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साधना शब्द अर्थ से परे (Sadhana is Free from Meaning)

Rishichintan — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:42:51 +0000

साधना शब्द अर्थ से परे

‘साधना’ शब्द अपने आप में कोई अर्थ नहीं रखता | हमने उसमें अपना अर्थ आरोपित कर दिया है, यह अलग बात है | लेकिन शुद्ध रूप में साधना शब्द अर्थ से परे है | अर्थ उसमें तब आता है, जब कोई लक्ष्य, उद्देश्य, क्रिया प्रकट होती है | एक आध्यात्मिक संत की क्रिया भी साधना है और विज्ञान के अर्थ में अंतरिक्ष यात्री की क्रियाएँ भी साधना है | एक माँ अपने बेटों के लिए, परिवार का लिए रसोई बनाती है – यह भी साधना है | इस साधना का मूल्य यों पता नहीं चलता, लेकिन जब कभी अनसधे हाथों को चौका-चूल्हे की शरण में जाना पड़ता है, तब पता चलता है कि यह कितनी बड़ी साधना है |

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

जीवन देवता की साधना-आराधना (२) – ३.७३

Sadhana is Free from Meaning

The word ‘Sadhana’ doesn’t hold any meaning in itself. It is another thing that we have assigned meaning of our own choice to it. But in the purest sense of a word, ‘Sadhana’ is free from denotation. Meaning is instilled in Sadhana, when some aim, rationale and action get exhibited through it. The deed of a spiritualistic saint is ‘Sadhana’ and, in the context of science, the deeds of a space traveler are also ‘Sadhana’. A mother prepares meal for her children, her family – this is also ‘Sadhana’. The value of this ‘Sadhana’ is not understood, but when untrained hands are entrusted with the responsibility of preparing meals, at that time it is unveiled how huge ‘Sadhana’ is.”

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Jeevan Devta Ki Sadhna Aaradhna – Vol 2 – Page 3.73

दैनिक कार्यों में योग (Yoga in Daily Life)

Rishichintan — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:06:43 +0000

दैनिक कार्यों में योग

आपको कोई काम निरुत्साह से, लापरवाही से याबेमन से नहीं करना चाहिए। यदि मन की ऐसी वृत्ति रखोगे, तोजल्दी उन्नति नहीं कर सकते। संपूर्ण चित्त, मन, बुद्धि, आत्माउस काम में लगा होना चाहिए, तभी आप उसे योग याईश्वरपन कह सकते हो। कुछ मनुष्य हाथों से तो काम करते हैंऔर उनका मन कलकत्ता (कोलकाता) के बाजार में होता है,बुद्धि दफ्तर में होती है और आत्मा स्त्री या पुत्र में संलग्न रहतीहै। यह बुरी आदत है।

आपको कोई भी काम हो, उसे योग्यतासे, संतोषप्रद ढंग से करना चाहिए। आपका आदर्श यह होनाचाहिए कि एक समय में एक ही काम अच्छे ढंग से कियाजाए। यदि आपके गुरू या मित्र आपसे तौलिया धोने को कहेंतो आपके बिना उन्हें बताए हुए ही उनके और कपड़ों को भी धोडालना चाहिए।

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

आत्मज्ञान और आत्मकल्याण, पृ. ६

Yoga in Daily Life

One should not do anything with a mind that is demotivated and disengaged. With that mindset, one can never progress. Yog or divinity arises when the heart, the brain and the mind are all put to work in unison. Some people are physically present at one place but their mind is someplace else altogether.

For example, our brain might be at work in office whereas our heart is at home with our family. This is not a good habit. Whatever we do, we should do it with complete focus and concentration. Ideally we should be doing one thing, fully and deeply, at a time.

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Knowledge and self development. P-6

विश्वास-बीजों का निरीक्षण (Examining the roots of Faith)

Rishichintan — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:53:27 +0000

विश्वास-बीजों का निरीक्षण

अपनी बात को ही प्रधान मानने और ठीक मानने का अर्थ और सबकी बातें झूठा मानना है । इस प्रकार का अहंकार अज्ञान का द्योतक है । इस असहिष्णुता से घृणा और विरोध बढ़ता है, सत्य की प्राप्ति नहीं होती । सत्य की प्राप्ति होना तभी संभव है, जब हम अपनी भूलों, त्रुटियों और कमियों को निष्पक्ष भाव से देखें । अपने विश्वास-बीजों का हमें निरीक्षण और परीक्षण करना चाहिए । जैसे चतुर किसान अपने खेत में उगे हुए झाड़-झंखाड़ों को अपना नहीं समझता, न उनसे अपने मन का मोह करता है, वरन् उन्हें निष्ठुरतापूर्वक उखाड़कर फेंक देता है, उसी प्रकार हमें अपने संस्कारों को उखाड़-उखाड़कर फेंक देना चाहिए ।

अब तक हम यह मानते रहे हैं, इसे बदलने में हमारी हेठी होगी, ऐसी झिझक व्यर्थ है । आत्मनिर्माण के लिए, सत्य की प्राप्ति के लिए, हमें अपना पुनर्निर्माण करना होगा । पक्षपाती और भ्रांत धारणाओं के दुराग्रही के लिए सत्य दर्शन असंभव है ।

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

आत्मज्ञान और आत्मकल्याण, पृ. 4

Examining the roots of Faith

To think that we are right is the same as thinking that every one else is wrong. This kind of pride reflects a serious lack of knowledge and wisdom. Such intolerance leads to hatred and rebellion and it also prevents us from discovering the truth. Self realization is impossible unless we are willing to examine our mistakes and weaknesses with absolute impartiality.We should tend to the roots of our beliefs and our faith like the clever farmer who does not have any attachment to the unwanted weed and pulls it out with objective lack of attachment. Just like that, we should also throw away our bad habits and detrimental behavior patterns.

We must not think that this change reflects a lack of strength and stability. Self transformation is essential and indispensable for the realization of the truth. We must re-build ourselves if we want to be realized souls: bias, prejudice, and dogma can only take us further from this goal.

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Self knowledge and development, p-4

Experiences and letters from readers – Comments on निःस्वार्थ कर्म (Selfless Deeds)

Rishichintan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:18:44 +0000

This kind of vignette with translation is great stuff. Sanjay this is exactly the kind of thing that I was talking to you about. The stuff of Maha Periaval of Kanchi in Hindu Dharma is overwhelming in its rigor but a trifle too scholarly and formal. It is not for aam admi. In a small way, the difference between say the lucent simplicity of Samkara Bhashyam vis a vis the formal complexity of the Siddhi granthas – Advaita Siddhi / Svarajya Siddhi / Istha Siddhi ityadi.

Acharyaji’s writings need to be selectively mined and broadcast. More importantly there needs to be a concordance so that it can easily be accessed by subject matter. THIS IS A CRYING NEED.

BTW, IMHO the translation while adequate does not quite bring out the full flavor of what is there in Hindi. Acharyaji was a great yogin / dhyana siddha. In one lifetime Acharyaji did 22 Gayatri purascharanas – a feat which to my knowledge has not been done by anyone since the days of the great Sri Madhusudana Saraswati, fabled author of the Advaita Siddhi, who only did 18 purascharanas and he lived to either 104 or 125 years of age. We must never forget that! Further, Acharyaji expressed himself exceptionally well and precisely - he was a great communicator.

His message is at many different levels for someone who has had some exposure to traditional dhyana / upasana a la the Yoga Sutras. I experienced lomaharshana when I read the original Hindi – I have had this often on perusing his writings. This nuance / spiritual-psychic depth does not quite make it in the English translation. E.g.

दृढ़ निष्काम सेवाकरने से एक विचित्र प्रकार की प्रसन्नता तथा आनंद हुआ करता है।

This should be “through firm / sustained / dedicated selfless service, one develops a type of mysterious / subtle tranquility / equanimity and bliss” or some such.

प्रसन्नता and आनंद in this context I submit are higher and much more than mere pleasure and joy. Acharyaji is giving a hint of certain yogic refinements born of practice / abhyasa / sadhana.

Let me emphasize I am not trying to be carping here. This is a great first effort!! But like the Japanese kaizen approach, one can continuously improve. In summary, Acharyaji’s translators / translations need not only excellent knowledge of both languages but a fairly significant level of anusthana bala born of purva janma samskara and iha janma sadhana.

In his commentary on the Samkara Bhashyam on Mandukya Karikas, the great Anandagiri (or is it Vachaspati Mishra? – I am getting old and my memory is not what it used to be) says something like: “What is the Veda? Not 4 books (systematized by Veda Vyasa). Literally every word written / spoken by a jeevanamukta is to be considered Veda, for it can give sakshatkara”. There are many theological and epistemological implications to that statement of Anandagiri / Vachaspati Mishra – albeit based on faith / sraddha.

We will not get into whether Acharyaji was a jeevanamukta or not – it will get into a wrangling contest which can never be decided. It is a matter of sraddha or faith. Moreover the sastras say only a realized person or siddha can recognize another one.

For our purposes it is sufficient to say that Acharyaji was an immensely evolved spiritual soul who was also a man of surpassing learning, uncommon memory and exceptional intellect.

Shambhave Namah,

Nagendra

Experiences and letters from readers – How is Rishichintan helping you ?

Rishichintan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:16:37 +0000

I really like to read the ‘satvichar of P.P. Gurudev’. Due to work pressures it was not possible to take a book and read it, but through Rishichintan it is becoming so easier that daily I feel being with Gurudev…. Really this Rishichintan is a blessing to me from our P.P. Gurudev. Thanks to Adarniya Parijans who are updating the field and providing us with the ‘Amritpan.’

Thanks once again and may Gurudev bless you all with happiness and success in your life.

Pranaam

Pravin

Experiences and letters from readers – What is Negativty ?

Rishichintan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:15:55 +0000

Negativity is a collective term for the forces that tend to dethrone the being from the position of ‘Prince of God’.
Negativity gets deposited layer by layer on the aura if the environment is full of it and if it is not prevented from doing so. If someone is negative from inside, he would attract more negativity and the innate positivity, the original energy granted by the Supreme would get suppressed. There is always occurring a fight between positivity and negativity and a sadhak has to prevent negativity from even touching himself, let alone gathering it. Instead he has to reach a position where he has to become a source of positive energy for others who are losing their battles against negativity and giving up themselves to lowly activities that make them negative in some or the other sense. Like a smoker may talk about great things but smoking is making his body negative in the sense that continuous smoking may appear as a disease in future.
Pujye Gurudev has talked of three immunities: Biological (Bodily), Psychological and Spiritual. Biological immunity is due to or is the responsibility of body’s immune system comprising Lymphatic system, White Blood Cells (WBCs)..et cetera . These fight against the microorganisms that enter the body with air, water or food and kill them thus preventing diseases. Biological immunity depends on how much controlled the lifestyle of the person is. The second one is the immunity on the level of thoughts. Like microorganisms, negative thoughts are waiting to enter our mind, but we have to fight against them till the time they are defeated. Their amount keeps on decreasing in our near environment when we perform Sadhna regularly. The third one is the immunity against negative energy as a whole. It is the most important of all immunities as what we are in our spiritual realm, we will soon become that in our thoughts and action. Our aura interacts with auras of other people daily like while travelling in the bus. It is important to make our aura strong enough to be able to have a positive influence on them instead of letting it to be weak and making it susceptible to the negative influences floating in the environment.
The Gayatri Mantra is a very beautiful prayer of the Almighty asking for positivity for not just ourselves but for all. Its power increases with the intensity with which it is chanted. We should every moment pray to the Almighty’s light of infinite positivity to guide us through all the negativity.

- Tushita

Experiences and letters from readers – experience with Gayatri Mantra

Rishichintan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:14:38 +0000

hello there,

when we are growing up we do what our elders tell us to do. Now that i’m (supposed to be ) grown up there have been countless gurus in my or i guess, everyone’s life—it does not matter how little or insignificant the matter looks or feels, it affects us. if you’re a very emotional person like i can be at times then of course a sweet bird song, abeautiful poem, a very emotional passage from a book can really send one into a rapture!! all this aside, my experience with the Gayatri mantra is very positive–the more you do the japa, the more you think about it, it sets you always on the right path! seemingly difficult situations solve themselves up–when we think of a person that person calls—these are some of the common experiences i guess.

but some people have had even more wonderful closeness-experiences with God..

thank you for all the positive outlook the Gayatri pariwar has put forth for all.

God Bless. shri

नकल की परंपरा (The Tradition of Mimicry)

Rishichintan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:40:58 +0000

नकल की परंपरा

सांप्रदायिक, जातिगत, दलगत, प्रांतीय रीति-रिवाजों एवं विचारधाराओं के संपर्क के कारण मनुष्य उन्हें ग्रहण कर लेता है । आमतौर से मनुष्य का स्वभाव नकल करने का है । तर्क और विवेक का वह कभी-कभी और कहीं-कहीं ही प्रयोग करता है । कारण यह है कि तर्क करने और दूरदर्शिता-पूर्वक बारीकी से विचार करने में मस्तिष्क को विशेष भारी बोझ उठाना पड़ता है ।

जैसे भारी शारीरिक श्रम करने से लोग जी चुराते हैं, वैसे ही तीक्ष्ण वेधक दृष्टि से सत्य के तथ्य तक पहुंचने का भारी मानसिक श्रम करने का लोगों को साहस नहीं होता । बहुतों में तो इस प्रकार की योग्यता भी नहीं होती, जिनमें होती है वे अपने परमप्रिय विषय को छोड़कर अन्य विषयों में गंभीर दृष्टि डालने का प्रयास नहीं करते । इस प्रकार से आमतौर से देखा-देखी नकल करने की परंपरा चल पड़ती है । यही परंपराएँ कालांतर में विश्वास-बीज बन जाती हैं ।

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

आत्मज्ञान और आत्मकल्याण, पृ. 3

The Tradition of Mimicry

Men imbibe the traditions of their communities, their society, theircaste, and their region, and they imbibe them mainly because of proximity and association. It is in human nature to imitate and follow whatever is happening around. While we do use our deeper wisdom, logic, and rationality, we do it rarely so.

The reason being that it requires significant mental exertion. Just as our physical body shies away from work that is physically tedious, so is our mind, avoiding hard mental exertion when it can. As a result, we are often doing things without thinking them through with insight and without properly investigating what is true and what is false. This just furthers the tradition of imitation and mimicry that is almost blind. In time, these imitated traditions and practices begin to morph into the first seeds of faith and belief.

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Aatmagyan Aur Atmakalyan page 3

स्वोत्साहन (स्व उत्साहवर्धन) Staying motivated

Rishichintan — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:00:05 +0000

स्वोत्साहन (स्व उत्साहवर्धन)

जैसे-जैसे किसी विषय का ज्ञान संपादन करने में सफलता प्राप्त करते चलें, वैसे-वैसे अपनी पूर्व स्थिति से तुलना करके प्रसन्न होते जाइए । जितना आप सीख चुके हैं, उनका मुकाबला उनसे कीजिए जिनके पास वह वस्तु नहीं है, तब आपको अपनी महानता प्रतीत होगी । बड़ी योग्यता वालों से अपना मुकाबला न कीजिये, वरन् उनसे स्पर्द्धा कीजिए कि आप में भी वैसी योग्यताएँ हो जावें । मन में निराशा के विचार मत आने दीजिए, अपने ऊपर अविश्वास मत कीजिए । प्रभु का अमर पुत्र मनुष्य किसी प्रकार की योग्यता से रहित नहीं है । साधन मिलने पर उसके सब बीज उगकर महान् वृक्ष बन सकते हैं । माता जिस प्रकार बालक को उत्साहित कर देती है, उसी प्रकार अपनी आत्मा के द्वारा अपने मन को उत्साहित करना चाहिए, उसकी पीठ ठोकते हुए प्रशंसा करनी चाहिए और बढ़ावा देना चाहिए ।

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

बुद्धि बढ़ाने की वैज्ञानिक विधि – पृ. १९

Staying motivated

Whenever you accomplish something in your efforts to gain knowledge or know how in any subject of interest, you should feel really happy about the progress you have made so far. You should keep doing this all along. You would start appreciating how brilliant or capable you are when you weigh up yourself against someone else who do not have something which you have managed to learn. Never try to compare yourself with someone who has greater capabilities. You should instead cultivate a competitive spirit so that you can also develop and have such capabilities.

Never let the thoughts of despair enter your mind. Have faith in yourself. A human being—the immortal child of Almighty God— doesn’t lack in any capabilities. His/her potentials or hidden capabilities would start manifesting as soon as the conditions are made to turn in his/her favor. Just as a mother would keep cheering up her baby, our soul should also keep buoying up our mind, giving it a pat on its back, and motivating it all the time.

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Buddhi badhane ki Vaigyanik Vidhi (The scientific methods of enhancing brainpower) page 19

रुचि कैसे उत्पन्न करें ? (How to develop interest ?)

Rishichintan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:52:13 +0000

रुचि कैसे उत्पन्न करें ?

बुद्धि बढ़ाने का प्रमुख साधन एकाग्रता है और मन को एकाग्र करने का उत्तम मार्ग उसे मार-मारकर किसी काम में लगाना नहीं, वरन् उस कार्य में रुचि उत्पन्न करना है । किसी काम में रुचि तब उत्पन्न होती है, जब उसमें स्वार्थ-साधन और मनोरंजन की विशेषताएँ हों । यह दोनों ही बातें उस विषय में उत्पन्न करनी चाहिए, जिसमें रुचि बढ़ाने की इच्छा है । कानून पढ़ने में आपका मन तब लगेगा, जब आप एक अच्छे बैरिस्टर के सम्माननीय और धनी रूप में अपना भावी चित्र देख सकें ।

आप बुद्धिमान् बनना चाहते हैं तो जिस विषय की योग्यता प्राप्त करनी है, उस विषय के ज्ञाता होने पर आपको जो उच्च स्थान प्राप्त होगा, उस स्वरूप की बार-बार कल्पना कीजिए, यह कल्पना जितनी ही सुदृढ़ और स्पष्ट होगी, उतना ही उस विषय पर मन अधिक लगेगा, एकाग्रता संभव होती जावेगी ।

-पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य

बुद्धि बढ़ाने की वैज्ञानिक विधि – पृ. १३

How to develop interest ?

Concentration or a focused mind is the most important tool at our disposal that can help us in enhancing our brainpower. And the best way to make our mind focus its attention on something is not to force or coerce it into doing it but to make it really interested in that task. One may find something interested only when he/she can see some personal gain in doing that task as well as have fun doing it. If you wish to cultivate interest in something, you will have to infuse these two elements in it.

For example, you would become enthusiastic about studying law only when you are able visualize yourself becoming an eminent and rich barrister in future. If you desire to be an expert in a particular subject, you will have to, over and over again, visualize yourself gaining a high position on becoming the expert in that particular field. The more your vision become consolidated and clear, the more you will start getting interested in learning that subject and the more you will be able to focus your attention on it.

-Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya

Translated from – Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya’s work

Buddhi badhane ki Vaigyanik Vidhi (The scientific ways of enhancing brainpower) page 13