Grades of Ananda Let us suppose that there is a young man: accomplished, educated, the most dynamic, steadfast and

d strongest of young men. Imagine someone who is young, whos open, honest, full of fun, well-educated, sensitive, alert, adjusted, healthy, strong, with all the comforts wealth can bring. Let us suppose that this whole earth is full of wealth for him. [Consider] that one [unit of] human happiness. A hundred of these [units of] human happiness amount to one [unit of] happiness for human gandharvas [celestial spirits], and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire. Take this as normal happiness. Much more intense is happiness of celebration, breaking free from personal conditioning that limits ordinary life. A hundred of these [units of] human gandharva happiness amount to one [unit of] happiness for divine gandharvas [celestial spirits], and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire. A hundred of these [units of] divine

gandharva happiness amount to one [unit of] happiness for the ancestors in their long-lasting worlds, and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire. A hundred of these [units of] the ancestors happiness amount to one [unit of] happiness for gods so born by birth, and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire A hundred of these [units of] the happiness of gods so born amount to one [unit of] happiness for those who have risen to be gods by work, and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire. A hundred of these [units of] the happiness of gods by work amount to one [unit of] happiness for the [higher] gods, and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire. A hundred of these [units of] the happiness of [higher] gods amount to one [unit of] happiness for Indra [chief of gods], and for one whos learned the sacred texts unaffected by desire..................................

It goes on and on and concludes thus. Brahma's ananda (happiness) is highest among mortals and Brahman's (SrimanNarayana's) ananda (happiness) is not calculable (limitless)

Gyan, Karma and Bhakti Yoga

August 25, 2010 Filed under Articles

Lord Krishna The Preacher of Gita

The GyanYog has been spelt by various writers as JnanaYog also. But Gyan Yoga appears to me the right translation of Knowledge in Hindi.

Karma is required to be done physically. So, all acts, requiring primarily physical execution are dealt in Karma Yog. Though Karma yog requires best mental function too, but here physical work is supreme. They are usually the rulers, fighters, sportsman etc.

The knowledge part, observation, investigation, inference, discussions, decisions, decision between right or wrong and all acts requiring primarily cerebral functions, are classified under Gyan (Jnana) Yog. They are the teachers and consultants.

Bhakti yog is happiness through emotions or limbic cortex and service. This relates to complete submission on the part of individual to anybody whom he thinks devoted to. He may be God as per persons own thinking or any individual the person finds devoted to. Here spirit of service is supreme rather than perfection in mental or physical activity.

Physically or mentally capable persons, in a position to do socially required tasks, doing their work in best possible way, working honestly, truthfully and with a service above self motive, are supposed to pursue Karma Yog or Gyan Yog. These two categories require highest degree of mental or physical perfection and responsibility. They are rulers and teachers in their sphere of activity.

Third category, I think is for personalities, who can not take to first two paths, because of age or other reasons. This category also provides peace and Moksha to persons who followed first two paths in their prime life and have now retired from these paths.

Three paths are intimately intermixed to generate various paths with varying percentage of each three. The three paths are suitable for different types of personalities or stages in life.

Moksha is probably the complete satisfaction after which there is no desire to know or achieve physically in life. As per Lord Krishna one can achieve Moksha in all three ways.

I will welcome readers wisdom to rectify my shortcomings in understanding facts of life.

Bhagavad Gita - Short And Straight

Categories: religious, spiritual

Have you read Bhagavad Gita - also known as Shrimad Bhagavad Gita? Positive answer is not much awaited and so this article - giving details in precise and shortest way. Just read every line and try to be with me in this story-telling. I am sure you will end-up with great surprises. BHAGAVAD GITA Here, Bhagavad means GOD and Gita is singing poetry.

The context of the story is a dialogue - conversation, taking place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra war between Lord Krishna (k a) and Pandava prince Arjuna.

In 18 chapters on different Yogas (Yoga is to train body and mind) having 700 verses (also called loka), Lord Krishna explains Arjuna his duties as a warrior and tells him different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies. Bhagavad Gita is part Hindu religious book - Mahabharat. Actually, the reason for such a long conversation is sadness/sorrow of Arjuna on seeing his brothers, close relatives and Gurus (teachers) on the other side of the battlefield on Kurukshetra. He asks Lord Krishna whether he was ready to kill his own relatives for greed of kingdom and happiness. With these introductory remarks, I shall highlight certain important issues discussed in all 18 chapters. 1. Arjuna asks Lord Krishna: What is better to forgo action or to act (Renunciation or discipline of action)? Krishna answers, both ways may be beneficent, but action (Karma) is superior of the two. (V) 2. Krishna reveals that he has lived many births for the PROTECTION of the pious and DESTRUCTION of the impious. He also stresses importance of accepting teacher (GURU). (IV) 3. Krishna tells the human traits of the divine and the demonic nature. He says to attain supreme destination one must give up lust, anger and greed , discern between right and wrong action by knowledge (Buddhi) and thus act correctly. (XII) Well, I want to tell you here about the central theme of Bhagvad Gita in three words: They are Gyan, Karma and Bhakti yogas. II. Gyan Yoga The second chapter of Gita tells about knowledge, the process of learning to discriminate between what is real and what is not. It is seeing with the eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body. Gyan (knowledge) gives us the process of liberation from bondage in material nature and attaining the supreme Goal. This is the path of knowledge. III. Karma Yoga Karma is doing ones duty physical work or say, action. Nobody can live without doing some type of work at any time of life, because we possess inherited genetic desire to do one or other work. Krishna tells I have neither anything to gain nor any work pending, still I continue doing work, because I know whatever leaders do others follow. To action alone, you have right and never to its fruits. Work and work abandoning attachment to success or failure. XII. Bhakti Yoga It is loving devotion to God being easiest and the highest path to salvation. Devotion, meditation and worship are essential elements of Bhakti. Worship God with full faith with inner-self abiding in God.

Setting aside all meritorious deeds, Just SURRENDER completely to my will (with full faith and loving contemplation), God promises, I shall liberate you from all the sins. IF you are still with me, you may want to know the summary. I will conclude telling the teachings of this book as: Be WITNESS (Sakshibhav) to all you do as if you are a distant observer watching the event. Be a spectator of the result of all you do without being attached to any. What is superior? Bhakti (devotion), Gyan (knowledge) or Karma (action)? When you act with appropriate knowledge, devotion is the best. Have you thought differently? That is better.