LORD VISNU

VISNU is one of the gods of the Trinity. Visnu represents the power of sustenance. The other two powers manifest in the world, namely creation and destruction are personified as Brahma and Siva respectively. Visnu is wedded to Laksmi the goddess of wealth. The significance is that sustenance or maintenance involves wealth. In order to maintain anything the maintainer must necessarily possess wealth.

In the Visnu Purana, Sage Vyasa refers to Visnu as the supreme all-pervading Reality, the Reality which is the substratum of the microcosm and macrocosm. The root ‘vis’ means ‘to pervade’. Visnu is the core of the human personality. He is the Atman which manifests Itself through body, mind and intellect as the individual. The same Visnu pervades the entire cosmos as Brahman.

Visnu is said to be lying on a great serpent, Sesa or Ananta, in an ocean of milk, ksirabdhi in heaven, Vaikuntha. He is said to be in yogic sleep, yoganidra. The body of the serpent is coiled to form Visnu’s bed. The serpent has a thousand heads and its hood is turned inward looking at its own coiled body. Visnu’s consort, Lakshmi, sits at his feet serving him.

Visnu represents the supreme within the human body, mind and intellect. The picture of Visnu lying on the serpent-bed in the milky ocean suggests the means of recognizing the Atman, the innermost core of man’s personality. The ocean is the mind with its infinite thoughts. The milky ocean stands for the sattvika mind. A sattvika mind is pure and serene. It is the highest quality of the mind. The other two states of the mind are rajasika, and tamasika. The rajasika mind is ever agitated. Tamasika is dull and stupid. When the mind is in the latter two states man gets involved in the mundane world. Only the sattvika mind lifts man to the higher realm of Divinity. In a sattvika mind alone can man recognize his Godhead.

The serpent is the ego with its many desires. In a sattvika mind the ego is turned inward. An extroverted ego loses sight of the Divinity within. When the same ego turns its attention inward, when its concentration is upon the inner Self instead of the outer objects of the world it recognizes the supreme Self, Atman. The thousand heads of the serpent turning inwards indicates that the thoughts are directed to single-pointed concentration meditation upon the Atman. When man holds his mind thus in deep meditation upon his supreme Self he realizes Visnu, the all pervading Reality.

Visnu is shown to be in yogic sleep—yoganidra. Yoga is derived from its root yuj, to unite. This indicates his perfect union with the infinite Reality. Nidra means sleep. A man who is totally absorbed in the supreme Self is asleep as it were to the happenings of the terrestrial world, reveling in the infinite bliss of Self-realisation. He is disinterested in the experiences of the finite world.

Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Visnu, sits at his feet, serving him. Lakshmi symbolizes the wealth, power and glory of this world. When man seeks the higher Truth and is disinterested in the world the sense-objects seek him. When Visnu is sought, Lakshmi necessarily follow the seeker. But the trouble in the world today is that people try to seek Lakshmi directly. The moment runs after wealth, starts desiring, craving, asking and begging for it, the object of desires leaves him. That is the law.

Visnu is the one eternal, unmanifest Reality. The manifest world of plurality has emerged from the unmanifest Reality. Brahma, the creator of the world is shown as emerging from the navel of Visnu while he is lying on the serpent-bed. The naval portion represents the psychological centre, cakra from where sound originates in the form of paravak, transcendent speech. This inaudible sound passes through two more stages of developments, namely pasyanti and madhyama, before it becomes audible speech, called vaikhari. This audible sound is the quality of space, akasa. Space is the first of the five elements which constitutes the entire universe. The production of sound therefore symbolizes creation. This idea of the manifested world created from the unmanifested Reality is illustrated by Brahma emerging from the navel of Visnu.

Visnu is known to be blue in colour and clothed in yellow garb. He wears a crown and stands upon a lotus. He has four hands. All these are significant symbols indicating that Visnu is none other than the supreme Self, the changeless Reality around which all the terrestrial changes take place, the imperishable essence in the perishable world.

The blue colour of Vishnu indicates His infinite stature, Blue is associated with the infinite since immeasurable entitites like the sky or ocean appear blue in colour. Yellow is usually attributed to the earth for two reasons: one, the earth (silica) glows with a yellow fire when introduced in a colourless flame; and two, anything that is buried in the earth for a long period of time gathers a yellowish colour. Visnu, blue in colour and clothed in yellow, therefore, represents the descent of the infinite, immeasurable, transcendental Truth to the terrestrial realm i.e. God in a human form.

When the Infinite expresses through a finite form, there is a manifestation of an individual, jiva. The individual comes in contact with and reacts to the world with the help of four subtle instruments in him. They are the four constituents of his subtle body, viz., manas mind, buddhi intellect, ahankara ego and citta conditioned consciousness. The four hands of Visnu represent them.

The crown on Visnu’s head signifies his supreme sovereignty and lordship over the entire world of plurality. He is the one who maintains and protects all things and beings in the entire universe.

The deity stands upon a lotus. The lotus represents Truth. ‘Standing upon the lotus’ therefore, means that the ground or substratum which supports a God-man is the Brahman i.e., a God-man is ever rooted in the supreme Truth.

In his four hands Visnu holds a sankha conch, cakra discus, gada mace and padma lotus. The lotus indicates the final goal of human evolution. By showing the lotus, Visnu invites mankind to reach this goal of perfection by realizing his pure Self within.

The Lord blows his sankha conch, calling the people of the world to lead a pure and noble life so that they may shift their attention and interest from the material world to the supreme Self within. This call is the whispering of the conscience within. The conscience of man tells him to give up sensuous appetites and extrovert living and directs him to the higher life. But man does not heed this sacred voice from within. He continues with his passionate living until he experiences knocks and shocks leading to disappointment and dissatisfaction with life. The mace in the third hand is meant as a warning to draw man’s attention to this stern law of nature. If man, despite the growing sense of restlessness and agitations in his bosom, still persists in his sensual indulgences and does not turn towards the spiritual path, he meets with total disaster. The discus is meant to show man this inevitable end that he would reach if he were totally heedless to the warnings of nature.

On the other hand, a seeker who listens to the call from within and follows the spiritual path leading to the Truth, does not experience the knocks of the mace or the destruction of the discus. He lives a life of contentment and bliss until he reaches the abode of Truth and becomes one with Visnu.

Visnu’s message conveyed by his four hands is true not only with reference to an individual but to a society, community or a nation as well. As long as people do not heed the sacred advice of the scriptures and take to the spiritual values of life, they meet with sorrow and suffering in life. If this warning also is not heeded and the people continue to live extrovertedly fulfilling merely their sense gratifications, they are bound to meet with disaster. This is what history has been recording from generation to generation as evidenced by the rise and fall of nations and empires.

Source: Excerpts from the Book on “The symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals”.

THE GOD BEHIND THE GODS (Story from Kena Upanisad)

Part III of the Kena Upanishad contains a simple narrative. The puranic literature adopted the same method with many mystical stories describing god. It is primarily meant for exercising the intellect to comprehend the subtle truth ingrained in them.

The narrative speaks of a battle between the gods and the demons. The gods were losing the battle. So they sought the help of the Supreme God, Brahman. Through Brahman’s help they emerged victorious. But they were vainful of their glory. They celebrated the victory as their own. Amidst their jubilance they ignored the vital part played by Brahman. Brahman noticed their vanity, ingratitude. And wanted to expose their frailty.

Thus Brahman appeared in the sky as a Yaksa apparition, Spirit. The gods saw the form of the Spirit. They were baffled. Did not know what the yaksa was. And were terrified at the thought of the enemy still lurking. So they approached Agni meaning Fire-god and requested him to find out what that Yaksa was. He agreed to do so.

Agni hastened to that spot. And drew near the Spirit. The Spirit softly asked him, “Who are you?” He replied he was Agni, also known as Jatavedha, meaning, All-Knower. The Spirit enquired, “What power do you possess?” He replied, “I burn everything on earth.” The Spirit then placed a straw before him and asked him to burn it. Agni tried and failed. He promptly returned to the gods and admitted he could not ascertain what the Spirit was.

The gods then approached Vayu meaning Wind-god with the same request. Vayu too agreed to find out what that Spirit was. He hastened to the spot. The Spirit asked him the same questions, “Who are you? What power do you possess?” Vayu answered, “I am Vayu, also known as Matarisva meaning Mover-in-sky. I can blow away everything on earth.” The Spirit placed a straw and asked him to blow it away. Vayu could not do so. He also rushed back and admitted he could not ascertain what that Spirit was.

The gods by now panicked. They approached Indra, the ruler of gods also known as Meghavan meaning Worshipful-one. They requested Indra to investigate the mystery of the Spirit. He agreed and hastened to the spot. As Indra approached, the apparition disappeared. But Indra continued his quest without returning unlike the other two gods. At the very space an extremely beautiful woman appeared. She was Uma, daughter of Himavan, the personification of the Himalaya mountain. Indra asked Uma, What was that apparition which disappeared?”

Part Three of the Kena Upanisad ends with this question. Uma answers the question in the first mantra of Part Four. “Brahman”, she exclaimed, “through Brahman alone you have gained this victory and glory.” Then alone Indra realized the apparition was none other than Brahman, the supreme God.

It appears odd that the story was not completed in Part Three itself. Stranger still that the question and answer are placed in different parts of the Upanisad. It would seem appropriate to have ended Part Three with Uma’s answer. The reason for the split will be covered in the interpretation of the episode which follows.

The narrative has a deep allegorical significance. The Yaksa in the sky represents the supreme God, Brahman, Atman, which is above human perception, emotion or conception. The gods represents human virtues. And demons, represent vices. The apparition appeared after the gods gained victory over the demons. It signifies that the spiritual enquiry starts after virtue prevails over the vice.

When this happens the seeker initially adopts the simple form of spiritual practice using his gross body. He takes to mechanical, ritualistic worship. This is subtly indicated by the Fire-god approaching the Spirit. Fire-god Agni in the context represents the organs of action. Fire signifies speech. Speech is associated with Fire. Typical examples of this association being: “He gave a fiery speech”, “The boss fired him”, “Hot words were exchanged between them”, He took the generation aflame with his oratory”. Etcetera. And speech is used to mean collectively all organs of action. That covers mechanical worship with the gross body. Such physical practices provide hardly any spiritual satisfaction. And the practitioner remains far from spiritual enlightenment.

In the encounter with the Spirit, the Fire-god had two significant experiences:

(i) He could not ascertain what Spirit was

(ii) He lost the power he possessed. He could not burn the blade of grass.

In the first experience indicates that no seeker can contact the supreme God, Atman, the Self through the gross body. The organs of action cannot embrace the Atman, Self.

The second experience indicates that the organs of action are enlivened by the Atman, Self. Without the support of the Self, the organs of action become in effectual. They cease to function.

The repetition of this episode with Vayu Wind-god signifies the relationship between Atman, Self and the organs of perception. Wind-god here represents pranas vital-air sheath. And pranas cover the organs of perception. Therefore, Vayu’s identical experiences with Brahman establishes the same two truths:

(i) The organs of perception cannot perceive Atman, Self.

(ii) Without the support of the Self, the organs of perception become ineffectual. They cease to function.

The third episode with Indra, the ruler of gods, has a variation from the other two gods. Indra’s effort to find out the apparition was not a total failure. Indra did obtain the knowledge of Brahman indirectly through the help of Uma.

Indira represents the mind and intellect, the subtle body. The apparition disappearing from Indira indicates that the mind cannot feel God, nor the intellect comprehend God. However, when the mind surrenders to God in devotion with humility and the intellect probes the Reality with the help of the sastras scripture one can ultimately attain spiritual enlightenment. Symbolised by Indra finally gaining the knowledge of Brahman.

Uma represents scripture. Being the daughter of the Himalayas indicates that the supreme knowledge of Reality emanated from the galaxy of sages and saints in the Himalayan ranges. The dazzling beauty of Uma speaks of the brilliant literature in which that knowledge has been presented.

The idea of separating Indira’s question from Uma’s answer deftly suggests the meditative pause that precedes spiritual Enlightenment. After acquiring the knowledge of the scripture and exhausting the bulk of vasanas, desires, the seeker has to practice concentration and meditation. And wait in silence for the ultimate Experience. In the moment of absolute silence the seeker gains Enlightenment. The last stage of silent pause is beautifully indicated by the deliberate gap between the question and the answer, between effort and Enlightenment.

Further, the above story reveals the following ideas –

1) It is meaningless to be arrogant over one’s power.

2) Brahman is existent.

3) Brahman cannot be known by the senses (gods) and the mind and intellect (Indra).

4) Knowledge of Brahman cannot come without qualifications like humility and devotion.

5) Knowledge of Brahman is the noblest of all.

Source: 1) Excerpt from the Book ‘CHOICE OF UPANISAHDS” by A. Parthasarathy.

            2) Kena Upanisad commentaries by Swamy Paramarthananda.

THE POWERFUL PROCESS OF GRATITUDE

DR. JOE VITALE

What can you do right now to begin to turn your life around? The very first thing is to start making a list of things to be grateful for. This shifts your energy and starts to shift your thinking. Whereas before this exercise you might be focusing on what you don’t have, your complaints, and your problems, you go in a different direction when you do this exercise. You start to be grateful for all the things that you feel good about.

“If it is a new thought to you that gratitude brings your whole mind into closer harmony with the creative energies of the Universe, consider it well, and you will see that it is true.”

 Wallace Wattles (1860-1911)

MARCI SHIMOFF

Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life.

DR. JOHN GRAY
PSYCHOLOGIST, AUTHOR, AND INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER

Every man knows that when his wife is appreciating him for the little things that he does, what does he want to do? He wants to do more. It’s always about appreciation. It pulls things in. It attracts support.

DR. JOHN DEMARTINI

Whatever we think about and thank about we bring about.

JAMES RAY

Gratitude has been such a powerful exercise for me. Every morning I get up and say “Thank you.” Every morning, when my feet hit the floor, “Thank you.” And then I start running through what I’m grateful for, as I’m brushing my teeth and doing the things I do in the morning. And I’m not just thinking about them and doing some rote routine. I’m putting it out there and I’m feeling the feelings of gratitude.

The day we filmed James Ray sharing his powerful exercise of gratitude is one I will never forget. From that day on, I made Jame’s process my life. Every morning, I do not get out bed until I have felt the feelings of gratitude for this brand new day and all I am grateful for in my life. Then as I get out of bed, when one foot touches the ground I say, “Thank”, and “you” as my second foot touches the ground. With each step I take on my way to the bath room, I say “Thank you.” I continue to say and feel “Thank you” as I am showering and getting ready. By the time I am ready for the day, I have said “Thank you” hundreds of times.

As I do this, I am powerfully creating my day and all that it will contain. I am setting my frequency for the day and internationally declaring the way I want my day to go, rather than stumbling out of bed and letting the day take control of me. There is no more powerful way to begin your day than this. You are the creator of your life, and so begin by intentionally creating your day!

Gratitude was a fundamental part of the teachings of all the great avatars throughout history. In the book that changed my life, “The Science of Getting Rich”, written by Wallace Wattles in 1910, gratitude is its longest chapter. Every teacher featured in The Secret uses gratitude as part of his or her day. Most of them begin their day with thoughts and feelings of gratitude.

Joe Sugarman, a wonderful man and successful entrepreneur watched the film The Secret and contacted me. He told me his favorite part was the gratitude process, and that his use of gratitude had contributed to all he had achieved in his life. With all the success Joe has attracted to himself, he continues to use gratitude every day, even for the smallest things. When he gets a parking space he always says and feels, “Thank you.” Joe knows the power of gratitude and all it has brought to him, and so gratitude is his way of life.

DR. JOE VITALE

As soon as you start to feel different about what you already have, you will start to attract more of the good things. More of the thing you can grateful for. You could look around and say, “Well, I don’t have the car I want. I don’t have the house I want. I don’t have the spouse I want. I don’t have the house I want. I don’t have the health I want.” Whoah! Back up, back up! Those are all the things you don’t want. Focus on what you have already have that you’re grateful for. And it might be that you have the eyes to read this. It might be the clothes that you have. Yes, you might prefer something else and you might get something else pretty soon, if you start feeling grateful for what you have.

“Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in poverty by their lack of gratitude.”

 Wallace Wattles.

It is impossible to bring more into your life if you are feeling ungrateful about what you have. Why? Because the thoughts and feelings you emit as you feel ungrateful are all negative emotions. Whether it is jealousy, resentment, dissatisfaction, or feelings of “not enough”, those feelings cannot bring you what you want. They can only return to you more of what you don’t want. Those negative emotions are blocking your own good coming to you. If you want a new car but you are not grateful for the car you have that will be dominant frequency you are sending out.

Be grateful for what you have now. As you begin to think about all the things in your life you are grateful for, you will be amazed at the never-ending thoughts that come back to you of more things to be grateful for. You have to make a start, and then the law of attraction will receive those grateful thoughts and give you more just like them. You will have locked into the frequency of gratitude and all good things will be yours.

“The daily practice of gratitude is one of the conduits by which your wealth will come to you.
 Wallace Wattles

LEE BROWER
WEALTH TRAINER AND SPECIALIST AUTHOR AND TEACHER

I think everybody goes through times when they say, “Things aren’t working right,” or, “Things are going bad.” Once, when there were some things going on my family, I found a rock, and I just sat holding it. I took this rock, I stuck it in my pocket, and I said, “Every time I touch this rock I’m going to think of something that I’m grateful for.” So every morning when I get up in the morning, I pick it up off the dresser, I put it in my pocket, and I go through the things that I’m grateful for. At night, what do I do? I empty my pocket, and there it is again.

I’ve had some amazing experiences with this idea. A guy from South Africa saw me drop it. He asked, “What is that?” I explained it to him, and he started calling it a gratitude rock. Two weeks later I got an email from him, in South Africa. And he said, “My son is dying from a rare disease. It’s a type of hepatitis. Would you send me three gratitude rocks?” They were just ordinary rocks I found of the street, so I said, “Sure.” I had to make sure that the rocks were very special, so I went out to the stream, picked out the right rocks, and sent them off to him.

Four or five months later I get an email from him. He said, ‘My son’s better, he’s doing terrific.” And he said, “But you need to know something. We’ve sold over a thousand rocks at ten dollars a piece as gratitude rocks, and we’ve raised all this money for charity. Thank you very much.”

So it is very important to have an “attitude of gratitude”.

The great scientist Albert Einstein revolutionized the way we view time, space and gravity. From his poor background and poor beginnings, you would have thought it impossible for him to achieve all that he did. Eintein knew a great deal of The Secret, and he said, “Thank you”, hundreds of times each day. He thanked all the great scientists who had preceded him for their contributions, which had enabled him to learn and achieve even more in his work and eventually become one of the greatest scientists who has ever lived.

One of the most powerful uses of gratitude can be incorporated in the Creative Process to turbo-charge what you want. As Bob Proctor advised in the first step of Creative Process, Ask, start by writing down what you want. “Begin each sentence with, I am so happy and grateful now that …..” (and you fill in the rest).

When you give thanks as though you have already received what you want, you are emitting a powerful signal to the Universe. That signal is saying that you have it already because you are feeling gratitude for it now. Each morning before you get out of bed, make it a habit to feel the feelings of gratitude in advance for the great day ahead, as though it is done.

From the moment I discovered The Secret and formulated the vision to share this knowledge with the world, I gave thanks every day for the film The Secret, which would bring joy to the world. I had no idea how we would bring this knowledge to the screen, but trusted that we would attract the way. I stayed focused and held to he outcome. I felt deep feelings of gratitude in advance. As that became my state of being, the floodgates opened and all the magic flowed into our lives. For the magnificent team of The Secret, and for me, our deep, heartfelt feelings of gratitude continue to this day. We have become a team that resonates gratitude with every moment, and it has become our way of life.

Secret summaries

 Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have, and you will attract more good things.

 Giving thanks for what you want in advance turbo-charges your desires and sends a more powerful signal out into the Universe.

Source: Excerpts from the book on THE SECRET.

LORD GANESA

GANAH in Sanskrit means ‘multitude’. Isa means ‘Lord’. Ganesa therefore literally means the ‘Lord of all beings’. Ganesa is the first son of Lord Siva. Siva represents the supreme Reality. The son of Siva symbolizes one which has realized the Reality. One who has discovered the Godhood in him. Such a man is said to be the Lord of all beings.

Ganesa is known by other names as well. Ganpati, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vignesvara. Ganapati has the same literal meaning as Ganesa. Gajanana means ‘elephant faced’. Gaja=elephant, anana=face. Vinayaka means the supreme leader, literally one who has no leader himself. Vignesvara is the Lord of all obstacles, worshipped in the initiation of Hindu rituals and ceremonies. As his name suggests Vignesvara removes all obstacles, overcomes all challenges of life. There is a belief that no undertaking will meet with failure if the grace of Vignesvara is invoked.

In Hindu mythological literature Ganesa is described as having a human form with an elephant’s head. One of the tusks is broken. He has conspicuously large stomach. He sits with one leg folded in. At his feet a variety of food is spread. A rat sits near the food and looks up at him as if it were asking him for sanction to eat the food. This mystical form of Lord Ganesa represents not only the supreme state of human perfection but the practical path to reach that state. The details of his description suggest deep philosophical significance which can guide you to reach that ultimate state.

The first step of spiritual education is sravana which means listening to the eternal truths of Vedanta. The second step is manana which is independent reflection upon those truths. The large ears and head of Ganesa indicate that he had gained previous wisdom through sravana and manana. An elephant’s head on a human body in Ganesa is meant to represent supreme wisdom.

The trunk which springs from his head represents the intellect, the faculty of discrimination which necessarily arises out of wisdom.

Intellect is the discriminating faculty, the discerning ability or the judging capacity in man. Man’s intellect is of two distinct types, namely the gross and the subtle. Gross intellect is that aspect of discrimination which is applicable to the realm of the terrestrial world, that part of the intellect which distinguishes between the pairs of opposites existing in this world, distinguishes between the day and night, black and white, joy and sorrow etc. Subtle intellect is the other aspect of his discrimination which distinguishes between the infinite and the finite, the real and the unreal, the transcendental and the terrestrial. A man of realization like Ganesa is one who has fully developed both his gross and subtle intellects. He has perfect understanding and knowledge of the terrestrial as well as the transcendental.

The trunk of an elephant has the unique capacity of performing both gross and subtle activities. A trunk can uproot a tree. It can pick up a needle from the ground. One rarely finds gross and subtle operations being performed by a single instrument. A spanner which is used for fitting a locomotive is useless for repairing a wrist-watch. The elephant’s trunk is an exception to this rule. It serves both ways. So does Ganesa’s intellect penetrate the realms of the material and spiritual worlds. That is the state which man must aspire to reach.

A Man-of-Perfection is thus rooted in the supreme wisdom. He is not victimized by raga-dvesa, likes and dislikes. He is not swayed by agreeable and disagreeable circumstances, pleasant and unpleasant happenings, good and bad environment. In other words, he is not victimized by the pairs of opposites existing in this world. Heat and cold, joy and sorrow, honour and dishonor do not affect him, influence him or harass him. He has transcended the limitations of opposites in the world. He is dvandva atita, beyond opposites. This idea is well represented in Ganesa having two tusks one of which is broken. The common man is tossed between pairs of opposites. Represented by Ganesa’s tusks. He should endeavour to overcome the influence of the pairs of opposites in him. Man ought not to act merely by his likes and dislikes; these are his worst enemies which he must control and conquer. When he has completely mastered the influence of these pairs of opposites in him, he becomes a Ganesa.

Ganesa’s large belly is meant to convey that a Man-of-Perfection can consume and digest whatever experiences he undergoes. Heat or cold, war or peace, birth or death and other such trials and tribulations do not toss him up and down. He maintains an unaffected grace in and through all these fluctuations of the world. Figuratively, he is represented as being able to stomach and digest all types of experiences.

In Hindu mythology, Kubera, the god of wealth offered a dinner to Ganesa in his palace. Ganesa ate all the food that was prepared for the entire gathering of guests. Thereafter still dissatisfied, he started eating the festival decorations that were used for the occasion. At this juncture his father Lord Siva approached him and offered him a handful of roasted rice. Ganesa consumed the roasted rice and his hunger was satisfied immediately. This story is a directive to mankind that man can never be satisfied with the joys provided by the world or objects represented by Kubera’s feast. Material pursuits can never give peace, contentment or happiness to mankind. The only way to attain absolute fulfillment or peace is by consuming your own vasanas, unmanifest desires in you. The destruction of vasanas is represented by the consumption of roasted rice. When rice is roasted it loses its capacity to germinate. The consumption of roasted rice indicates the destruction of vasanas, desire in you. Thereafter you remain in a state of absolute peace and bliss.

Ganesa sits with one leg folded-up and the other leg resting on the ground. The leg on the ground indicates that one aspect of his personality is dealing with the world while the other is ever-rooted in single-pointed concentration upon the supreme Reality. Such a man lives in the world like anyone else, but his concentration and meditation are ever-rooted in the Atman within himself. This idea is symbolized in the above posture.

At the feet of Lord Ganesa is spread an abundance of food. Food represents material wealth, power and prosperity. When a man follows the high principles of living indicated above he achieves these material gains. He has them always at his command though he has an attitude of indifference towards them.

Beside the food is a tiny rat looking up towards Ganesa. The rat does not touch the food but waits for the master’s sanction as it were for consuming it. The rat represents desire. A rat has a small mouth and tiny sharp teeth. But it is the greediest of all animals. Its greed and acquisitiveness are so great that it steals more than it can eat and hoards more than it can remember, often abandoning burrows full of hoarded grains through forgetfulness. This predominant trait in a rat justifies amply its symbolism as desire. One little desire entering man’s mind can destroy all his material and spiritual wealth earned for many long years. The rat looking up therefore denotes that the desires in a perfect man are absolutely under control. The activities of such a man are motivated by his clear discrimination and judgement rather than by an emotional craving to enjoy the variety of sense objects of the world.

There is a belief amongst Hindus that it is inauspicious to see the moon on the Vinayaka Chaturthi day, reckoned to be the birth day of Ganesa. As per a Puranic story, the moon saw Ganesa riding on his tiny rat and laughed at the ludicrous scene. For this reason the moon is condemned and people are forbidden to see it on this day.

Ganesa riding on his rat indicates a Man-of-Perfection trying to use his limited body, mind and intellect to convey the illimitable Truth. The body, mind and intellect are finite. They cannot express the infinite Atman. A Man-of-Realisation finds it almost impossible to convey his infinite experience through his finite equipments. Hence the words and deeds of all spiritual masters are peculiar and incomprehensible. The common man’s intellect cannot comprehend the Truth. The moon is the presiding deity of the mind. The moon laughing at Ganapati riding on the rat indicates the ignorant scoffing at the Man-of-Realisation’s attempt to convey the truth. This attitude of scoffing at spiritual preceptors and precepts id detrimental to humanity. The generations are therefore warned not to laugh or scoff at the spiritual messages. If they do, they meet with degradation and disaster.

Ganesa has four arms. The four arms represent the four inner equipments of the subtle body, namely manas mind, buddhi intellect, ahankara ego and citta conditioned-consciousness. Ganesa represents the pure Consciousness, the Atman which enables these four equipments to function in you.

In one hand he holds an axe and in another a rope. The axe symbolizes the destruction of all desires and attachments and their consequent agitations and sorrows. The rope is meant to pull the seeker out of his worldly entanglements and bind him to the everlasting and enduring bliss of his own Self. In the third hand he holds a modaka rice ball. Modaka represents the joyous rewards of spiritual seeking. A seeker gains the joy of satisfaction and contentment as he progress on the path of spiritual evolution. In the fourth hand he holds a padma lotus. The lotus represents the supreme Goal of human evolution. By holding the lotus in his hand he draws the attention of all seekers to that supreme State that each one of them can aspire for and reach through proper spiritual practices. He blesses all his devotees to reach the supreme State of Reality.

Thus by indicating to mankind the goal of human evolution and the path to reach the same, Lord Ganesa occupies a place of distinction in the Hindu pantheon. May he give us all the strength and courage to pursue the path which he has led and may we gain that supreme Goal which he has reached.

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Source: From the Book “The Symbolism of Hindu Gods and Rituals” by A. Parthasarathy.
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Kaya Sthariyam (Steadiness)

Swamy Niranjananda Saraswati

Introduction

The first problem we often face in meditation is restlessness in the body. There is always some irritating sensation which distracts us from sitting still for long periods of time. This inability to concentrate can be usually attributed to past indulgences like coffee, cigarettes and alcohol that have contaminated the body. By sustained effort as well as forswearing of any further excesses, the physical body has to be molded so it can become a willing receptacle (Adhar) which can bear the power and light which pours in during Yoga. A strong nervous system is a sine qua non for any spiritual transformation.

The following is an excerpt from the book Dharana Darshan by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati of the Bihar School of Yoga, in which he discusses how to achieve physical body stability. I have appended pictures of the cover and table of contents of this useful book at the end of this post.

Kaya sathariyam

Kaya sthariyam is the first practice of the dharana series. It is a basic practice of concentration on the steadiness of the body. In Sanskrit the word kaya means ‘body’ and sthairyam means ‘steadiness’. Because of the inter-relation between the body and the mind, when the body becomes steady and still the mind follows suit. Therefore, each of the dharana practices should begin with five to ten minutes of kaya sthairyam. Only when the body is absolutely steady and immobile should the actual dharana practice begin.

It is also important to note that the mind remains one-pointed only when the body is still. As soon as any part of the body moves, the mind also moves. Thus the concentration is broken and once broken it cannot be attained again in the same sitting. During a pratyahara practices you can move the body, you can shift your position you can even get up and then come back to the practice. In dharana, however, you cannot move a finger, you cannot bat an eyelid, you cannot even swallow without breaking the concentration.

Before attempting the following practices of dharana, kaya sthairyam must first be mastered. You should be able to sit without moving any part of the body for at least half an hour, then you will be ready to begin the practices of dharana. In the initial stage of kaya sthairyam, the body should be comfortable and relaxed in the meditation posture. Later on, as immobility develops, the physical awareness will gradually subside as awareness of stillness increases. At this time the concentration is shifted from the body to the natural breath, so that the mind still has a focus. Ultimately, the awareness of the breath will also subside so that there is only awareness. At that time you are ready to begin dharana.

With that awareness which is steady and still and unhampered by the body, you must begin to concentrate on the object of meditation. If dharana is attempted with an unsteady body and fluctuating mind, no benefits will result from the practice even if you perform it for a hundred years. The only result will be tension, frustration and a broken mind. Therefore, give your attention to the preparatory practices in the beginning. Master kaya sthairyam, then you will be able to proceed with the practices of dharana without any obstacle.

Technique

Stage 1: Preparation

Sit in a comfortable meditation posture, preferably sidhasana or padmasana. Adjust your position so that you do not have to move any part of the body during the practice. Make sure the spine is erect. Head, neck and shoulders should be slightly back. Place your hands on the knees in chin or jnana mudra. Close your eyes. Become aware of slow deep breathing and count five breaths mentally.

Stage 2: Body posture

Switch your awareness to the body. Concentrate on your meditation posture. Feel your spine rising straight up from the floor, supporting the head. Be aware of the synchronized and balanced position of the arms and legs. Total awareness of the body.

Stage 3: Visualization of body

Visualise your body externally as if you were seeing it in a full length of mirror. See your body in the meditation posture from the front, from the back, from the right side, from the left side, from the top. See your body from all sides at one time.

Stage 4: Body tree

Be aware of your whole body. Feel that you are rooted to the floor. Imagine that your body is growing up from the floor like a tree. Your torso is the trunk, your arms and head are the branches, and your legs are the roots. Your body is rooted to the floor and it will not move.

Stage 5: Sensations in the body

Be aware of any physical sensations: cold, heat, wind, itching, pain, uneasiness, tension, stiffness. Direct your awareness to these feelings. Let them be a focus for your mind. If your mind starts to wander, bring it back to the sensations in the body.

Stage 6: Body Parts

Direct your awareness to the head. Be aware of the head and nothing else. Feel any sensation in the head. Visualize the head. Shift your awareness to the neck. Feel any sensations in the neck. Continue to be aware. Following the same process, move your awareness to the shoulders, to the right arm, the left arm, the whole of the back, the chest, the abdomen, the right leg, the left leg, and finally the whole body. Be aware of the whole body together. Intensify your awareness of the body. Do another round maintaining full awareness.

Stage 7: Immobility of the body

Make a resolve that, “I will not move my body throughout the whole practice. My body will not move or shake. I will remain steady and motionless like a statue.” Even if you feel an impulse to move a finger or toe, to adjust your clothing, or to scratch, try to overcome this urge. When you feel the urge to move you must say to yourself” No, I will not move any part of my body until the end of the practice.”

Stage 8: Steadiness and stillness

Be aware of your physical body, of your meditation posture and of nothing else. There should be total uninterrupted awareness of the whole body. The body is perfectly steady and motionless. Develop the feeling of steadiness. Be aware of your body and steadiness. Be aware of your body and stillness. Your body is absolutely steady and still. Be aware of steadiness. Be aware of your physical body. There is no movement, no discomfort, only steadiness and stillness.

Stage 9: Psychic rigidity

Feel the steadiness and stillness of the body. Gradually your body will become rigid and stiff like a statue, as through all the muscles have frozen. The body should become so stiff that you are unable to move any part, even if you try. Total awareness of the body, of immobility, of psychic rigidity. Feel the locked position of the body. Be aware of the body and of stillness.

Stage 10: Breath awareness

As the body becomes stiff and rigid, you will begin to lose physical awareness. At this time shift your attention to the breath. Become aware of the natural breath, without altering or modifying it in any way. Simply watch the breath as it moves in and out of the body. The breath moves in and out in a rhythmic flow. Follow each movement of the breath with your awareness.

At the same time become aware of the body. Let the awareness alternate from breath to body, then from body to breath. As the body becomes stiffer and stiffer, the awareness will automatically shift more and more to the breath. No effort is required. When the body is absolutely still and motionless the breath will become more and more subtle, until it seems that you are hardly breathing at all.

Stage 11: Stage of concentration

As the breath becomes more and more imperceptible, you will begin to experience the pure awareness which functions through the unfluctuating mind. The breathing is responsible for the movement of the mind and body. When the breath becomes very subtle, the mind becomes one-pointed and still. This is the state in which dharana must be practiced.

Stage 12: Ending the practice

Get ready to end the practice. Gradually become aware of the physical body, of the meditation posture. Feel the weight of the body against the floor. Be aware of the hands resting on the knees. Be aware of the whole physical body. Be aware of the breathing. Watch the breath as it flows in and out. Take a deep breath in and chant Om three times.

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Source: Excerpt from the Book on “Dharana Darshan" by Swami Niranjananda Saraswati.
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Assume Responsibility

There was this wise old man who had answers to all life-related questions. He was an enlightened person. A boy, in his adolescent years, wanted to test the wise old man. So, he caught hold of a little bird. Holding it in the palm of his hands and his hands hidden inside his coat, he asked the wise old man, “I have a bird with me. Is it alive or dead?” The old man smiled and said, “If I tell you the bird is alive, you will crush the bird and show me a dead one. If I tell you the bird is dead, you will release the bird and show me it’s alive.”

Embarrassed, the boy dropped his head and began to walk away. He would have hardly walked a few steps. He heard the voice of the old man, “Mind you my son, in fact, this is the philosophy of life – your life and your death are in your hands.”

In spite of the canvas, despite the paints and the brushes involved, the quality is the responsibility of a painter. Similarly, the quality of a sculpture is the responsibility of a sculptor. If so, then the quality of your life is your responsibility and yours alone. Your life and your death are in your own hands. No blame is allowed. By blaming, you give up the power to change. By taking responsibility you gain the power to change and thus you take charge of your life. The first step to adulthood is to assume complete responsibility for your life. Epictetus profoundly put it: “God has entrusted me with myself.”

This happened in one of the fastest growing companies, which prided on innovative ways to motivate their employees. One day, when the employees turned up for work, they saw a poster on the entry gate with the words, “Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.” Though in the beginning there was a spell of gloom as they read the notification, gently their curiosity got the better of them. “Who was that man who hindered the growth of his colleagues and the company itself?”

One by one when they got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside, they became speechless. They stood near the coffin, shocked in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin; everyone who looked inside it could see himself. On the mirror was another poster that read, “There is only one person who is capable of stopping you permanently, and it is YOU. And, there is only one person who is capable of revolutionizing your life, and that’s again YOU. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change. No one can take responsibility for your life, like YOU can.”

Man not only has the power to take responsibility for his own life, but has within him the capacity to take responsibility for the life of others too. Wherever opportunities present themselves, be the first one to put your hand up. Followers accept responsibilities. Leaders assume responsibilities. You take the initiative. You volunteer. You step forward. Announce your presence. Be counted, and make yourself count.

When you assume responsibility, always take it unconditionally. What is not unconditional will never be done. There is no point in keeping the ‘exit’ door open all the time. Burn the bridges. Conditions are required only to pass on the blame, in case, there is a failure. Don’t even consider failure as an option. Where conditions succeed, responsibilities fail. Where responsibilities succeed, conditions are redundant. Just take it and do it.

The Lord may have borne the cross of your sins, but even He will not bear the cross of your growth. The cross of your growth is your responsibility, and yours alone. You alone must carry it. Only when you feel responsible for your life, you can respond with ability. Else it will be responding with disability. Put your hands up and be counted. There is no better way for a man to create himself than to assume responsibilities.

Of all the creations, man alone, by the way he lives his life, can make this world a little better than it was when he was born. Every man has the capacity to be an architect of a new world. Even if a concept of rebirth exists, you will not be born again as you – not in this form and this name. This is the only chance you have got to be you. Don’t miss yourself and let the world not miss you. Make the most of this birth, this lifetime. Bring forth every human faculty and live a complete human life.

Responsibility is in ensuring you never let a moment pass by you, without you making your presence felt. Add value to every moment. Add value to every relationship. Transform every transaction by adding value to it. Let nothing pass by you without you adding value to it. Be an alchemist. Let everything transform in your presence. In turn, you will be transformed. In helping others to find themselves, you will find yourself. Be a reformer. Be the change agent.

Every revolution in the world happened when one man assumed responsibility of gigantic proportions. In Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ambedkar and Mother Teresa a social revolution was triggered, when they could no more be a passive witness to the predicament of the then society. They waited for no one to lead them. They needed no body to ask them to take the responsibility. They took the lead. They took the initiative. They assumed the responsibility. They put their hand up. They decided to make their life count. They decided to reform the prevailing social conscience and thus caused a re-formed society.

“Something must be done,” that’s the attitude of a spectator in life. Talks about everything; does nothing. A classic follower! If somebody does something, I am willing to enjoy the benefit of it. I, from my side, will not seat, won’t toil, and forget about the blood or tears.

“I will do something about it,” is what leaders are made off. They volunteer to bear the cross. Their life is never a ‘Came and Went’ statistical life. Their life is a legacy of ‘Came and made it Count’.

In Veda Vyas, Adi Sankara, Budha, Mahavira, Jesus, Mohammad, Guru Nanak…. Came the embodied souls, who took it upon themselves to provide a spiritual path to the then ‘lost our ways’ humanity. The Latin word religare, from which ‘religion’ is derived, simply means, ‘to bind back’. Thus, the purpose of religion in the truest sense of the word is to bind us back to the original source from which we came. Each one of these messiahs assumed the responsibility to lead us back to the source from which we came, and through them new paths were born, new religious paths unfolded.

Whether it is your own individual transformation, or the re-formation of humanity at large – it all begins with one embodied human soul stepping forward to assume that responsibility

A promotion in your career isn’t a new status but it is a new responsibility. Man and woman becoming husband and wife isn’t a new status but a new responsibility. Husband and wife becoming father and mother isn’t a new status but a new responsibility. Being born a a human being, in itself, isn’t a status but a responsibility, for you can impact this world in ways you alone can.

If I ask you to carry a 12 Kg single granite stone and walk a kilometer, you will struggle with it. Now, I ask you to carry your child who is 14 Kg for the same one kilometer and you will happily do it. Anything in life that is perceived as Kashtam Kashtam (difficult, difficult) will only appear to be even more difficult. Do the same thing, perceiving it as Ishtam Ishtam , the most complex of tasks can be done with effortless ease. Stop viewing responsibilities as a burden and start seeing them as opportunities. Stop saying Kashtam Kashtam (difficult, difficult) to responsibilities and step forward to take responsibilities by saying Ishtam Ishtam.

Source: FT May 2011 issue.

Role of reason in human life

Lord Buddha has cautioned humanity over 2,500 years ago on the important role of reason in human life.


     Do not believe what you have heard.

     Do not believe in tradition because it is handed down many generations.

     Do not believe in anything that has been spoken of many times.


     Do not believe because the written statements come from some old sage.


     Do not believe in conjecture.


     Do not believe in authority or teacher or elders.


     But after careful observation and analysis, when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it.

Failure is not an end, Never give up.

Soichiro Honda

In 1938, when Soichiro Honda took his first working sample of piston ring to Toyota, they rejected stating the samples were not upto their standards. Rather than focusing on the failure, he continued to work on his goal. After two years of redesigning, he finally won a contract with Toyota. He built a factory to commence production, which was bombed and destroyed due to World War. He rebuilt a new factory which was brought down into rubbles by earthquake. Honda was not a man who would accept failure as a possibility. Recession and depression caused by the war had created extreme gasoline shortage in Japan. So people resorted to walking and cycling. Honda designed a tiny engine and attached it to his bicycle. His neighbours too wanted one of those motorized cycles from him. He was unable to meet the demand. So he built a plant and manufactured his motorcycle ‘The Super Cub’ which earned him the Emperor’s award. Today, Honda Corporation employs over 100,000 people. Why Honda never considered failure as the end.

Swamy Chinmayananda

Great people became great people because of the way they dealt with failures and setbacks in life. At every fall they refused to remain fallen. They refused to quit. They refused to give up. They refused to accept a ‘No’ from life. “Their greatest glory,” in the words of Swamy Chinmayananda, “was not in never falling, but in rising every time they fell.”

The newspaper editor fired him because he had no good ideas. A pastor employed him to draw canvassing material for the church. He was allowed to stay in the backward of a mouse-infested church garage. One of those mice inspired the man so much that Mickey Mouse was born, and Walt Disney was revealed to the world. Walt Disney epitomized what Churchill preached, “Never, never, never, never, never, never give up.”

Chester Carlson’s 

Chester Carlson’s idea was rejected by over 20 corporations and after seven long years of rejections that idea unfolded to the world as Xerox Corporation.

Colonel Harland D Sanders 

Colonel Harland D Sanders heard 1009 ‘No’s to his proposal of a good chicken recipe before he heard the first ‘Yes’, and the multimillion-dollar KFC corporation was born.

Sylvestor Stallone

The Rambo we know, Sylvestor Stallone was rejected by over 1000 Holywood agents before he had his first breakthrough. One of the greatest inventors of all times who went on to receive 1,093 patents, more than anyone in the history of the world, is Thomas Alva Edison. Even he had to fail 9,999 times before he perfected the light bulb.  Einstein’s parents thought he was mentally retarded.

Thomas Alva Edison

Steven Spielberg

 Steven Spielberg was placed in special class for learning disabled. 

Sir Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school.

Beethoven

Beethoven’s music teacher told him, ‘you are hopeless’.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan was dropped from his high school basketball team. Winston Churchill failed in his 6th grade. Edison’s teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything.

Abraham Lincon

Abraham Lincoln failed in business at the age of 21 and again at 24. He was defeated in a legislative race at the age of 22, and twice in the congress race at the age of 34 and again at the age of 36. He then lost a senatorial race at the age of 45 and again at the age of 49. He failed to become the vice-president at the age of 47. Yet, after all these failures, Abraham Lincoln went on to become the historic President of United States at the age of 52. Lincoln showed to all of us that if one wants rainbow in life, you got to be willing to put up with the rain.

Failure is a parenthesis inside which success hides. There is no sunrise without sunset. There is no life without death. There cannot be only-success and no-failures. Champions understand that it is better to face outstanding failures than mediocre success. Only those who are willing to persist inspire of temporary setbacks, only those who would not succumb to defeats, only those who persisted in spite of midway failures went on to write success stories.

Nothing wrong ever turned to be right in the long run. The very fact that so many failures have finally turned into success implies that failures are not wrong. Learn from your failures and move on. Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.” Just don’t give up. Keep on keeping on.

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To sum up briefly, failures are not an end itself. Never, never, never give-up. Learn from your failures and move on. Keep on keeping on.

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Who are you Krishna? Who are you!

It seems after a man died, God was uncertain whether to send him to hell or heaven. He had to his credit as much good deeds as bad ones. So, God offered the man to execute a choice. The main said, “I am quite practical. Unless I have a site to visit to both the places, I cannot make up my mind.” So, accompanied by one of God’s second lines, the man first visited the hell. There he saw an extraordinary banquet, outstanding spread of food, and yet no one was eating. Everybody looked dull and weak. In fact, it did look hell. The man was then led to heaven. Here again he saw an extraordinary banquet, outstanding spread of food, and everybody were eating, dancing and rejoicing. Everybody looked cheerful and excited. It did look heaven. On his return to see God, the man expressed his confusion. “Dear God, though the atmosphere looked the same, why was hell so much hell, and heaven so heavenly?” With a smile, God replied, “You didn’t look properly. In hell and in heaven, a four-feet fork and a spoon are been tied to their respective hands. In hell, everybody is trying to feed themselves, which they cannot with a four-feet fork and a spoon. So they are starving and feeling weak. Their selfishness is turning their atmosphere into hell. In heaven, everybody is feeding the one in front of them. So they are healthy and feeling jubilant. Their selfishness is turning their atmosphere into heaven.”

After an elongated pause, it seems God concluded, “Not only in this eternal world, but even in that earthly world, you will get everything you want from life, if you will help enough other people get what they want from life. In lifting others, you are lifted.

That’s Krishna. From his biological parents to his adopted parents, from his friends to the gopis, from the birds to the animals, from Draupadi to Sudham, from Arjuna to Duryodhana. Krishna was there for everybody. He was dependent on nobody, and yet dependable for everybody. He lived up to the ideal of ‘Love all. Need none’. It never mattered what others did for him. What mattered is what he could do for others.

There lived a man by name Samuel in a Small Village. Samuel was a man of love, affection, integrity and innocence, who helped people at all times and by all means. An embodiment of love he was; but never ever prayed, nor did he know the meaning of prayer. He preferred to serve the masses instead of attending the Sunday Mass. One day an angel appeared before Samuel with a book in her hand. Opening the book the angel read the names of Paul, Peter and Marry and asked Samuel, “Could you please show me the house of these people.” Samuel asked the angel, “What book is this?” The angel replied, “This is the book which contains the names of those people who love God.” Out of curiosity, Samuel asked the angel, “Could you please check for my name too!”. The angel said, “Sorry, your name does not figure in it.” Hearing this Samuel was shaken. The next day the angel came with another book and as she opened it, the name Samuel topped the list. Again out of curiosity Samuel asked the angel, “Now what is this book?” The angel replied, “The Book which I brought yesterday contained the names of those people who love God. This book which I have brought today contains the names of those people whom God loves.” There are people like Samuel in this world who teach us that, “The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray.” The Creator cares for those who care for the creations.

Selflessness is another name for Krishna. You are Krishna, when you go into every relationship looking at what you can give and not what you can receive.

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Source: FT April 2011.

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