The Mystic says - on Choices and decisions made!

 

The Mystic says - on Choices and decisions made!

The Mystic says “Choices and decisions taken decide our samskaras. These samskaras (psychic impressions) then become instrumental in etching our attitudes and our character. And we live our lives based on our attitudes and character.

Our understanding too is decided by our samskaras and our character. We can think straight only when our samskaras are “satvic” in nature.

Now, with this understanding, when a sadhak takes choices and decisions, he is working towards his own upliftment”.

# choices and consequences, fate and destiny, karma, samskaras, impressions, beliefs, right and wrong, right and pleasing,

also read: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2016/12/teachers-everyone-me-my-guru_27.html 

Angulimaan, the Saint

Contd….

Angulimaan, the Saint

Then what is his past that has such devilish samskaras? Tradition tells that in one of his former lives he had been a powerful spirit, a so-called yaksha, who used his superhuman strength to hurt and kill living beings to satisfy his appetite for human flesh. In all his past experiences that are reported in the Jatakas, two traits are prominent in him: his physical strength and his lack of compassion. This was the dark heritage of his past which broke into his present life, submerging the good qualities of his early years. (No – don’t ask ‘maam do you know my past life? Or use it in wrong place and say ‘so, me wanting to hurt him is actually because of my past samskaras and I am not at fault?’ Please don’t right law in wrong place to get away with your acts and thoughts. You can with people but karma will catch up with you at right time….)

So, in his final response to his teacher's demand, he did not even think of the alternative, to gather the fingers from corpses thrown into India's open charnel grounds. Instead he started living in dense forest attacking people who crossed the forest. He found that when he kept fingers cut on tree tops, the birds would peck them and hence to do away with their nuisance and to safe-guard the fingers that he collected with so much of hard-work, he started wearing them strung together as a garland around his neck and hence came to be known a ‘Angulimaan’ – ‘anguli’ means little finger – a man wearing a garland strung of little fingers. His notoriety spread far and wide and people started avoiding that path. By repeatedly killing people without remorse, he became ‘devil incarnate’ by nature. There seemed no streak of Brahmin quality of mercy, compassion, pity, sensitivity, love for the other, non-violence and such noble qualities left in him.

Does this mean ‘we are governed only by our samskaras and we do as per our destiny? Read the related posts on ‘destiny, fate, choices’ and if you still don’t get it, ask and I’ll try explaining again.

Contd….

also read: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=past+lives

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=samskaras

Angulimaan, the Saint

Contd….


Angulimaan, the Saint

Here, we can see the character of his father shine when he

religiously told the king about the doom his son could bring about as per his horoscope (Now don’t sit to ask the question, does horoscope predictions come true and all). That much high was the character of people in general and especially of the father of Ahimsaka who thought of the benefit and good of the nation before their own kith and kin. That’s why it was ‘Golden Era’. And look at the

character of the king! Inspite of knowing that he could be a threat to the kingdom, he did not kill the infant out of fear for self or blindly believing the horoscope. He thought of an alternative and believed in ‘raising the child properly and educating it so would mould his character. He was not wrong in thinking so and doing so too! Every circumstance brings with it ‘a decision’ to be

taken. What does the person taking the decision base his decision on – Dharma or emotions? General good or selfish motive? These decide and mould the character of the individual accordingly and thus he writes his ‘destiny’. No one can predict the future. You can only act out of Dharma and right and wrong based on present circumstances.

We can only assume few facts based on the story. Like the teacher probably expected that Ahimsaka, in his attempt to complete that deed, would be killed himself or, being caught by the king's men, would suffer the highest penalty of execution.  One of Ahimsaka’s motivations may have been that an unquestioning obedience to the guru appeared to him as the

first duty of a pupil, this being an echo from his earlier way of life that was governed by higher principles. But the stronger factor in his decision will probably have been that his hidden dispositions had actually emerged in his mind when vistas of violence were evoked by his teacher's words. He may have felt attracted by a life of violent adventure as a challenge to his manly prowess. These is what is called as ‘samskaras’ (psychic impressions from out past – which loosely is called karma too!).

Contd….

also read : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=horoscope

Guru

...contd....

In Mahabharat, Duryodhana accepted Shakuni as his 'Guru' - whose advice he followed blindly.

He believed that Shakuni had only his interest uppermost in his mind.

And let us for now assume it to be true too!

Assuming Shakuni - his own uncle had only intention to see Duryodhan rule Hastinapur - then why did Duryodhan face such a ghastly end?  Not only he, the entire Kuru dynasty and with him all the dynasties of Aryavrat (the entire Bharata Desa - India as was called in those days!)  met their end.  Because the battle of Kurukshetra was not fought between two brothers but involved all kings of Bharata Desa in short it was a la' world war.

The entire Kuru clan was wiped out.  There was no heir left of Kuru clan.  Did not Shakuni's advice effect janmas (generations ) to come?  That is one effect (in future!)

Next, since as per shashtras we know we have next life and that life's birth and quality depend on our present karma, can you in any way think of good life for Duryodhana?  That's the second effect i.e., the birth and the quality of our life is affected.

Next - since all this life Duryodhana was beaming with hatred, anger, jeolousy and insecurities, he would be born with these as his basic nature which we call as 'samskaras'.  This is what determines our horoscope.  Since he would be born with these qualities, he would be more prone to behave in a similar fashion in next life too thereby increasing their impression on his soul which effects his janmas to come..

In short, for many more janmas to come, he sould be literally 'living hell'....

...contd....

On targets - their need and benefits!

 

Contd....

On targets - their need and benefits!

It will strengthen your will.

It will strengthen your samskaras (attitudes/psychic impressions) to choose right over pleasing.

It will help you to execute your planning. And that my dear, is an important quality to have if you wish to succeed in any field of your choice.

It will give you a sense of direction.

It develops the winner’s attitude

And also a sense of achievement!

Anyone who blindly follows the list of instructions given by way of “SADHAN” in the blog post, can notice all this in himself.

Every single time, each of these qualities is built and developed.

And they make a difference in the person’s attitudes, and character building and all this is reflected as situations in their life.

So you see, when you put any ‘sadhan’ to practice, you not only gain to heal yourself, gain some grace, better your situations, but also gain the entire list enlisted above!

So, kudos to all those who have been regular in the “sadhan”.

Give your feedback on the same if you please…..

Concluded...

*****

# targets, achievements, success, goals, develop divine qualities, qualities to strengthen us, overcome our weakness,

also read:   https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2023/04/small-efforts-make-big-changes-possible.html 

Question time: 

Few of you started on this target. Wishing and hoping you are still going strong with it https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2023/12/penny-day-target-for-year-2024-starting.html 

Pointer:

For those who did not find their question answered or message that they were searching for today (or any other day too!!) look closely at the "IMAGES/QUOTES PICTURE" in the post!

Even learning can be fun if you know the subject well!

 

 

Guru poornima or Buddha poornima

…contd….

Significance of this day : 

‘Guru’ is a compound word. In Sanskrit language, ‘Gu’ means ‘darkness’ and ‘ru’ means ‘dispeller’ and put together it means ‘a person who is dispeller of darkness’. ‘Guru’ is thus a person who removes ‘darkness’ called ignorance from us and leads us from ‘darkness’ to ‘light’ i.e., ignorance to Truth. 

Guru is one who imparts the knowledge that he has earned through his ‘sadhan’ or ‘penance’ to his student/s which is expression of ‘ultimate expression of selfless love’ in the world and hence the ‘love of guru is considered the ultimate ‘possession’ or ‘earnings’ of one’s life. He guides the student through the maze of karma, karmic imprints called ‘samskaras’, quagmire of desires and pushes him ever into the world of ‘Light’ or ‘Realization of Self’.

This day is a day of remembrance of all his deeds and love for his students and a day of gratitude in the life of his students. It’s a day a student reiterates his ‘receiving’ from his Guru and pays his ‘gratitude’ to his Guru in various forms.

It is not Guru’s ‘Happy Birthday’ that you wish him ‘happy guru poornima’.  Thanks to western influence and degeneration of right values, saying ‘hi’ to elders and Guru may be considered ‘cool’ thing but that shows one’s values and his understanding of this day and the role of Guru.

Where is respect in this ‘happy guru poornima day’ wish? It’s not about me being of old school. It reflects ones character.

And please don’t send ‘I am sorry’ words………it’s not about saying those words…it’s about understanding what we are doing and for what reason….not just blindly doing things assuming we are right (and funnily we expect even positive results for these mundane illogical acts since we assumed that we have shown our gratitude so we should get results in the form of blessings et all! How funny!)

 Gratitude doesn’t show in this ‘western hallow way of uttering words’. It is shown in action. One reaches Guru’s place with due respect and heart full of gratitude and some flowers, incense sticks and such dakshina. No real Guru doesn’t look forward for it and many times doesn’t even accept it. But it is not about the Guru. It is an excuse to show your gratitude. Many therefore go and do ‘seva’ at Guru’s place. Many even partake of ‘theertham’ – water used to wash guru’s feet and take it as ‘prasada’. They massage the feet of their Guru and ‘cry tears of pain’ when they see their Guru in pain while they are massaging the feet. Physically, these are just few ways “gratitude” is expressed towards one’s Guru.

As a Reiki channel, one can send reiki for the financial well-being, for the Guru’s family members to be healthy, wealthy and peaceful for atleast ½ an hour today. One can chant ‘Mrutyunjaya Mantram’ atleast 11 malas for his Guru’s well being.

‘jahan chah hai wahan raah hai’

Where there is love, love will find its way to express itself…..

But, ofcourse, the main criteria is ‘love’ and ‘gratitude’. Is it really there? That is the question that one needs to answer honestly to self.  If it’s only outwardly and a show of hand then yes, whatever you do counts as respect and gratitude….no questions asked there……

….contd……

Me, my Guru – on perception

 

Contd.....

Me, my Guru – on perception

Bhishma smiled, turned to Duryodhana, and said “You see; you couldn’t find even one good person in our kingdom whereas Yudhishtra couldn’t find even one bad person in the same kingdom. This is the quality required of a leader. Each person will have some weaknesses. But a leader is one who can see the good or some capability in him and put that to good use. That way, every person can be utilised for some good in him for the benefit of the kingdom. That way our kingdom will prosper.” Duryodhana went away angrily.

So you see, leader is one who can see good in all. This doesn’t apply to leader or a Guru, it applies to each one of us. The more I train to see and appreciate the good in others, the more the divine in me strengthened. That is the ‘psychic impression’ called samskaras that we carry over the janmas. That in turn decides the quality of our life. That is how destiny is formed. The asura in me will see ‘flaws’ in Lord Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus or even Mother Theresa. Now what to say of people in my life. This being the case, how can one expect ‘good relationships’ in ones’ life? It’s not that such people don’t get to have friends or family. No! everyone has. It’s just that such nature will attract similar mentality people/person in my life.

Contd.....

# on perception, point of view, seeing good in others, Buddha and buddhu, you are what you see, outer world reflection of inner world

also read previous post on this topic for added clarity: https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2015/03/oh-god.html 

and

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2015/03/help-others-to-tide-over-your-problems.html 

Points to ponder:

• We all want others to respect us, listen to us, follow us. We want to have power and position to lead others.
• But the qualities that are required to do so, we royally lack and don't care to develop.
• The qualities of a leader or Guru are not rocket-science. They are simple and told umpteen times before. But following them, developing them SEEMS herculean task not by way of its implementation but because we don't want to develop those qualities. Why? That why each one of you should find it out for yourself.
• Some of you may say "But, I don't want to maam" fair enough - just stop complaining that everyone is taking you for granted. You can't cry that you are not given a position of respect and power. You can't seek the perks of being a leader or a Guru - remember that!

Time for Homework:

Pick up any one quality that you don't want to develop /overcome - say laziness, indiscipline, punctuality, regularity, participation in group activities - and so on and so forth. Meditate on it and get back with your responses if you please. Even if you don't want to put it up in blog, still do the exercise and jot it down in your journal.....

No need to do any follow up action on these qualities. Just meditate and write it down. It may take couple of weeks for some to understand the reason behind even one quality - no problem...just do it...

Sit in meditation just 15mts per day. The day you start getting answers start writing it down.

Me, My Guru Bhagavatam – surrender

...contd....

Next the cream from this curd is taken and churned to bring out butter.

Similarly, our mind which is set on divine is churned vigorously by our own ‘samskaras’ to bring out ‘knowledge’ the butter of sadhan and it is melted to make ‘ghee’ i.e., love or bhakthi that is given as oblation ‘ahuti’ in the ‘homam fire’. It means the love or bhakthi which is the crux or any sadhan is the ‘one’ that needs to be offered to the ‘Lord’ or ‘Divine’. He loves that ‘love’ of ours for him – not the butter in physical form. (That doesn’t mean I am asking you not to give ‘butter’ as prasadam (offering) to him).

There were other points written but I didn’t find them engaging then! I was held by this ‘butter theory’. Now this ‘management tip’ seemed complete and made more sense. I could actually put lots of other data also together. Ofcourse, most of the data had been provided by our Guru at various times. Others may get it from other sources but I received most from ‘her’ and in the last 15-20 years that I had been around her. I don’t even remember how many ‘precious pearls of knowledge’ I had let scatter that she had so generously distributed to us.

Krishna’s one more name was ‘Mohan’ which means ‘man ko mohane wala’ or one entices or robs your heart/mind’ that is he is ‘the one who entices our hearts’. He is the ‘chitchor’ – stealer of heart. All this again lead us to the fact that ‘all he wanted, desired or expected from us was love’. He, thus stealing butter was symbolic of saying that all I need is ‘your heart’ or ‘love’.

And what was I doing?

Taking care of the physicality of rituals and just didn’t even bother to understand their meaning, importance and import. I was always saying “...but I go to temple, do regular pooja, chant so many times...”. I was keeping tab of all that was material oriented but my heart was enveloped in antagonising, fault-finding, anger, envy, hatred, complaining, self-pity and everything except ‘love for Krishna’.

How many times I thought about him during the day? Once, twice and I would question her “...but I am good devotee doing pooja regularly and doing charity too....then why am I suffering so much?” I laughed at my own stupidity. God, how she had put up with all this nonsense of mine all this years? I owe her a lot just for putting up with me. No doubt, it is said ‘love of Guru is fathomless – is an ocean’.

...contd....

Rules and regulations for a Master

 

Rules and regulations for a Master

“Tell me, Guruji, how should a Master behave? What are his traits? What rule should he follow as a Master?” asked Vaishnav clearly wanting to find fault with our Guru’s behaviour. 

Our Guru replied with a smile “To master oneself, there are rules and regulations. To overcome one’s ego there are virtues to be developed. To transcend one’s samskaras (psychic impressions) one has to follow rituals and rules. 

But once the individual has transcended his karma, once he has ‘mastered’ over his nature he need not follow any rules.

Once a person has mastered selflessness and experienced ‘self’ he can behave as he chooses. However he behaves that is ‘right’.  Master cannot be bound by a student’s definition of right and wrong. But a student can be pointed his flaws and slips by the Master “saying so our Guru kept quiet.

We didn’t know what to ask after that and so kept silent – externally! 

Concluded....

# qualities of a Guru, me, my Guru, 

also read  : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=qualities+of+a+guru 

https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=intention 

read the link to understand what a Guru does and how he can do and does it : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=jabala 

Questions addressed : 

• What are the qualities that a Guru should have?
• What are the limitations that bind a Guru?
• Which traits of Guru are wrong?
• How to recognise a Guru?
• How long should we follow rules and regulations?
• What is the purpose of 'rituals' and 'dharma'?
• What is freedom and when does one get it?

Pointers in the post : 

“Tell me, Guruji, how should a Master behave? What are his traits? What rule should he follow as a Master?” asked Vaishnav clearly wanting to find fault with our Guru’s behaviour. - This looks like a harmless question on the first look of it. But look within and you see layers of anger, judging, envy etc in this question.

Why does one ask a question? - This is something we don't notice or think much about. A student who is being corrected by his master regularly gets so angry with him that he wants to find some reason to hurt him and find fault with him. In the process he again seeks the help of 'Guru' to hurt the Guru! What an irony!

Apply it with and in every relation where we are submissive because of other person's age, position or relationship - like parent, elders in the family, boss or your teacher and like. They have our good in mind when they correct us or point us our flaws. Sometimes, the method used or the way it is told may be wrong, but the intention of the person is not personal. They have our good at heart and our of intimacy may chide us but still that is only for our good. But we in our ignorance find it irritating and insulting. And we harbour that anger over the years and wait to get back to them. We hurt them in ways many and so many times. We harbour anger and are brewing it day in and day out......think about it! 

Assuming, they have hurt us, even then how many times they have extended us support? See how many times they have taught us well. See how many times they have given so much in so many ways! And yet, we are angry at them for few times (we presume!) they have hurt us!

And we think 'our logic and reasoning' to be right in being angry?

"Look at the answer given by the Guru" - That doesn't mean all the things 'so called Gurus' do and so they are in jail is valid. Don't understand the right answer the wrong way! Kudos to logic that sends us on this stupid road! Meditate on this. What does this mean? Why it is ok for Guru to kill and wrong when you and I are even angry at others? Even a thought of killing someone is wrong when you and I do but when Krishna kills, it is absolute 'Dharma'. Why? 

Next apply it with every relationship - we have a rule book on how 'they are supposed to' behave and we go with an assumption that we are 'perfect'. The basis of our wrong understanding in this logic and basis of our argument. Look into this aspect of every relationship and see how we have been 'wrong' in our expectations and conditions from our relationships.........

Don't let logic to twist your understanding..... 

Today's Miracle : 

Yesterday someone told "You know the worst thing about Corona - I can't taste my food. There is no good eating now" Now this person is a foodie and so the pain is much more for this person.......

how many times we take 'having ability to taste' for granted? Today, i sat to thank for still having it. I may not have chappan bhog  (loosely translated 7 course meal ) i.e., 56 variety of items to eat but still whatever gruel i drink i still am able to taste......thank God for that! and this thanks is not just verbal - mind you!

We miss out on living and life while we look at things that we desire for and not having right now with us.

We miss out living and celebrating people in our life while we cry for ones not in our life.

We don't use things and enjoy with them for we curse our fate for not being able to have those things which we long for!

In all this process, "WE" are choosing to suffer. 

We have this moment only once - once gone we can't retrive this moment. Do we want to spend it crying and complaining or being thankful and happy? 

We can work towards our goals and desires longing for them, crying for them, being jealous of people who already have it, getting angry at people whom we expect to fulfill our desires OR

we can keep working towards what we wish to acquire in life with a smile on our lips and song in our heart?

Our choice reflects who we are!

Our choice reflects if we are using our logic to our benefit or for our downfall?

Our choice reflects our 'Destiny'!

Choose wisely!

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

 

Contd….

Me, My Guru – Indra and I

The other set didn’t bother much. We had our excuses – office work, our health, spouse or family not co-operative etc etc. The result – the child ended up playing all and sundry games not bothered about school and its activities. Result – the kid scraped through all the exams. These were the kids that ended up doing all and sundry businesses to earn money.

Both were bad. Results in both ended up harming the kid one way or the other. And here she was giving us the mid-path!

“You let child play for set number of hours. That is essential for physical and emotional well-being of the kid. We can teach a lot through games too! Are we doing that? And then make their education fun and interesting so that they enjoy it too!

But we are not here for that today! Similarly, we need to balance our priorities right. We are not able to see our wrong because we wrongly assume ourselves to be this ‘body’. This wrong identification causes us to behave in such a manner that we end up catering to our ‘physical needs’ ONLY all through our lives. Our ‘BE ALL OF LIFE’ is acquiring, possessing and maintaining – be it people or materials in life. And yet, with all the people and possessions, we go empty handed after death. The things that comes with us are our ‘samskaras’ character, nature and our karma. And yet, we are blind to what we are going to carry with us and are forever clamoring for things that we are going to leave behind anyhow! 

Contd….

# child rearing, way of bringing up children, the middle path, right and wrong, dharma, karma, 

also read suggested : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=Me%2C+My+Guru+on+assigning+values 

Points addressed : 

• How to balance between extremes in life?
• The purpose of this world is to teach us something. 
• We have come to believe and live as if the very purpose of life is to chase the things of this world. There in lies our cause of suffering and pain.
• When we create, respect, save things of this world it makes us a better person. 
• When we show gratitude, concern for the things of this world it turns us into better human beings.
• When we work for the betterment of the things of this world it helps us grow into beautiful human beings.
• When we run behind things of this world we become bitter person. 
• When we think things of this world are for our use, we harm them and in turn bear the consequences of our such acts and thoughts.
• When we use things of this world as if we are entitled to, then that turns us into demonic persons.