Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission Year 17 Issue 4

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In This Issue

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Vedanta Section: Letter Section: Festival Related: Story Section: VM Programs:

Atma Bodha - Shloka-35 Why God gives us Free-Will Diwali Bhasmasura Mission / Ashram Progs

From Poojya Guruji

Vedanta Sandesh
Spreading Love & Light

Hari om! Kathopanishad (6th Valli) reveals an example of a Tree to symbolize our transmigratory samsaric existence. So beautiful is this example of a tree that even Gitacharya took this example from its motherly Upanishad to reveal the symbolism. It is worthy of deep contemplation. Samsar is a technical word, which means a life of endless seeking. Everyone is seeking something, in fact seeking it desperately and strangely, endlessly. The whole life ends yet most of the time the seeking continues till the very end. Not able to seek what we seem to want inevitably brings grief, tears & heartbreaks; while others are temporarily elated for having achieved some of their dreams. Even those who seem to have achieved something, are not really free, but now have to put their energies to hold on or hang on to all what they have aggrandized. The truth of their so called achievements is revealed the moment something happens to all that which they were holding on. It will obviously be the same old chapter of grief, tears & heartbreaks. Ask the people who had to leave their homes, lands & property whenever there are things like war or even partitions of country. So in spite of any worldly achievements our deep-rooted lack and the subsequent seeking doesnt seem to end. Real achievement is never in generating wealth, power, name or fame etc., and then holdingon to all that, it has to be to awake to the state wherein there is freedom from the deeprooted lack, and thus the very necessity of having to hold-on to anything whatsoever. That alone is true freedom & wisdom. Everyone basically wants that kind of freedom, but not knowing what they want and how they have to go about, they get entangled in a web of their own making. This is the secret of the tree of samsar. Tree of Samsar is a graphic presentation of the life of endless seeking. How our ignorance and the subsequent misplaced priorities get us entangled. Branch after branch the life keeps getting complicated. That is the secret and objective of the Tree of Samsar as revealed in the Upanishads & Gita. In this example of the Tree, the Upanishad says that broadly speaking there are two parts of this tree. One visible and the other invisible. The visible part is the stem upwards portion, comprising of branches, leaves, flowers, seeds & fruits; while the invisible part is its roots. The tree is an example of blessings, it blesses the humans, birds, animals or the environs by its very existence and its various products. While this visible part of the tree is beautiful and also of great utility, yet that because of which the tree can exist is that which is not directly visible to our eyes, the roots. Deeper the roots, more steady the tree. Tree gets all its nourishment from its roots. Roots alone helps it to stand the storms or even the scorching heat etc. So also there is a visible part of our existence - our work, relationships, acquisitions, enjoyments, etc. There is this beautiful world outside with all its attractions; and there is another aspect of - our Self, the blissful conscious existence. Then there is the play of our mind & intellect. This invisible aspect is indeed comparable to the roots. This alone makes our existence possible, it alone sustains us. This is the real thing. Anyone who focuses only on the visible part continues to seek endlessly, while one who delves deep into the roots. To turn towards branches etc is extrovertedness, while to put our energy to understand the roots is introvertedness. The Upanishad clearly calls the roots Brahman, the timeless truth and the visible part comparable to Maya, which is no doubt blessed, but all illusory. Love & om,

Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission

Sharing the message of Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma

Oct 2011
On the Net since 1995

Started by:

Poojya Guruji Sri Swami Atmanandaji

Editor:

Swamini Samatananda

Published from:

Vedanta Ashram E/2948-50, Sudama Nagar Indore-452 009, India

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Swami Atmananda

Atma Bodha - Shloka 35

Vedanta Section

Affirmation of Atma as Brahman

In the previous sloka the Acharya gave some pointers for nididhyasanam that I am without attributes and actions, without any desire and thought, without any dirt, without any change, without form, ever-liberated and ever-pure. After Sravanam and Mananam, the Nidhidhyasanam process ensures our total identification with our real Self, the Atma (or, the Brahman) and its innate, intrinsic Nature. This process is taken up not as some one who is trying to look at Atma and its nature as an outsider, but as one who is himself the Atma (or, Brahm. These pointers for nididhyasanam are propounded to bring about the brahmakar vritti. This Meditation is, on the Meditator himself. In the following sloka too the Acharya continues to give us some more pointers for contemplation.

35
Ahamakashvatsarvam bahirantargatochutah Sada sarvasamashuddho nisango nirmalochalah
Aham: I; akashvat: like the sky; sarvam: all; bahirantargato: pervading inside & outside; achutah: unfaltering; Sada: always; sarvasamah: even-balanced everywhere; shuddho: pure; nissango: unattached; nirmalo: pure; achalah: steady. Like ether I pervade everything inside and outside. I am unfaltering, always harmonious everywhere, eternal, unattached, pure and steady. Ahamakashvatsarvam: Like ether I pervade everything. Space is that which gives sustainance to all. It is space that allows everything to rest in it. It sustains everything and also pervades everything. Although shruti uses the words that space is inside & outside yet from the point of view of space there is no discrimination of inside or outside. It is from from the point of view of adjuncts that space is known as inside - outside or the space of the pot, space of the room etc. but truly space is one. Likewise I am also all pervading.There are no differences of inside & outside in Brahman. It is only due to the ignorance of the non-dual and all pervading self that duality gains a sense of reality.
Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Bahirantargatochutah: The Atman is the one that does not falter from its very nature. Just as heat can never falter from its very nature of being hot so too the Atman never falters fom its essential nature of ever existence, consciousness and bliss. The real self does not fall into the likes of samsara. It is the Jiva who out of ignorance comes to see himself as a limited being , a seeker always on the look out for bliss from the outside world thus falling lower and lower in the sense of individuality. Therefore changes, birth &death, happiness and sorrow, being small or big all these are the attributes of the Jiva, the individual. The Atman is unfaltering in nature.

Sada sarvasamashuddho: I am Sadaa Sarva Samaha: I pervade one and all in the same manner. I exist everywhere and equally in all (Sarva), and at all times (Sadaa). All the embodiments may have differences based on their attributes and actions, but I envelope everyone in the same manner. I have no differences based on any mundane distinctions like caste, religion, sex, status and so on. I am like the sunshine which pervades one and all in the same manner be it the water in the Ganges or the water of the drainage. Shuddho: Like the sky I am ever pure by nature. No matter how much pollution is there around but the sky is totally untouched by any impurities. I am even free of the impurity of ignorance and the samsara born of ignorance. Any kind of impurities in the personality are at the level of the mind and it is the mind alone which is purified as a preparation for this knowledge. The Atman is untouched by any such impurities. Nissango Nirmalochalah: Nissango: I am not related to, not connected to, and not attached to any one or any thing in the creation. I adorn different roles as father, son, husband, daughter, officer etc, but these are my dresses according o my relationships and my field of work. All my roles are relative in nature and change with changing situations and time. In front of my child I am a father an in front of my wife I am a husband. These roles change with people and situations. They are limited in time and pace. But essentially I am like that lamp which lights up the stage in and through all situations and people as each one performs their role, and comes and goes. The Atman enlivens all activities and is present as a silent witness to all activities and even after the show is over. The Atman does not get affected by the highs and

lows of the drama. Nirmalah: I am nirmalah i.e. I am free of any impurities in the mind born out of ignorance. Although we see a no of Impurities in our minds, these impurities are not the basic nature of the Self, they are conditional in nature, they exist due to some relative conditionings that bring about such impurities like personal likes and dislikes, self-centredness, anger, etc. Impurities are negative impressions on the mind. Even though such impurities are experienced these impurities are due to some factors and limitations of the mind, & of the environment etc. But basically I am pure and uncontaminated. Hence there is a possibility of awakening in the pure nature of the self. The impurities of the mind are eradicated by purification of the mind through selfless service, devotion and satsang. Achalah: Nothing has the pottential to shake me from my basic nature of sat chit and ananda. No relationshipn no experience can shake me and ignorance too cannot bind me. Everything in the objective world comes and goes. People around me are born and they also die. They undergo the travails of Samsaara. The body is undergoing all changes like old age, diseases and so on. But I the basic self remain unshaken and unmoved.. Even the most difficult situations cannot shake me. In this manner I am all pervading like the space, pure, detached, immaculate, and steady. The scriptures go one step ahead in the example of the sky to say that the space too is inert and a play of maya. The existence of space also depends on me. When I am in deep sleep state space does not exist. By contemplation on these pointers one should negate all that which is the Non-Self and awaken into the Real nature of the Self thereby being liberated of all sense of limitation and duality and culminate in the vision of one non-dual existence.

Sanyas Deeksha Day of Poojya Guruji - 10th Oct

Pujya Guruji Sri Swami Atmananda Saraswatiji was given Sanyas on 10th of Oct 1988 at Sidhbari by Param Poojya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji. Special Programs will be organized on that day at the Vedanta Ashram, Indore.
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Sand and Stone

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE." They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE." The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?" The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE

Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Letter of the Month

Why God gives Free-Will?

Hari Om. Hope all is well with you.

Knowledge is all about being aware of the truth of what is, while Yoga and Bhakti aim to change the mind for Our free-will is the better, so to be used to first, technically they fall help us untangle in the category of ourselves from the karma, working to change something. misuse of our own For knowledge even free-will, and then a sankalpa to awake to the real change anything is truth. an impediment, - Poojya Guruji because then our priorities change from knowing what is to working for what should be. - Poojya Guruji

Thanks for your mail. We had been busy with a Janmashtami and then a 15 days camp at the Ashram wherein we took up a course on Tattva Bodha. Devotees had come from Lucknow for this course. Along with the study on Tattva Bodha there were also sessions on meditation, bhajans and Q&A. 1. The answer to your first qtn i.e. Why does God give us free will? - God gives us a free will to enable & empower us to properly realize & awake to 'God' - the ultimate & timeless truth, and then live a godly life. Not knowing this we have mis-used our free-will for various superficial worldly matters, and with our mis-placed perceptions & priorities we have got entangled in a web - of our own making. So as of today our free-will is to be used to first, help us untangle ourselves from the misuse of our own free-will, and then awake to the real truth. 2- In the beginning was God and it is said that 'I seperated myself from myself in order to love myself'...and so mankind was created but why did that happen ie could God not simply be and love Himself? - The quote referred by you is simply a proposition by someone, and is not a valid scriptural statement. Always take the words of scriptures as the valid means of the knowledge of truth, because they are the words of God himself. The state of Godhood is revealed by Upanishads as a non-dual, unfragmented state of 'self-effulgent & blissful be-ing' itself, wherein God or any awakened ones just revel in their infinite, nondual, all-pervasive & blissful 'being'. The perceived fragmentation is illusory and more dream-like. The perceived 'separation' exists as long as you dont go into the truth of 'I'. Blessings & Best Wishes Swamiji

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Traditionally Dipawali or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a part of a Five Days Festival Package. Each of these five days is celebrated for a specific purpose, and in a specific way. This starts two days before Diwali and continue till two days after Diwali. As per the Hindu Calendar this is from the teras of Kartika Krishna Paksha, and continues till the Dwitiya of Kartika Shukla Paksha. The thirteenth day of the month of Kartika in its Krishna Paksha is today famous as Dhan Teras. Today this Teras is mostly known for buying new utensils, ornaments or some new equipment etc. but this day had lots of different significances. The thirteenth day (in Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika, had a special significance right from Vedic times. In that era, this day was celebrated as the day when our Pitras (forefathers), who come to visit their progeny in this Loka during Mahalaya (Sraadha time), are taken back to their Pitra Loka by Lord Yama, who is also the king of Pitra Loka. As a respect for Lord Yama, a lamp is lit and kept in front of our houses, on this day. On this day Sage Dhanvantari manifested and gave the humanity the wisdom of Ayurveda. Thus this day is also celebrated as the Dhanvantari Jayanti. The fourteenth day (Krishna Paksha) of the month of Kartika is today better known as Narak-Chaudas or even Rupa Chaudas. 1.On this day too there was tradition of the worship of Lord Yama, and farewell rituals for our forefathers.On this day too a lamp is lit and kept in front of our door for Lord Yama. 2.It is also said that on this day, early in the morning, Goddess Laxmi comes and resides in oil, and Gangaji comes and resides in water. So one should get up early in the morning and have a good oil massage, and then have a royal hot water bath. Whoever does this is blessed with the grace of Laxmiji and Gangaji by financial prosperity and good knowledge. 3.On this day Lord Krishna killed a great terrorist of his times, Narakasura, the King of Pragjyotish (Kamarupa). So this day is celebrated as the one which epitomisis the victory of goodness over evil. The Amavasya day of the month of Kartika is the Diwali or Deepavali day- the famous Festival of Lights. 1.As a continuity of the worship of Lord Yama and farewell ritual for ones forefathers, this day was celebrated as the final day for the above purpose. 2.This day came to be known for a special Laxmi Puja. After the monsoon and the lush crops the predominantly agrarian society celebrated this day for the grace of the Goddess of Wealth.

Vedanta Sandesh April 2009 Vedanta Sandesh - -Oct 2011

Deepawali

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3.On this day alone Lord Rama came back to Ayodhya after the fourteen years of Vanavasa. So the embodiment of Dharma, who had shown to the world so explicitly that the real strength was in living a righteous life (Yato Dharmah Tato Jayah), was welcomed by the people of Ayodhya in a grand way. However strong the evil is, it will finally be defeated and righteousness shall prevail. 4.There is another important event associated with this day. The great Maharaja Bali, who was a great & righteous king of his times, and for whom Lord Vishnu himself descended in the form of Vaman. When the young brahmachari asked for three steps of land from the king, and which he finally could not give, then Lord manifested in his true form and sent the king to Patala for three days. He was in fact made the King of Patala for 3 days, and it was during this time that he went to Patala to become its King. So all people who revered that righteous king do Deepa Dana for these three days, from Chaudas to Pratipada. Note : Please remember that we always revere Nature or Prakriti, as Lords manifestation, so there should always be necessary sensitivity to avoid bringing about pollution, and desist making the decoration of your house and exploding of crackers etc an exercise in one-up-manship. Dharma should never be used for egotrips. Such lack of viveka will take away all the beauty of any celebration, and will ultimately make these festivals an instrument to harm & spoil the nature. Let us always keep the nature clean & beautiful, and pass on a worthy world to our children. On Pratipada & Dwitiya lamps are lit and festivities continue. On the last day sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers.

Smile :)
A smile costs nothing, but gives muchIt takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever. None are so rich that can get along without itAnd none are so poor but that can be made rich by it. It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who giveIt creates sunshine in the home, Fosters good will in business, And is the best antidote for troubleAnd yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no value. Unless it is given away. Some people are too busy to give you a smileGive them one of yoursFor the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badly As he or she who has no more smiles left to give.
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Heart Prints
Whatever our hands touch...we leave fingerprints on. On walls, on furniture, on door knobs, dishes and books. As we touch we leave our identity.. Oh please where ever I go today... help me leave heart prints. Heart prints of compassion, understanding and love. Heart prints of kindness and genuine concern. May my heart touch a lonely neighbor... or a runaway daughter... or an anxious mother... or perhaps a dear friend! I shall go out today... to leave heart prints... and if some one should say... "I felt your touch

Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Stories by Sages

The Story of Bhasmasura

There is a very famous and suggestive story of a Asura (demon) called Bhasmasura. He was very ambitious person, and wanted great powers, specially to destroy anyone he wanted - by hook or crook. He worked very hard for it too, performed severe austerities, and appeased Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became happy to see his dedication and intensity of his wish, and asked him what he wished for. He requested for a boon wherein anyone will be turned to ashes (bhasma) the moment he kept his hand on their head. Even though Lord Shiva was surprised to hear such a strange and negative wish, yet hoping that the devotee will use the boon for some good cause, he granted the boon. The fellow was highly elated at getting this fantastic power, and he started dreaming of conquering everyone. No one could stand in his way now to rule the world, no matter who the opponent was, they could be destroyed in a second. He had already dreamt about the various consequences of this boon so much that his joys knew no bounds, and in this elation he lost all sense of discrimination & sense. It was too good to be true for him, so a doubt too become obvious. He wondered whether Lord Shiva has really granted him this boon. He wanted to test, and as no one else was around, he thought why now try the boon on Lord Shiva himself. The deluded ungracious fool started walking towards Lord Shiva, who was indeed surprised. He knew the power of his boon, and he is now the one who gives a boon at one moment and then takes it back the next moment. Anyway the fellow wanted to know whether the boon has really been given, so he turned and started walking away, and to his surprise this Bhasmasura (named after the boon) started coming after Lord Shiva with a sly smile of a conqueror. Lord started running and he also ran after him. However, Lord Shiva ran very fast and went over to Lord Vishnu and told him the whole story and asked for his help to handle this nuisance. Lord Vishnu assured Shivji that he will sort out the matter. He will use the power of Bhasmasura against him. Man alone can become his greatest enemy, and he alone can become his greatest friend too. Just as a huge elephant is tamed by the intellect of man, so also such thoughtless ferocious demons needed to be handled intelligently rather than by brute force. Lord Vishnu took a form of a very beautiful angelic damsel and came near the asura. He was taken back by this extraordinary beauty and got attracted to her. Lord Vishnu as Mohini started seducing Bhasmasura, and as expected he fell for this beautiful damsel. Bhasmasura thought that today his luck is right on the top and he is getting the best things he can dream of. The running of Lord Shiva, had confirmed to him that he had indeed been given the boon, so now there was some complacency about the boon, specially when there was someone like Lord Vishnu himself seducing him. So much so that he shortly proposed to her. Lord Vishnu as Mohini said that for her to accept his invitation, he will have to dance with her. Bhasmasura accepted and started dancing with the woman. While dancing, the woman kept her hand over head, Bhasmasura - lost in the intoxication of extreme power and lust, in an attempt to copy her, kept his hand over his own head and lo, he himself got burned and that very moment turned to ashes. The boon did not even last a day.

n upo e Onc me ... a ti

Vedanta Sandesh - April 2009

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Sept11 VM / VA Programs

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Vedanta Mission / Ashram Programs

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Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

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Check out the detailed Photo Albums of the various functions on VM News Blog at : http://vmissionews.blogspot.com/

Sept11 VM / VA Programs

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Wise Words Whatever Gods dream about man may be, it seems certain it cannot come true unless man cooperates

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else

Having a dream is what keeps you alive. Overcoming the challenges make life worth living.

The man who has nothing to boast of but his illustrious ancestry is like the potato -the best part under ground.

Vedanta Sandesh - Oct 2011

Forthcoming Programs

Discourses at Vedanta Ashram, Indore:

Poojya Guruji Swami Atmanandaji is regularly giving discourses on the sixth & last section of Kathopanishad. Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will start her discourses on the 1st Valli of the 2nd Chapter of Kathopanishad for the Elder Citizen Group at the Ashram. From 4th Oct,

Gita Jayanti Celebrations, Indore:

This year the Gita Jayanti is on the 6th of Dec. Every year there are mega celebrations of Gita Jayanti at Indore, in which the Mahatmas of Vedanta Ashram too participate actively. There will be talks at Agrasen Dham, Gita Bhavan and also program at Vedanta Ashram.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai:

Poojya Guruji visits Mumbai twice every year for conducting a Gyana Yagna. This year also he plans to visit Mumbai from 19th to 25nd Dec. The subject matter of the discourse series will be Gita Chapter 5, and the 1st Valli of the 2nd Chapter of Kathopanishad (Starting with Paranchikhani mantra). The inauguration will be on the evening of 19th Dec and the conclusion on 25th evening.

Sadhana Camp-1, Indore:

A five days Sadhana Camp at Vedanta Ashram will be organized next year from 21st to 25th Jan 2012. Delegates can arrive on 20th evening and leave on 26th. The subject matter of the discourses will be Drg-Dryshya Viveka and Gita Chapter 15.

Sadhana Camp-2, Indore:

A Sadhana Camp prior to Mahashivratri will be organized at Vedanta Ashram, Indore from 15th to 20th Feb 2012. The campers should arrive by 14th and leave after Mahashivratri celebrations on 21st Feb. The subject matter of the discourses will be Drg-Dryshya Viveka and Gita Chapter 15.

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= == = = == t == == g e n = = == U r === = == = == = Appeal for Funds: Project Lift at Vedanta Ashram ==

Old age is a bane. The age of our parents & grandparents. Restricted movement is inevitable. Thus in places where all such people go for spiritual solace & knowledge, some basic amenities become a great necessity. That is what we have been experiencing at Vedanta Ashram. Many of our disciples, devotees, and visitors cannot avail the facilities on top floors, so it was decided by the Ashram authorities to install an elevator at the earliest. The Project Lift was finally taken up after all the study & evaluations, and the work was formally started during the Ganesh Parva - in Sept. It has been decided to appeal to all the people who care for such matters to contribute their vee-bit to make this project possible. Help in such matter is the least we can do for those who lovingly picked us up in our childhood to help us climb to places where we could not. Ashram is a public place for all such people, young or old. The project will cost around a minimum of Rs.15 lakhs (Around 30K USD). We need urgent help to complete such a public utility project run by a NGO. Please donate liberally, for all such handicapped people, or maybe in the loving memory of your parents etc, for the benefit of all such disabled people. Remember you also will become disabled & handicapped one day. The scriptures too prompts us to do daan, charity - regularly & liberally. It is a sin just to live for oneself. Vedanta Parmarthic Sewa Trust is a registered charitable Public Trust. Donations to Trust are exempt under section 80-G of IT Act of India. Please contact us at the earliest. We have already jumped into the project, with the belief that there will be enough people to get us through. You can donate by using your credit / debit cards, paypal, cash, cheques or even online transfers directly in our Bank Account. Please contact us with whatever you can & wish to donate for such a social & cultural cause. Just drop us a mail and we will immediately revert back. Every drop counts. Blessings & Best Wishes, Swami Atmananda Managing Trustee, Vedanta Parmarthic Sewa Trust

(vmission-at-gmail.com)

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Om Tat Sat