proper thinking and understanding. CONTD...

(From the Spiritual Discourse of Respected Swami Anubhavanand Saraswati)

A right goal makes life successful

Factors important to be noted for a successful life:

If you've right aim in right direction with proper planning in your life, if you're leading a purposeful life, then even if sometimes any weakness or distractions comes, attachments or indulgence comes, crisis or shortage comes, atleast a right aim is before you. 

• Determination : When a person lacks determination, a stage of ignorance creeps into him. He becomes insensible and inactive.  
• Reverence: When a person lacks reverence, he disrespects himself. Insolence and contempt bring idleness and stagnancy in him.
• Pessimism : Idleness and stagnancy engulf him in pessimism. Pessimism further produce cowardice, escapism and desertion. A long stage of escapism causes self-destructive attitudes and it makes the person irresponsible and thoughtless.
• Right goal, right direction and right planning : A person must have a right goal to live this life. People who don't have a right aim in right direction and a significant planning, they will not have proper conditions in life. They will face plight, abjection in their life.

From the excerpts of Swami Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj.

Translated by Pranati Saikia

Two important things for a healthy and happy life

Repression(Daman), Restrain(Nigrah) and Punishment(Tadan) alongwith nurturing of mind is equally important for a healthy life. Without these, people become interest-oriented and develop certain habits revolving around their interests. They started living their life only for certain tastes. Our mind often acts like a small child without any knowledge of propriety. We ought to reprimand it just like we chide and refrain a child to make it aware about right and wrong.  

Two things are very important in human life, these are repression (daman) and restrain (nigrah). People who don’t have these two things are always inclined towards interests. As a result, they develop certain habits and get prone to them. Such people live their life only for taste. In repression and restrain, we ought to censure, rebuke or resist ourselves just like we chide a small child for bad habits.

There are two likeable words for parents, nourishment and preservation (lalan-palan) but with these two words, there includes another word that is punishment (tadan) - to make aware and concious. While nurturing, if we don’t punish the child to make him concious and aware, the child will get spoiled. In the same way, it is needed to restrict our mind. Do we ever repress and restrain ourselves? Do we ever tell ourselves not to stride the respectable limits?

We must make ourselves concious and aware about the propriety, nobility and the code of conduct. Sometimes our mind behaves like a child, we ought to rebuke it, make it concious about the righteousness. There is a simple truth of life, who doesn’t have “Dharma”, he couldn’t have restrain in life.

From the excerpts of Swami Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj.

Translated by Pranati Saikia.

दो महत्वपूर्ण बातें सार्थक जीवन के लिए

जीवन में जिनके पास दो चीज़ें नहीं होती वो हमेशा रुचियों के पास खड़े मिलते हैं; ये दो चीज़े हैं दमन और निग्रह। जिनके जीवन में से शम और दम निकल गया है, जो निग्रह नहीं कर पाते हैं, वो जीवन मात्र रुचिओं के लिए जीते हैं। हम्हें ये बड़ा अच्छा लगता है.... निग्रह में डांटना पड़ता है जैसे छोटे बच्चे को डांटते है। कभी दमन किया है अपना ? कभी डाटा डपटा है अपने को ? 

लालन, पालन यह दो शब्द बड़े अच्छे लगते हैं लोगों को लेकिन तीसरा शब्द अच्छा नहीं लगता वो है ताड़न। एक बच्चे को कभी ताड़ा भी जाता है। लालन पालन करते करते अगर आपने ताडन नहीं किया है, कभी बताया नहीं यह नहीं करोगे आप। आपका मन भी तो कभी बच्चा बन जाता है। कभी अपने मन को बताया ये नहीं करोगे, ये नहीं कर सकते आप।  तो लालन पालन तो करते रहते हैं अपने मन का, ताडन नहीं करते, निग्रह नहीं करते, दमन नहीं करते। एक सीधी सीधी बात है जिसके पास धर्म नहीं है वो अंकुश नहीं रख सकता। 

दो चीज़े जिनके जीवन में नहीं होती वो रुचियों के पास रहते हैं; वो दो चीज़े हैं दमन और निग्रह। कभी दमन किया है अपना?

कभी डाटा डपटा है अपने को? कभी निग्रह किया है ? अगर दमन, निग्रह आपके पास नहीं है तो इसका अर्थ है आप रुचियों के पास हैं, मात्र टेस्ट के लिए जीवन जी रहे हैं। हम्हें ये बड़ा अच्छा लगता है.... 

जिनके जीवन में से शम दम निकल गया है, जो निग्रह नहीं कर पाते वो रुचियों के पास खड़े पाते हैं। निग्रह में डांटना पड़ता है जैसे छोटे बच्चे को डांटते है। दो शब्द बोहोत अच्छे लगते हैं लेकिन तीसरा नहीं अच्छा लगता; एक है लालन, दूसरा पालन और तीसरा है ताडन। एक बच्चे को कभी ताड़ा भी जाता है। लालन पालन करते करते अगर आपने ताडन नहीं किया है, कभी बताया नहीं यह नहीं करोगे आप.... उसी तरह क्या आपने कभी अपने मन को बताया ये नहीं करोगे, ये नहीं कर सकते आप। तो कितनी मात्रा में ताडन किया है अपना? कितनी मात्रा में निग्रह किया है अपना ? कितनी मात्रा में दमन किया है आपने अपना? कितनी मात्रा में वर्जनाओं का सम्मान किया है आपने? कितनी मात्राओं में आपने अपने को रोका है की यह बस, मर्यादाएं हैं, इसके आगे हम नहीं लांघ सकते। 

तो लालन पालन तो करते रहते हैं अपने मन का, ताडन नहीं करते, निग्रह नहीं करते, दमन नहीं करते। और एक सीधी सीधी बात है जिसके पास धर्म नहीं है वो अंकुश नहीं रख सकता। ये अंकुश एक ऐसा शब्द है जो हाथी को नियंत्रित करता है; हाथी को नियंत्रित करने के लिए उसके मर्मस्थल पर मारा जाएगा। हाथी के मस्तक पर एक ऐसी जगह होती है जहां वो बार बार ठोकर मारता रहता है, हाथी को दाएं बाएं ले जाने के लिए हाथी के मस्तक पर पैर मारा जाता है। ये महावत को ही पता होता है कौनसी जगह मारना होता है। पर वो लगभग एड़ी जितनी जगह होती है जहां दाएं-बाएं ऊपर-नीचे चोट मारी जाती है। और अगर तीन चार धमक लगादि है तो इसका मतलब है बैठ जा, बैठ जा। हाथी बैठ जायेगा। आपका मन का हाथी कब बैठेगा कभी चोट मारी एड़ी से? अगर आपका मन ऊठ की तरह है तो कभी नकेल डाली उसपे ?और मान लो मन घोड़ा हो तो कभी आपने उसपे वल्गाएं डाली हैं उसके मुँह में लगाम डाली हैं क्यूंकि घोरा लगाम से ठीक होता है ?  कभी आपका मन हाथी बन गया, तो कैसे ठीक करना है, आपका मन घोड़ा बन गया तो कैसे ठीक करना है, और मन ऊठ बन गया तो कैसे ठीक करना है और अगर मन बच्चा बन गया है तो कैसे ठीक करना है ?

स्वामी अवधेशानन्द गिरिजी महाराज के प्रवचन से...

By Pranati Saikia

Emotional Strength with a goal makes a Meaningful Life

At times, we think about the meaningfulness or significance of this life because sometimes, we feel that this life is significant, remarkable or divine. But sometimes, it seems to be worthless or meaningless. These are the feelings which come and go and affect some of us emotionally, mentally or psychologically at a deeper level. Actually this feeling of worthlessness is not related to life. This feeling will come even when we have the best, superior life. 

Hunger is the basis of all human requirements: The main reason behind the bothersome feeling of worthlessness is the 'hunger'. The foremost requirement of human life is to fulfill the hunger; the hunger of body; the hunger of mind; the hunger of 'Aatman'. Once the physical hunger or the hunger of stomach is fulfilled, man seeks to fulfill the mental hunger; when mental hunger is fulfilled, he seeks to fulfill his 'Aatmic' hunger or the innermost hunger of his spirit. Thus, all the grief, discontentment or dissatisfaction is to satisfy this never-ending 'hunger'

Fulfillment from worldly actions is always temporary: The fulfillment, the satisfaction that we receive from the worldly actions, is always momentary and transient. When we receive that momentary fulfillment and happiness; we think to do something more to be happy again. But when we do not receive any fulfillment or happiness in this fast moving life, we hardly have enough time and chance to sit and relax to think over what is bothering us. We are constantly running without thinking what we are doing? or what should we do?

The three 'gunas' or modes control all jivas and their emotions: Lord Krishna confirms the fact to Arjuna that the three gunas or modes of sattva (goodness), rajas (passion) and tamas (ignorance) are the three qualities that exist within all jivas. HE says," There is no one in the three lokas, Kaunteya, who does not have sometimes the feeling of 'Sattva' or goodness; Rajas or passion; Tamas or ignorance" . 

Different feelings under three gunas of Tamas (ignorance), Rajas (passion) and Sattva (goodness):
In the mode of Tamas means ignorance or darkness, this world appears not only beautiful to us but also we start expecting happiness and fulfillment from it, in whatever means, good or bad.
In the mode of Rajas means passion, human mind gets the burning desire of something different or more; and now this fire of desire has to be extinguished or doused. However, there is no darkness or ignorance in this mode. Human doesn't want to harm or hurt anyone...just want to derive the happiness. 

Then comes the stage of Sattva, in which man realizes nothing lies in the world; everything has already been done. Every happiness of this world--Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh, Ahankar--is tied in the same way; these gets momentarily satisfied and would be active again. So, in sattva, man attains the feeling of "Vairagya" or "non-attachment". The person who stays in the stage of "Sattvaguna", the life seems to him blissful as he attains the feeling of "Vairagya". One who does not have attained the feeling of "Vairagya" and thinks that he will live in this "Sansar" forever, and obtain all happiness from it is an 'ignorant' and 'unwise' person because happiness of this material world is just like a breeze coming for a short while.

The one who has emotional strength and some selfless goal leads a meaningful life:
The texture of this human life is interwoven with a basic thread in which every feeling or emotion is temporary. It will come and go. Whatever life you lead, the feeling of meaninglessness or worthlessness will come at some time but those who have some aim; some goal or living this life selflessly with the internal and emotional strength, that makes a meaningful, worthful life. It gives a peaceful sleep at night. Our heart contains peace only when we have given peace to some body's life; when we have brought smile on somebody's face and does something for somebody. This is the basic teaching of our Vedas.

Having some passion and challenging oneself constantly brings worthfulness spontaneously in life:
When life seems to be meaningless, just stop and take out a notepad; write what m I doing with my life. If you start doing something constructive in your life,  even in a small way like reading books, writing dairies, it will turn you inward. The child who has the habit of reading, can never be bored in life. He becomes matured very soon and never roam here and there for anybody's acceptance or company or love. That's why it is important to challenge yourself to overcome any boredom. When you're not bored, worthfulness and dignity comes spontaneously.

From the excerpts of OM SWAMI's discourse.
Translated by Pranati Saikia

Self-Restrain for a Stress-Free And Accomplished Life

We all desire to have a stress free life. We all pursue unceasing happiness in our life. Yet, we do not get a stress free life; do not get that eternal, everlasting happiness that we all aspire to. Because we need to understand that a permanent solution to attain that everlasting, eternal, happiness that could not be robbed off, that could not be destroyed, that could be maintained with simplicity; can be possible only through SPIRITUALITY. If we become spiritual in our perspective, in our attitude, we will become natural and unaffected free from pretension, artificiality and complexity. One who live life in a natural and flawless way, is the one who has achieved joy and abundance. If there is a strong desire for happiness and an exalted, elevated life, an aspiration for superiority and fulfillment in life; and wish to eliminate scarcity and any kind of diseases and illness, spirituality is the only possible and practical way. 

Spirituality means attain to one's own natural, flawless, perfect self: We suffer because we don't want to be natural. When we are unnatural, pretentious; we are uneasy and uncomfortable. When we become innocent and guileless, when we become child-like, no accomplishment is bigger than this. Make your life as simple as possible. Don't make it an unachievable dream like the peak of a mountain. Don't see dreams of an improbable or far-fetched life that seems to be impractical and contrived since 'to Fall' is easy but 'to Rise' is not easy. This world has many attractions to accumulate, to gather; to show oneself superior, to show one's achievements and to hanker for constant excel from others. These temptations astray us. No 'mantra' is needed to 'fall off', to become misled, to astray from our natural self. But if you walk and lead a simple natural way following a spiritual experiment with restrain on sense perceptions, you will reach the goal.

Temperance or self-restrain over Mind, Speech and Action is the Key to the beauty and joy of life:   Where lies the beauty and joy of life; the accomplishment of life? It is hidden in the exercise of temperance over the senses, it lies in the self-restrain, sobriety, pertinence, chastity...if you want to be dynamic, competent, accomplished; if you want to live life with utmost joy and happiness, then there is only one formula that is self-restrain. Learn to restrain your sense. Learn temperance over your senses. There are three superior restrains : over MIND, over SPEECH and over ACTION. When you practice restrain over speech, restrain over thoughts, restrain over action, you will get connected with a bigger COSMIC BLISS.

Speech must be your analysis, experience and carry respect towards others: Vedas says this life is too tough just like walking on the edge of a sword but at the same time, it also says a very beautiful thing that a self-restrained, austere and sober person can attain everything in life. Practicing restrain in speech, you must know how much to say and what to say. Your speech must be your analysis; your own experience. It must be limited, balanced, respectful and decent towards others. Your language must be adorned and graceful. It must be a mindful speech. Then our speech, our expression is a decisive, pivotal, conclusive and crucial dialogue. 

Think before you speak and do conscious thinking by introspection: Before speech and expression, one must practice temperance over thinking or moderation of thoughts. In other words, it must be a conscious thinking. Decide the direction of your thought process as it is said by a psychologist that when you decide the direction of your thinking, you will go on thinking in the same way and will be getting result in the same nature. Further, if you have worries, doubt, illusion, distress, frustration, irreverence, you would not be able to think appropriately. All these negative emotions, will only bring hopelessness, inactivity and lethargy. This lethargy would not allow creativity in you. You would not be able to do anything new. Your expression, your creativity, your thoughts, your imagination will be stale and rotten because you lack reverence, enthusiasm, exuberance towards life. Thus, think before you speak and that could be possible only through analysis and possible only in the company of great personalities. It could be happened only through introspection and self analysis. All this is possible only in the process of spirituality because only a spiritual person can think better. 

Exercising self-restrain brings time on your side and increases your defensive power against odds: The day you start exercising self-restraint, temperance, patience over mind, speech and action; time will be on your side and you will develop intensity and desire to make it valuable; to utilise it properly. When you practice restrain over your sense organs, you will save your time. As a consequence, you can utilise it for study, for contemplation, for writing, for developing good habits. The day you start exercising self-restrain, you will identify your self; you will get acquainted with your self. And the day you will get acquainted with self, you would try to make yourself fulfilled and perfect. Many times, people don't have defensive power to guard against the odds. When you have patience and temperance, your defensive power will increase. Any type of catastrophe or difficulty will not break you. One should practice good habits of writing and reading. This helps to develop an independent thinking, an independent discretion or consciousness. People who don't have independent consciousness, they remain impure always when get in touch with impurity. They will indulged only in the sorrow, they will only have complaints for others and life. Therefore, it is very important to have an independent thinking, consciousness.

From the excerpts of Swami Avdheshanand Giriji Maharaj.

Translated by Pranati Saikia.