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CLARIFICATIONS
(The questions were posed during the Gita Yatra)
DOUBT: The
Gita is a spiritual text. Is it not okay
to read this in older age? Why should
students be taught this?
CLARIFICATION: Why
should not the younger ones be introduced to The Gita? What is the fear? Arjuna heard the Gita straight from Shree
Krishna. What did he do after hearing
the Gita? He fought to the best of his
abilities, won the war, helped elder brother Yudhishthira in establishing a
righteous rule and enjoyed all the palatial comforts. In other words, he fulfilled all his worldly
commitments. He did not give up the
worldly life to pursue a life of a Sanyasi.
Spiritual texts ought to be taught
during studenthood. These texts mean to
guide us in leading a better life, doing things more efficiently and with a
better mindset. Texts like The Gita
teach one to elevate self and lead a nobler life towards elevation of lives
around. Should we leave the study of
Gita for an age when our limbs have grown weak, the eyes, ears and other
organs, except the tongue, have dimmed?
It will not help us. Being
helpful to others is out of question.
Generally, there is a dishonest
intention behind such a proposal. Most
of us are inflicted with the idea that life with plenty of money and all the
available luxuries is a successful one and a straight forward approach normally
does not fetch unlimited wealth. Resort
to unscrupulous ways is inevitable. “I
want to be honest. But, the others
around do not allow me to be”, is the usual complaint of many. “A mind with even a minimal introduction to
Gita will start resisting from within any foul suggestion. ‘Progress’ in life will be hampered by this
voice from within. Hence, let us better
avoid learning Gita. At a later age,
when we can no longer run and chase worldly dreams, when we have no other
pursuits, we can study The Gita and find our way to the heavens.” This seems to be practical wisdom of these
wise thinkers. However, a word of
caution for such ‘smart’ thinkers.
Heaven does not have a place for men who neglect their duties and fail
in worldly life. ‘You may live in the
world as you please. Yet, you will be
offered Heaven if you pray and please Me’ is not the message in Hindu Dharma.
DOUBT:
Aethists in the Dravida Kazhagam and the communists accuse ‘The Gita’ of
inciting violence. Arjuna did not want
to fight. Was it proper for Shree
Krishna to instigate him to a bloody war?
CLARIFICATION: The DK
and the communists know nothing else, but violence. They have perpetuated nothing else but
violence in their eighty years of existance.
They will obviously see nothing else, but violence everywhere. Do not take them seriously. What do you feel? Is it so difficult to instigate blood-thirst
in Arjuna? Is he a personification of
peace and non-violence to require eighteen chapters of deep philosophy to get
into a war-mood? It would have been
enough if Shree Krishna had played a ‘flash-back’ of all the attrocities
committed on them by Duryodhana & co;
If only he was reminded of all the insults heaped on him; Even a casual mention of the pledges he had
taken would have been enough. Arjuna
would have plunged into the war instantly.
Shree Krishna’s job would have become easy. Gita will not have been born.
Shree Krishna’s intention, however,
was different. The pandavas relied
heavily on Arjuna for victory. He had a
big task ahead. Duryodhana too thought
it easy to win the war if Arjuna could be eliminated. Hence, Arjuna will have to bear the most of
the aggression. Arjuna’s task demanded a
lot of physical hard work, a very strong and calm mind to face the so-many
emotional turmoils of a battle-field and a continuously sharp and alert
intellect to strategize. There was no
doubt about his abilities and talent. If
only he could add a Yogi’s mind-set, he would come off brilliantly. Shree Krishna’s intention was exactly
this. He wanted to a turn him into a
Yogi. Petty minds can not understand
this stupendous task Shree Krishna has taken upon Himself and belittle Him as
well as His effort. Amrita Kalasham
Gita, with a message for all times, was born out of this great visionary effort
of Shree Krishna. Arjuna, of course,
benefitted. The whole human society
stands to benefit from this Nectar-Pot Gita.
DOUBT: A battle
field is surcharged with emotions. Is
such a great philosophical text possible on a battlefield?
CLARIFICATION: Dharma
guided the Hindu in all his activities.
War also was centered on Dharma.
War was fought in a predetermined ground on a prefixed schedule. There were guidelines agreed upon by both the
sides. It was more like a game with set
of rules and a referee. Given below are
some of the common guidelines in Hindu warfare.
·
It
starts daily at sunrise and ends with sunset.
·
Both
the sides are cautioned by the blow of conch and drum beats before launching an
offensive. (In a game, a whistle blow is
used instead.) ‘Attack the enemy, when
he is unaware’ is never the policy and is considered cowardice.
·
The
clash is always among equals. A warrior
on horse will fight a similar warrior on horse, a Maharathi will fight another
Maharathi, and a charioteer will oppose a charioteer, and so on. A sword will clash with a sword, a spear with
a spear and an arrow with an arrow.
·
An
unarmed soldier, a fallen and semi conscious one and a retreating one are not
to be attacked.
·
One
should always challange an enemy for combat and fight only if he accepts the
challange.
·
Many
should not gang against one.
·
The
personnael on medical and nursing mission, the ones on food distribution work
and other para-military staff should not be targeted.
All these guidelines were being adhered to in
the Mahabharatha War, till the moment Abhimanyu was surrounded by many and
brutally killed. Then it became a ‘free
for all’ affair.
The conches were blown and the war
about to start when Arjuna requested Shree Krishna to station the chariot
between the armies. The two started
conversing. The others might have been
probably puzzled, but did not start the war.
They all were in their respective positions waiting for these two to get
ready. It takes an hour to read The
Gita. Even if the two had taken a whole
day, the two armies would have waited.
DOUBT:
Arjuna’s arguements seem agreeable to me.
What might be the reason?
CLARIFICATION: Arjuna
and Shree Krishna are considered Avatara of Nara-Narayana. Arjuna is a Nara, an ordinaru human like any
of us. He had all the weaknesses, which
we have. We are entangled in the
attachment for family. We are prone to
excitements and passions. We all have
worn our egos, some have more obvious and hurting ego, while others have
subtler and cunning ego. We all go by
the spoken word and visible actions. We
fail to take cognizance of the hidden intention or the spirit. Had we been at Shree Krishna’s place, we
would have organized a felicitation for Arjuna, lauded his ‘noble’ thought and
probably recommended a Nobel peace award or a Bharat Ratna for him. But, what was Shree Krishna’s response on
listening to him? “You may think you
have spoken words of wisdom. These are
nothing but foolish and childish words.
We have to rise to start comprehending The Gita. The higher we rise, the deeper will be our
understanding of The Gita.
DOUBT: Is
there a specific tune for Gita recital?
CLARIFICATION: Only the Veda Mantra has a
specified tune and has to be compulsorily recited in that. (The modern day mantra is ‘anyone can do
anything’. The Gayatri, which is a Veda
Mantra, has been set to different tunes, sung and commercially marketed.) The Gita is not Mantra and can be set to
tunes and sung. Yeshudas and Lata
Mangeshkar have sung The Gita in different melodious tunes. We can recite The Gita in the ‘shloka tune’
like the Vishnu Sahasranama or Lalitha Sahasranama or we can simply read The
Gita.
DOUBT: Explain the meaning and significance of various names of
Arjuna, mentioned in The Gita.
CLARIFICATION: 1.
Arjuna – Simple and straight, without any perversion and complexities. 2. Parttha – Son of Pruththaa. Arjuna’s mother was born to the king Pruththu
and was called Pruththaa. This name was
dearest to Shri Krishna and was most used by Him in The Gita. 3. Kaunteya – Son of Kunti. Arjuna’s mother Pruththaa, born to King
Pruththu, was brought up by Bhojaraj, the king of Kunti state and hence was
called Kunti. 4. Savyasaachi – One who
is evenly talented with both hands.
Arjuna could easily and effectively use both his hands in Archery. 5. Dhananjaya – 6. Gudaakesha – 7. Pandava –
8. Paramtapa – 9. Bhaaratha – 10. Mahaabaahu – One with long and valiant
arms. 11. Anagha – Sinless and
Noble. 12. Kurunandana – Son in Kuru
clan, who brought pride and glory to the whole clan. 13. Bharathasreshttha, Bharatharshabha – The
best in Bharatha clan. 14. Kurusattama,
Kurusreshttha – The best in Kuru clan.
Arjuna had some other names not mentioned in The Gita.
DOUBT: The modern psychologists speak gloriously about Ego and
Ego fulfillment. But, Gita stresses on
elimination of Ego or Ego-less state?
CLARIFICATION: Psychic sciences, till date, have Ego as the
final Truth. There is nothing beyond the
Ego, according to the psychic scientists.
Naturally, they insist on the blossoming of Ego as the final
triumph. But, our philosophers declare
that Ahamkara or Ego is not final. It is
only a step in the path towards the Final Truth, Ego-less Brahmam, probably the
last step. We have to transcend the Ego. Our philosophy insists on elimination of mind
and Ahamkara or Ego is one of the four aspects of Mind. Ego has to be vanquished or surrendered for
being one with the Ultimate.
DOUBT: Does the Atman manifest in any form, after the death of a
body and before accessing another body?
CLARIFICATION: Of course, it manifests, but not in a form
percievable by our physical senses. Our
body is made of five basic elements, water, fire, Air, Earth and Ether. This body is perishable. There are other bodies, subtler, within. At the time of death, the subtler body leaves
the physical body, along with the vasanas. Vasanas are the impressions on the subtle
bodies of our various desires, experiences and actions, both physical and
emotional. We continue our travel in
search of a suitable body to fulfill our vasanas. The ones, who have eliminated all the vasanas
in a life, leave the subtle as well as the gross bodies at the time of
death. He is the Liberated One.
Our eyes can not
possibly see the subtler bodies. Fine
tuned cameras have been made to capture the subtler bodies, some say. Jain literature mentions that these subtle
bodies sat among the audiences of Shri Mahaveer.
DOUBT: Does the Stthitha Prgnya not feel pain, anguish, grief
etc.?
CLARIFICATION: Stthitha Pragnya is not in a state of coma,
intoxication or unconsciousness, to not feel pain or anguish or strains. In fact, we may not feel or register pain, as
our mind is not focussed, but scattered.
Many complain of pain in a particular part of their bodies, after a few
days of yogasana training. They feel the
pain is due to Yogasana practice. On the
contrary, the pain in most cases, has history.
It is never registered by their unfocussed and vagabond minds. A few days of yogasana practice organizes the
mind and improves its focus and hence the pain is noticed. The stthitha pragnya is not in such a state. His focus is sharp and can recognize even
minute changes and experiences. But, he
does not change pain and physical discomforts into causes for grief and
depression.
DOUBT: The ones who accept bribes, the ones who are on unlawful
and vicious ways, the ones who are deep into sinful living, are seen to be
living a ‘good’ ‘cosy’ and comfortable life.
Is this God’s justice?
CLARIFICATION: You
try and take the wrong route, if it is possible for you. If that was your nature, you won’t be seeking
my permission to take bribes. If that
was not, you can never resort to those ways, as much you try. Even if you try, your own guilty mind will
kill you. Your life should express your
own nature. That will be the best for
you. Your question raises many
sub-queries.
Ø
Don’t
you ever resort to unethical or unlawful ways?
Ø
Are
you deprived of a good life, because of your ‘right’ ways?
Ø
Do
you carry jealousy and contempt for those on wrong routes and those who lead a
visibly better life than yourself?
Ø
You
do not seem to carry perfect conviction of Divine justice. You seem to doubt the same. Is it so?
Are you a
perfect walker on the path of virtue and never sway to the wrongful route? The rules guiding the wrong route are merciless. There the stronger swallows the weak. If you are on it, you’ll have to compete with
more malicious, more mean persons. You
may be mercilessly crushed. If you are
on an ethical, dharmik path, you are not in race with anyone. The other virtuous persons treading that
path, will be of immense help to you, in your elevation. You will also be having an impact on the
others, helping towards their upward growth.
If you
genuinely feel you are not happy, perhaps you may have to redefine your
‘happiness’. Prioritize your wants and
means. Broaden your vision to see all
those add-ons, some instant and others delayed, coming with your desired
object.
Do you
doubt God’s justice? It seems
childish. Do we have the right
understanding, capacity to judge, longer span of life and wider vision to scan
so many incidents, to evaluate His justice?
We can not conclude on the basis of percieved happenings in small
circles around us and pass judgement on God’s ways. The impact and reactions of our actions and
words are instant as well as long delayed, gross as well as subtle. That which seems ‘good’ at present may be a
seed for future mishaps and vice versa.
We have no choice but to accept happenings as these come.
Do you
carry an envy of those leading ‘good life, inspite of their wrong doings’? If it is so, it will harm YOU and only
you. It will least affect them. Usually, a person with low esteem develops
jealousy, for anyone he considers stronger, richer and more powerful than
himself. The antidote for jealousy is
contentment. Look at the good. Look at positive aspects. Look at fullness and not emptiness. Fill up your mind with utmost contentment.
DOUBT: There are numerous visible service activities. So many orphanages, old age homes, homes for
the destitutes, etc. The number of
service organizations and trusts has considerably gone up. Even, corporate industrial houses are
reserving funds for service activities.
Are these marks of resurgence of ‘Karma Yog’?
CLARIFICATION: Karmas
or actions do not mark Karma Yog. The
intention or attitude defines Karma Yog.
There may be so many reasons for actions: One has lots of money; One wants to be
involved in healthy pass-time; one seeks various tax benefits announced by
Government; One wants to be in good books; One aims for enhanced social,
political or economic status; one aspires to be recipient of awards; and so
many other reasons might be hidden behind these activities. With the right attitude, a commoner like a cobbler,
a weaver, a teacher, or a potter can be a Karma Yogi. A prison inmate, with no obvious activity,
can be a Karma Yogi. It is only the
attitude that counts.
DOUBT: It is generally seen that small-time criminals, petty
thieves, takers of small amounts as bribe, are caught and harshly punished.,
whereas the hard core criminals, manipulators in millions, acceptors of huge
bribe money, escape the net and even if caught, escape punishment. Why is it so?
CLARIFICATION: If
your perception is correct, then the Government, the people who elect the
government, social and political leaders who guide the society and the media
which does the business of building public opinion have to answer your
‘why’. I have some other questions,
which all of us are in a position to answer.
1. Don’t we consider these
men as ‘icons’?
2. Are we not overwhelmed
if one of these persons comes to our doorsteps, or attends one of our family
functions? Does their wealth or status
not entice us to pay extra attention to them?
3. Don’t we offer ‘chief
guest’ status to these men in our educational, religeous functions in the fond
hope of extracting pretty amount as donation?
4. There is a fundamental
question. Is there small, big and huge
in theft? Is a bribe of Rs. 5 better
than that of Rs. 5 lakhs, which again is holier than Rs. 5 crores bribe. Yes.
This may be true, in the eyes of law.
The punishment gets harsher with the ‘size’ of wrong doing. But in the court of Karma or natural justice,
a bribe is a bribe, a sin is a sin. The
attitude of resorting to adharmik ways is the factor and not the size of wrong
committed. The attitude behind the
action fetches reaction and not the action itself. Consider a person fasting on the occassion of
Ekadashi. His fast is broken, whether he
eats a mere fistful or a feast. The mere
act of eating, nay, even a desire to eat, exposes his weak mind or lack of
will. A wrong takes us away from the
Divine, by polluting our mind. Size of
the wrong is immaterial.
DOUBT: Every TV channel airs ‘spiritual’ programmes. There are few channels exclusively for
‘spiritual’ shows. These programmes are
widely viewed. The number of spiritual
magazines is also high and these enjoy wide circulation. The number of ‘propogators’ of spiritual
topics and the audience in their programmes are also high. Are these marks of spiritual evolution in the
society? The moral scene in the society
does not seem to match this. I seek your
view.
CLARIFICATION: I
do not know if these are marks of spiritual evolution or revolution, but these
definitely indicate turbulence and restlessness in the society. Perhaps, these are indicators of a general
loss of faith in man-made systems. There
is no dearth of material desires and aspirations. But, trust on the systems like the judiciary,
police, media, political administration, which are meant to support him in
acquisition and protection of his desired objects, is lost. There is a resultant frustration and
restlessness. In the absence of any hope
for a positive change, there remains only one hope; hope that some super-human being,
some divine force will descend to set right everything. It is not the result of a positive
realization of Divinity, but that of a helpless mortal. Men, who want divine assistance only to solve
their own material problems can not cause spiritual revolutions. Only those valiant men, with unswerving faith
and readiness to put in consistent efforts at studying, understanding and
practising, can cause spipritual revolutions.
Any trend
in the society is readily used to make quick money. The role of TV channels, magazines or the
‘propogators’ is more commercial than ideological. These mediums also can not initiate any
worthwhile change or evolution. People
also participate in large numbers more to be entertained than to be reformed or
enlightened.
There is
a more dangerous aspect to this trend.
There is a surge in activities to make a quick money out of fear and
insecurity in people’s mind and all under the garb of ‘spiritualism or
religion’. Vaasthu, Fen-shui, Astrology,
Beads, Homams and other rituals are businesses worth millions. Rudraksha bead, which is a symbol of
renunciation, is also a commodity in heavy demand in on-line sales.
A personal question
to you.. Why do you bother about things
not in your control? We are not
qualified to assess and judge others. ‘What
should I do?’ ‘How do I qualify to do my
bit?’ These are more relevant questions
for you. Bloated ego is a handicap in
our growth and to think and worry about things beyond our control is also
egoist.
DOUBT: What is the essence of Gita?
CLARIFICATION: No
particular idea can pointed out as the essence of the Gita. Devotion to God can be said as the essence of
Shrimad Bhagawatham. But, can we
identify an idea as the essence of the Vedas?
The Gita , like the Vedas talks about so many ideas. Shri Krishna has a unique style. He stresses any point he discusses, as if
that is the most important and the most fundamental one. The onus is on us to select an idea suited
for us and try to follow the same. The
Gita discusses a wide range of ideas.
Gnyaana Marga, Karma Marga, Dhyaana Marga, the Formless, Sanyasa, the
Gunas, the attributes of an Asura, life after death, and so many ideas have
been discussed.
All path ‘is’ one. Yes.
This is a fundamental truth. At
the same time, one will be benefitted only by steadfast progress in one path,
with a firm faith and conviction that ‘this is the only path for me’. He will be confused and his progress in any
path will be blocked, if he is told that ‘all paths are same’. If a man standing on a crossroad and seeking
to know the way to a particular place, is told that all the four roads will
lead to the place, then there is more probability that he will remain confused
and undecided. There are so many fields
of study, like Physics, Chemistry, Statistics, Botany, Astronomy, etc. If he is told at initial stage that all these
fields lead to the same truth, he will in all probabilities, lose interest in
study and may not pursue an in-depth study in any field. That ‘all fields lead to the same truth’ has
to be realized at a later stage after he has completed his PhD and progressed
to depths in one of these fields. Though
it is true, it is undesirable to suggest in his initial and naive stage.
Nishkaama Karma or
‘unattached action’ can be identified as one of the chief principles, if not
the essence of the Gita. There is a wall
hanging in circulation titled ‘Gita saar’ or ‘the essence of the Gita’. It expresses helplessness or impotency. Its connotation is negative and cynical. “What is there in your hands? You can do nothing. Your actions are futile” Such are the
suggestions from it. Whereas Shri
Krishna exhorts Arjuna to ‘Stand up and Fight’.
‘Do not be either attached or averse to the action or the fruits’ is the
bold suggestion of Shri Krishna.
DOUBT: Shri Krishna says, “Surrender in Me”. Does he mean to suggest that ‘only Shri
Krishna is worshipful’?
CLARIFICATION: He
has used the terms ‘I’ and ‘Me’ so many times in The Gita. The ‘Me’ is not the Gokula Krishna or
Partthasarathy, who breathed, talked and lived then. The ‘Me’ means the Omnipotent, Omnipresent,
Omniscient Paramaatman. So many other
enlightened souls have talked this way.
In the tenth chapter, Shri Krishna lists the aspects, personalities in
which the Divine could be ‘seen’ and ‘felt’.
There, He says, ‘Vrushneenaam Vaasudevoasmi’, i.e. “I am Vasudeva among
the Vrushnis’. The Vasudeva is the
‘speaker’ here and is being mentioned as a third person. When He says, ‘I am Vasudeva’, The ‘I’ has to
be different from Vasudeva. It means,
‘I’ and Vasudeva may appear different, but are One. He further elaborates, I am Rama among the
armed; I am Skandha among the army commanders; I am Arjuna among the
Pandavas;. These are words of a realized
soul, one who is one with the Eternal Paramaatman.
Shri Arabindo of
Pondycherry has written a poem, ‘I am Bharatham’. How can one individual be a Nation,
Bharatham? It is possible for one who
has an expanded self. One who is totally
identified with his body, exhausts his whole life in the web of physical pains
and pleasures. One who has expanded self
to his family, suffers pains and enjoys pleasures, for the family. One can expand further to Society, Nation,
the whole Humanity or the the whole creation.
It has been possible for some and will be possible for the aspirants in
future too, to be one with the Eternal among the transient; the Infinite among
the finites; that which is in and beyond this creation.
He does not say,
“Worship Me”. We worship and that is
easy for us. Why worship? Worship should result in emancipation or
progress upwards. ‘Shivo bhootvaa Shivam
yajet’ should be the underlying principle in worship. If you worship Shiva, you should verily
become Shiva. If we grow to be Him by
worshipping Him, why not worship Him?
And He has lived a great life. He
has been a Shudra by riding the chariot for Arjuna. He has been a Vaishya by grazing cows and
cattle. He has been a Kshatriya by
fighting and vanquishing Kamsa and by establishing a state and ruling
Dwarika. He has been a Brahmin by expounding
Brahma Tatva, not only to Arjuna but to the whole humanity. He has sung, danced, played, stolen and what
not. He has given dignity to so many
ordinary tasks. Once, on the roads of
Madhya Pradesh, I met a cowherd. I asked
him what was he doing. He replied, “I am
doing Kanhaiya’s job”. He was happy and
contented. There was no sign of any
inferior feeling in him. Shri Krishna has
been all these and all. He is definitely
worshipful. We may worship Him and get
elevated, ennobled. A word of caution. He has attained this level as the result of
sustained efforts in so many births. We
can not snatch a few drops of Divinity just by offering a few flowers at His
feet, by ringing a bell or by flaunting a few lighted candles. We have to strive and tread our own
path. Worshipping Him may help in our
way.
DOUBT: Heeding the advice of Shri Krishna, if all of us become
detached to material world and lead a simple life, will not industry, trade and
economy crumble and jobs vanish, causing a devastating effect on human
society? (This was a question posed by a
college student.)
CLARIFICATION: You
will have to first clarify whether this question is risen out of concern for
world welfare or out of weakness and fear.
It is a good question and worth to think about. It shows that you think. Let us approach the question in both the
angles.
Concern for welfare of
the world? If people leave their habit
of accumulating things, demand will come down and hence production will drop. Jobs will vanish and economy will collapse as
a consequence. That is the concern. On the other hand, consumerism and
accumulating tendency have led to faster erosion of Natural wealth. Does that not bother you? America symbolizes consumerism. A nation whose population is a mere 5% of
world’s total population consumes more than 40 % of the world’s natural
wealth. Let me give a few points from
the annual UNDP report of the year 1998.
·
The
annual income of three richest men in the world is more than the total income
of 48 poorer nations.
·
The
annual income of world’s top 225 rich men is a trillion dollars. (A trillion is one lakh crores.) This is more than the total annual income of
lower 47% of the world’s population, i.e. 280 crore people.
·
World’s
total consumption is to the tune of 24 trillion dollars. 90% of this is spent by the top 20% of the
population.
·
The
per capita consumption is supposed to be the index of growth of a country. Food, Medicine, Electrical and other forms of
energy, Steel, Cement, Transport, Education, Entertainment, communication, etc.
are all compounded together to calculate the total consumption. This divided by the population is per capita
consumption. Canada is on the top and
Bharatham is 139th in this list.
According to this, per capita paper consumption in Canada and Bharath
are respectively 580 Kilos and 3.5 kilo.
Per capita steel consumption are 740 and 1.5 kilos respectively. There will be disastrous effect on Nature and
environment, if there is an increase of a mere 2% in our per capita consumption.
Consumption must have
further risen in the last ten years.
But, have we been able to provide basic amenities to the whole
population? No. A few are consuming more and most have very
little to take. If the affluent can
reduce their consumption, if only they subdue their urge to accumulate, there
might be a wider distribution. Limited
Natural resource might be available for a larger population. If you have to, feel concerned about this.
Lack of will power
and fear may also be cause for this question.
Fear that you may have to forego ‘so many things’ if you adopt this
principle. Lack of will to decrease the
desire to accumulate and enjoy. Shri
Krishna does not advocate non-use of things.
He only wants us to eliminate the urge to accumulate. Are not our shelves full of sarees, clothes
and other articles, we have never used in the last one year? Are not our bathroom shelves full of so many
types of lotions, creams, soaps, shampoos and oils? How many of the articles in our homes have
been bought for necessity? How many as a
result of competition and comparison with others? How many have entered our homes through the
dazzle of advertisements and how many to satisfy our urge to flaunt? There is no need for fear. Let us procure when there is need. Let us consume to our hearts content. Let us not atleast dump and stagnate. In the sixteenth chapter, Shri Krishna
defines as monstrous attitude the urge to worry till the last breath of life,
to buy and accumulate for endless needs, to prepare for all imaginary
situations that might arise and to use unethical means to earn wealth.
DOUBT: The competition in today’s world is hectic in every
field. One can not remain in a field, if
he does not join the race. The rich and
influential are in the front. Will
‘Nishkaama Karma Yog’ help in this context?
CLARIFICATION: The
old caste system is in practice in every field, especially, if it is
cash-rich. Politics, Cinema, Cricket are
some such fields where the present day successful person wants and tries his
best to groom his son, daughter or wife to take his own place. They succeed in their wish, to a great extent. This is demoralising for fresh
aspirants. Yet, there are some, may be
very few, who continue to strive silently and achieve phenomenal success,
despite lack of huge money and parental backing. A Vikram in Tamil Cinema world, An Atalji in
political field, are glaring examples.
He acted in small roles for eighteen years before he became a star. He continued with unfading enthusiasm, though
success was no where within sight. Born
to a school teacher (school teachers were in dire poverty in the forties),
without a Congress-background, tasting small successes and lots of failures,
Atalji continued his untiring effort for forty years, with the same
enthusiasm. I do not mean to say that
they were KarmaYogees. But, they are
definitely examples to assure that consistent and untiring work will fetch sure
success.
DOUBT: There are thousands who continue to strive, despite any
visible success. Will all of them attain
success?
CLARIFICATION: Is
mere hardwork sufficient? Talent and
potential are also essential. More
important requirement is enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm should not be related to success and failure; blooming with
success and fading with failure, affecting effeciency. Effeciency multiplies with rise in
enthusiasm. When we work for success,
when we work with success in our minds, we are kicked around by rising and
fading enthusiasm. Our work, hard work
continues for lifetime. If we could work
for the pleasure of work, if we could work taking it as duty, we are not
affected by ups and downs and chances of getting success multiply.
DOUBT: The Gita asks us to look at an educated Brahmin, a cow, a
dog and an illiterate equally. Does the
educated not deserve special regard? Can
he be treated same as an illiterate?
CLARIFICATION: All
the organs of the body are equal. Do we
regard one as higher and the other lower?
Do we pamper one and neglect another?
This is the desired approach.
Yet, do we treat all in the same manner.
We use a brush to clean the teeth, but not the ears. The ears need soft cotton buds. We use bathing powder or soap for the entire
body, but not for eyes. After an
accident, the treatment given to the limbs is different from that given for
head injuries. The head is subjected to
MRI or CT scan or special examinations.
Is it not foolish to demand the same for fractured limb, for the sake of
equal treatment?
Until a few years back,
the Coconut fiber and pith were thrown away as these were considered
useless. Only the nut was taken. We could find heaps and heaps of fiber around
Pollacchi, a place full of coconut groves.
The vision changed. Fiber also
got an equal, respectful vision. Many
industries evolved out of fiber and now the farmers are earning crores of
rupees through fiber. Probably, fiber is
fetching more money than nuts. Should we
start eating the fiber to prove our ‘equal vision’? Or, should we classify these as higher and
lower and throw away the lower (cheaper) nuts.
We may give an
affectionate hand-rub to the cow. Can we
do the same to a bear or porcupine in the name of equality?
Treatment and attitude
are two different things. There could be
different treatment but same attitude.
The idiot does not get even the basic respect and regard due to any man,
because the attitude towards a man changes with his education. Both have to be regarded equally, inspite of
superficial differences.
DOUBT: Is Sanyasam or renunciation the natural culmination of
Dhyana practise? In other words, is it
the goal of Dhyaana Practise?
CLARIFICATION: Sister
Nivedita, from Ireland, and Pondicherry Mother from France are best examples of
Yogees born in the west. The goal is one
and the route and means to reach that is another. Dhyanam is means. Sannyaasa is also a way. Goal is fourfold, Chatur-vidha Purushaartham,
according to Hindu Dharma. These are
Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha. These
are the goals to be reached in human life.
Artha and Kaama, being so obvious needs, do not need any motivation and
are attained effortlessly. The other two
are subtler and hence are hard to comprehend.
Even a desire to attain these is rare, proceeding on the pathway towards
these is rarer still. Attaining all
these four is a complete life. The Hindu
seers have divided human life span into four phases (ashram) to facilitate
attainment of these fourfold goals. The
first phase, Brahmacharya ashrama, is to know and ingrain Dharma in self. The second phase, Grihasthashrama, is for
attaining Artha and Kaama through family life, while being firmly rooted in
Dharma. The third phase of Vanaprastha
is to gradually delink and detach self from Artha and Kaama. The final phase of Sannyaasa is to initiate
efforts to attain Moksha.
Dhyaana is an instrument
to train self to sit at a place peacefully.
Afterwards, the same is an instrument to know and understand life in
this world. At a later stage, it
transforms into an instrument to know self.
Finally, Dhyaana is the instrument to be one with the Paramaatman, i.e.
a Moksha Sadhanam.
DOUBT: Is it not possible to attain the final goal of Dhyaana
practise in a single birth? Does one
necessarily need many births?
CLARIFICATION: I am reminded of two anecdotes. “How many ladders do we require to reach the
moon?” asked a man. “Even one will do,
if long enough”, replied another.
Two seekers were
involved in penance. Sage Narada came to
visit the two. “How many more days do we
need to meet the Paramaatman”, they asked Narada. “You will attain Moksha in your next birth”,
he said to one and to the other he said, “You will have to take as many births
as there are leaves in this tree, to attain Moksha”. “Oh! the next birth? Do I have to wait till the next birth”, so
saying the first seeker was disenthused.
He gave up the path of Yog. “Oh! So I am sure to attain Moksha”, so saying the
other started dancing in joy. The period
was out of his sight. He was overwhelmed
by the fact that the Lord is merciful enough to grant Moksha to him. He attained Moksha that very moment.
Even the birth of a
desire for Moksha has taken so many births for us. This is the start. How many more days, years, or births wil be
needed? That is solely in our own
hands. One more thing. Once we know the goal, have identified and started
the travel on the road towards it, it is good to forget the goal and focus on
the next step we take on the path. The
goal will automatically be reached.
DOUBT: Is the use of deer skin or tiger skin essential in Dhyaana
practise? Is it not ‘Himsa’?
CLARIFICATION: According to knowledgeable persons, an energy
similar to ‘electrical’ is generated in the body through Dhyaana. This energy should not be drained and lost
into the earth. Deer skin has a special
power to insulate and help conserve the energy built up in the body. Hence it is a beneficial to sit on a deerskin
and meditate. But, the skin should be without
any damage or puncture. In other words,
it has to the skin of a deer peeled off after its natural death and not of one
hunted and killed. The basic purpose of
Dhyaana is to develop a vision that can see the Divine in all lives. Killing a life to try and develop such a
vision is absurd.
Spreading a clean cotton
cloth on a clean ground pasted with cow-dung is a good place to sit and
practise Dhyaana. A river bank, a
mountain side, or a spot near Tulasi plant or Ashwatta tree is also suitable
for Dhyaana. The seat, the exterior,
cleanliness of body and surroundings etc. are important, but, the inner state
is more important. The external factors
are, ofcourse, potent enough to affect the inner state, positively as well as
negatively. Even a quiet corner in our
house, away from the mundane activities, is OK for Dhyaana.
DOUBT: The western world is predominantly a non-believer in
rebirth. Is it probable that Yogees take
birth there?
CLARIFICATION: Yog is not a private property of Bharat or the
Hindus. This is a fundamental and
universal truth. This is applicable to
every human being, irrespective of religious affiliations. Silmilarly, rebirth is also a universal
truth. It does not whether you believe
or not. The recent researches in
Psycho-analysis corroborate the concept of rebirth. Many books are being written on experiences
in previous birth and their effects on physical and mental health in the
present birth. These books enjoy a huge
market as well. The concept is slowly
taking roots in minds of people, inspite of opposition by religious
groups. Many great Yogees have taken
birth and have lived in Arabic and the western worlds. The dominance of materialistic ideas and ways
of life in recent times has eroded the social environment thereby making it
impossible for yogee to thrive there.
The culprit is materialism and not lack of belief in rebirth. One who has traversed the path of Yog,
searches for an environment favourable to pursue the journey in the next birth
too. The chance of him taking birth in a
society predominantly materialistic, is almost nil.
There is one more
aspect. There are many in the western
world who live a life of penance, very similar to that of Yogee. May be, their pursuit is scince, rather than
Self-realization. We come across such
persons in TV channels like Discovery.
We may be wrong if we presume that this pursuit of theirs is merely for
money. Qualities like determination,
high level of concentration and detachment from worldly pleasures abound in
them. Rigorous pursuit of Scientific
knowledge will also culminate in Self-realization. It may not be an exaggeration if we say, they
are preparing ground for arrival of Yogees.
(On the contrary, doubt arises whether the fertile ground for generation
of Yogees, which Bharat was, is slowly turning into an arid one due to
flourishing materialism here.)
\\\\\HARIH OM TAT SAT\\\\\
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