Monday, September 24, 2012

Grasping at Views

Do not form views in the world through either knowledge, virtuous conduct, or religious observances; likewise, avoid thinking of oneself as being either superior, inferior, or equal to others. The wise let go of the “self” and being free of attachments they depend not on knowledge. Nor do they dispute opinions or settle into any view. For those who have no wishes for either extremes of becoming or non-becoming, here or in another existence, there is no settling into the views held by others. Nor do they form the least notion in regard to views seen, heard, or thought out. How could one influence those wise ones who do not grasp at any views.

Buddha-from the Sutta nipata

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Meditation - Ramana Maharshi


"Meditation is, truly speaking, Atmanishta (to be fixed as the Self). But when thoughts cross the mind and an effort is made to eliminate them, the effort is usually termed meditation. Atmanishta is your real nature. Remain as you are. That is the aim."

"The state of Atmanishta (being fixed in the Self), devoid of the individual feeling of 'I', is the supreme state. In this state there is no room for thinking of objects, nor for this feeling of individual being. There is no doubt of any kind in this natural state of being-consciousness-bliss (sat-chit-ananda)."

"What does it matter if ever so many thoughts arise? At the very moment that each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires 'To whom did this appear?' it will be known 'To me'. If one then enquires 'Who am I?' the mind will turn back to its source and the thought that had arisen will also subside. By repeatedly practising in this way, the mind will increasingly acquire the power to abide at its source.

 When the mind, which is subtle, is externalised via the brain and the sense organs, names and forms, which are material, appear. When it abides in the Heart, names and forms disappear. Keeping the mind in the Heart, not allowing it to go out, is called 'turning towards the Self' (ahamukham) or 'facing inwards'. 

Allowing it to go out from the Heart is termed 'facing outwards' (bahirmukham). When the mind abides in the Heart in this way, the 'I', the root of all thoughts, vanishes. Having vanished, the ever-existing Self alone will shine. The state where not even the slightest trace of the thought 'I' remains is alone swarupa (one's true nature; the Self)."

Ramana Maharshi (1879 - 1950)

http://anthonyduartmaclean.blogspot.com/2011/03/self-enquiry-in-words-of-ramana.html


Yes, all kinds of thoughts arise in meditation. It is but right. What lies hidden in you is brought out. Unless they rise up how can they be destroyed? They therefore rise up spontaneously in order to be extinguished in due course, thus to strengthen the mind.

~ Sri Ramana Maharshi (from "Talk 310")




Monday, September 17, 2012

Dhruva Sthuthi
(Prayer of Dhruva)

(This great prayer occurs in ninth chapter of fourth Dasakam (Slokas 6-17) of the Maha Bhagawatha Purana.

1.Yontha pravisya mama vacham imam prasuptham ,
SAjeevathyakhila Shakthi dhara swadhamna,
Anyamscha hastha charanasrvana thwa gadheen,
Pranan namo bhagawathe purushaya thubhyam,

I salute the glorious God who is the Purusha,
Who has entered within me and made me speak,
While I was not in a position to speak all along,
And by entering with in me awakened,
My hands, feet , ears, sense of touch and so on.

2.Yekasthvameva Bhagwan nidham athma shakthya,
Mayakhyayoru gunaya mahaddhya sesham ,
Srushtanuvisaya purushasdad guneshu,
Naneva dharushu vibhava suvadvibhasi.

Though you are the one who by use of the power of the soul.,
Through Maya expressed through the three gunas,
Have evolved the great principle of cosmic intelligence,
Thus creating and entering in to the diverse forms,
You appear as many , like the fire appearing,
Diverse when it burns in different pieces of wood.

3.Thwad dathaya vayuna yedhamachasta viswam,
Suptha prabuddha iva nadha bhavad prapanna,
Thasyapa vargya saranam thava pada moolam
Vismaryathe krutha vidha kadam aartha bandho.

Due to the power of vision that was given by you,
Lord Brahma saw the universe as the one who woke up from sleep,
Oh friend of those who are suffering , how can one forget ,
Your feet which is the resort of even the most liberated souls.

4.Noonam vimushta mathya sthava maayaya they,
Ye thwam bhavapya vimokshanam anya hetho,
Archanthi kalpaka tharum kuna popa bhogyam,
Icchanthi yath sprasajam nisayai api nrunaam.

Now there are some people who worships you,
Whose mind is completely covered by illusion,
And instead of wishing for deliverance from birth and death,
They worship you , who is like a wish giving tree,
For other purposes like the material pleasures,
Which can be even received in the dark hell.

5.Taa nivruthis thanu abhrathaam thava pada pathma,
Dhyanad bhava Jnana katha sravanena vaa syaath,
Sa brahmani swa mahiminyapi nadhaa maa bhooth,
Kim thvanth akaas uilulithath pathathamm vimanath.

The bliss that the beings get through meditation of your lotus feet,
And that got by listening to the wise stories about you , by the devotees,
Is not equal to the direct experience of Brahman, , Oh my lord,
And so how can it be enjoyed by those who are hurled,
From their aerial cars by the sword of death.

6.Bhakthim muhu pravaha thathaam thwayi may prasango,
Bhooyad anantha mahathaam amala sayaanaam,
Yenagna solbana muruvyasanam bhavabdheem,
Neshye bhavad guna kathamrutha pana mathaa.

Oh God who is infinite , let me enjoy the company ,
Of the great devotees of yours who have a pure heart,
So that with their help, I can cross the ocean of birth and death,
By becoming intoxicated by hearing your nectar like stories.

7.Thena samanyathitharaam priyam isha marthyam,
Ye chaanvada sutha suhrud graham vitha dhaaraa,
Ye thwabhja nabha bhavadheeyada aravinda,
Sougandha lubdha hrudayeshu krutha prasangaa.

Those of the men who have made friendship with,
Those whose heart is captivated with
The fragrance of your lotus like feet,
Oh Lord from whose navel a lotus flower had grown,
Would not be bothered either with themselves,
Or with their dear wives, sons , home and friends

8.Tiryang naga dvija sarisrapa deva daithya ,
Marthyadhibhi,parichitham sadasad visesham,
Roopam sthavishtamaja they mahad adhyanekam,
Natha param parama vedhmi na yathra vaad.

Oh birth less one , I only know the great form of yours,
Which is the world of animals, mountains, trees birds,
Reptiles , gods, demons and also humans,
And consisting of the gross as well as the subtle,
Which are brought out by several differing causes,
Though I am not able to know that which is beyond words.

9.Kalpantha yethad akhilam Jatarena graham,
Sethe pumaan swadrug anantha sakhasthadhanke,
Yannabhi Sindhu ruha kanchana loka Padma garbhe,
Dhyumaan bhagawathe pranathosmi thasmai.

At the end of the eons at the time of the deluge,
You are that supreme person who reposes with no one,
Except Lord Anantha beside you and absorbing ,
The entire universe in to your stomach , and lay ,
In the pose of the yogic sleep and from your ,
Navel rises the golden lotus from which Lord Brahma comes out.,
And I bow to you in salutation ,Oh my Lord.

10.Thvam nithya muktha , parisuddha , vibuddha aathma,
Kootastha aadhi purusho bhagawan thryadheesa,
Yad buddhya avasthithi makhandithaya , swadrushtaya,
Drushtaa sthithava adhimkho vyathiriktha aasse.

You are always liberated , pure and all knowing soul,
You are immutable and primeval person, the god ,
And the god who is the Lord of all the three Gunas,
You have unobstructed vision of different states of mind,
And you appear as Lord Vishnu who takes care ,
And you are very much different from the individual soul.

11.Yasmin virudha gathayo hyanisam pathanthi,
Vidhyadhayo vividha shakthaya anupoorvayath,
Thadruhaa viswa bhavameka manantha maadhyam,
Ananda mathra vikaramaham prapadhye,

You are the fine mixture of opposite qualities,
And in you the powers like knowledge ,
Appear in unbroken succession and you are,
The cause of this universe which is indivisible,
Without any end and without any beginning,
And which is only bliss and I take refuge in you.

12.Sathya seersho hi Bhagwan sthava Pada Padma,
Seesthadhaanu bhajatha purushartha moorthe,
Apyeva marya Bhagwan paripathi dheenaan,
Vaasreva vathsaka manugraham katharosmaan.

Oh God who is the personification of truth , the worshipping,
Of your lotus like feet is the true blessing ,
Oh God who controls the duties and blessings of life,
Oh God , You look after the down trodden,
Like a cow nourishes its calf and bless them..

Friday, September 7, 2012

SAINT SADASHIVA BRAHMENDRA SARASWATI



With hope dispirited, (but)silence(maintained), Decorated by desirelessness, (but)Peace(maintained) Begging only a handful food, (but) stationed At the foot of a tree, A Sage wins (emancipation)

Attaining the state of Sthitaprajna is the aim of human life on this earth as stated in the Bhagawad Geeta. Who is a Sthitaprajna?

Sadashiva Brahmendral comes out with a simple answer to this question raised in our minds. He classifies the eight prime qualities of a Sthitaprajna and says a Sthitaprajna is one who has the eight nivruttis

1. Jijnasa Nivrutti - Has no inclination to know or learn anything new.
2. Jihasa Nivrutti- Has nothing to get rid off like anger, sleep etc.
3. Prepsa Nivrutti - Has nothing to attain or even inclination to attain like Svarga etc.
4. Cikitsa nivrutti - Has nothing new to do or reform in this world.
5. Shoka Nivrutti - Has transcended sufferring.
6. Bhaya Nivrutti - Has no fear.
7. Sarva Sankalpa Nivrutti -  Has no mental formations based on Name and Form.
8. Sarva Dwaita Nivrutti - Has no dualistic perceptions

He is immersed in such a sense of completeness, bliss, immanence and truth that he crosses the ocean of vruttis (Nivrutti) and is Sat-Cit-Aananda. The greatness of saints cannot be easily grasped or perceived by human beings. Such is their greatness that we fail to understand them fully even if we try hard a life time. However they, out of their compassion of a mother to a child, not only guide us in all our endeavors but also help us evolve spiritually. One such saint is Sadashiva Brahmendral of Southern India.



He is the author of several Sanskrit works including Advaita rasa manjari, Brahma tattva prakaashikaa and Yoga sudhaakara. He also wrote several Carnatic compositions to spread the advaita philosophy among common people. His compositions are quite popular and can be heard frequently in Carnatic concerts. Some of these are Bhaja Raghuviram (raga Mohanam), Bhajare Gopalam (Hindolam), Manasa Sancharare (Sama), Sarvam Brahmamayam(Madhuvanti), and Pibare Ramarasam (Ahir bhairav).