Me, My Guru – Guru who gave back youth to his shishya!

 

Me, My Guru – Guru who gave back youth to his shishya!

As I entered the class which was in progress, I found everyone engrossed in the story which was being told by our Guru. I just joined them. And in no time found myself lost in the explanation.

“Mahadev is the ‘Adi Guru’. That means he is the first of all Gurus. The Guru parampara (lineage) started with the Adi Guru – Lord Shiva. Rishis who sought knowledge worshipped him. Asuras who sought boon to vanquish their eternal enemies – Devas, also worshipped him, pleased him and loved him.

He was ‘araadhya’ (one worthy of worship and love) of one and all! He was the easiest of all Gods to please. He was God of Gods and yet simple acts of worship pleased him. He was simplicity personified.

This was the same Lord who was dear to the Asura King Ravana. Ravana was so powerful that he vanquished Indra, the King of Devas, and had conquered the Devalok – Swargalok (heaven). He even captured his half-brother Kubera – the God of wealth and usurped all his wealth and his kingdom – the Golden City of Lanka. He won over other celestial beings like yaksha, and Gandharavas too!

Such a powerful Ravana was well versed in 4 Vedas and hence was called “Ravana Brahma” – one equivalent to Brahma in knowledge. Brahma was the Creator who was exponent in the four Vedas. No other person was on par with him in this knowledge – except of course his Grandson – Ravana.

Contd....

# Me My Guru series, Ravana, guru's grace, on grace, qualities of the shishya, attitudes, humility, seva, 

also read suggested https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/2015/04/ravana-highly-talented.html

Sadhan for today!

 

Sadhan for today!

You can send reiki to 'saptarishis' or just rishi of your gothra today as a form of gratitude for their contribution to the mankind in general.....

You can also do soul healing to people in your family - grandparents, aunts, uncles , forefathers in general today seeking their blessing and also thanking them for their contribution to the lineage (vamsham - geneology)....

You can chant atleast one mala (rosary) of Gayathri mantra or MM - whichever is convenient to you for the same reason.......

Number of malas that you can do would be your choice....if you can't do more then at least do one for them today.........

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

Bhaktha and his bhakti – Guru Shishya – My Guru and Me

Bhaktha and his bhakti – Guru Shishya – My Guru and Me

“Why Guruji, why do you entertain such of these people who have left you, done other’s courses, or been with masters we know for sure are not right people and over and above all this, these people come with a hidden agenda? If we can see through their intentions why are you blind to them?” our group vented out our long suppressed anguish, anger and God knows what feeling we had for such people.

More disgusting was the fact that they praised such masters, despite what or who they were! But she let them come back. We couldn’t accept!

“Whenever Asuras (demons of yore ages) did intense tapas (penance) it was for only power which was harmful for the whole lot of Devas, Rishis (Brahmins and ascetics who would lead their lives ONLY in search of TRUTH and were into such practices only!) and people following Dharma – in short, to all who were good and meek. And yet, the Asura would be granted a boon at the end of his penance!” our Guru started to explain and I cut her sentence with my question. “But we are talking about these students and…”. She smiled at me and continued her explanation thereby not letting me finish my question. “Kaikasi, daughter of Sumali, a rakhshasa wanted to have a son who was powerful and full of “tejas”. Her father right from birth fed her with the stories of Daityas, stepbrothers of devas being cheated, insulted and won over by devas. So she became highly biased towards Daityas and hence she wanted to have a son so powerful as to vanquish their mortal enemy – Devas – and get supremacy over the three worlds.”

One of us luckily intervened to ask a question that struck most of us at the time. “Guruji, aren’t Devas gods and Asuras, demons? Then why are you using Daityas for Asuras? Does Asura not mean demonic by nature? And how come they are step brothers?”

Contd........

also reads : https://kantipadam.blogspot.com/search?q=your+behaviour+reflects+who+you+are 

questions answered : 

• How do I repay people who are mean to me?
• What is the 'RIGHT' way to behave with people when they are manipulative and wrong in every way?
• Why are Asuras called so?
• What were asuras originally called?

How and when enmity between devas and asuras start? 

Points to be understood :

• We may have lots of reasons to get back at people who hurt us or are manipulative in nature. But if our behaviour depends on who they are then are we not on the same line as them?
• If what you do and the other does to you is the same, then how do you think they are bad and you 'good'?

What birds teach - Me, My Guru

Contd........

What birds teach us?

Me, My Guru

Birds and Bhagawat Gita – wow! Now that’s something I could never have come up with. But then that’s why I was here and she was what she was – a Guru! Many of us had knowledge – atleast theoretical in most of these worldly subjects that she quoted. But her words gained more weightage and depth because she could connect them. We read, saw and understood each topic topically but she was always connecting them and bringing about a connectivity. And the application part – wow simply superb! Maybe that’s what spiritual outlook is all about!

“Inspite of caring so deeply and 24/7 when ‘the time’ comes they just push their young ones out of nest. They teach them to be self-reliant and let them be too! They don’t use them as their ‘old age card’. That is ‘love’. To give all of oneself till the other needs and to send him out into the world to embrace life and its lessons with its experiences without thinking of self – that really is love and that love is lived and practiced by birds only!

Hinduism looks at every aspect of life and living and hence the code of living or Dharma as it is called as framed keeping in mind such factors. Hindu is to lead a materialistic life as a ‘Grihastha’ – house-holder from his 25^th to 60^th year only. Then he is to transfer all the responsibility of his family to his able sons and if wife willing take her along or otherwise go alone on ‘vanaprastha ashram’ – the life of living as a ‘ashramite’ – not in ashrams as of today's – with TVs, A/cs and loud-speakers. No! A place – a habitat in a forest which was inhabited by the ‘seers’ or Rishis and living only on natural foods and on minimum sustenance and instead of ‘passing time’ – after retirement, using it completely to the study of scriptures and self following various techniques of self-restraint. This way the age where physical abilities were getting weak, mental abilities was used to optimum by minimising the physical activities. This can be easily done when one used less of one’s energy for running from family function to another.

Contd....

Indian Mythology - Shiva and Parvathi - Me, My Guru

Contd....

“Lord and Ma don’t represent worldly man and woman literally. They are equals so understand it differently. When female energy is not in sync with male energy then the flow can be destructive to their existence, life and thereby to their happiness!

Shiva in us represents the ‘practical and analytical mind’ and Ma represents the female energy – the emotional side of our persona. When feelings run berserk and don’t listen to reason, then it (emotions) faces dejection and that’s exactly what has happened with Ma Sati. Apply this story this way in your life and see the results. You always had to put an end to ‘a Yagna’ being performed i.e., yagna here represents some auspicious activity that would result in prosperity or fulfilment of some worldly desire, but the emotions killed the entire Idea or the activity. Then you’ll understand ‘who has to listen to whom’.

This can be seen differently too! Shiva represents the ‘Paramatma’  or the ‘Oversoul’ and Ma represents ‘soul’ (or us in short). When soul is not in sync with its oversoul’s words and warnings, the soul’s life gets exhumed in the various activities of its’ mortal relatives and it dies again and again, only to reach the ‘Paramatma’  which is its only Agenda, but which looks almost so near yet so far for so long a time!”

Here we were exhausted – not physically but mentally. Her energy and excitement was so high that we couldn’t remain unaffected by it. But we didn’t have stamina to keep up with her. And she guessed or realized it I suppose and so called for a break. Usually she gives us a break at regular intervals casually and leaves us for full 15-30mts to fend for ourselves. Today, we saw that she was not able to stop herself and yet had to – thanks to our lack of enthusiasm and stamina. She gave us our needed break inspite of herself and we lapped up more than one cup of tea today to beat the drowsiness and heaviness in our head. I didn’t know if it was because  the topic seemed too heavy for us to understand or because the air in the class was so highly charged with her energy that we actually felt heavy! She called Rahul and Aziz and instructed them to see to it that all sat in meditation for ½ an hour and slept later, say for an hour. We were glad to hear that. Rahul and Aziz guided us through meditation and later we all went into deep sleep.

When we got up we were more than fresh. We were fully charged and hence eagerly looking forward to hearing her again! We usually were served tea when we got up from sleep but not today. She got us served some sort of ‘concotion’ – kashayam which was good for digestion and was to energise us! It was bit different but good.

“After waiting for aeons, the king and queen of Himalayan region, Himavat and Meena were found eligible to be blessed by a daughter called ‘Parvathi’ who was none other than Ma Shakthi. As everyone knows, this time she was given in wedding happily by her parents to Lord Shiva. Assuming you all know the story of ‘Parvathi Avatar’ I go to that point of story where Mother declares her love for Shiva to her parents and seeks their permission to marry Him. Though reluctant to get their daughter married to a medicant, they agreed since they come to know of Her Real Nature through Rishis (seers). She with her father’s assistance goes to live in the forest where Lord is oblivious of the world lost in his meditation. There she keeps the surroundings clean (the place where He is meditating) and takes care of His food and other needs. He is unaware of all this or so it appears. Later, when she couldn’t please Him with her ‘seva’ she starts her fasting of eating only wet leaves. Time passes, yet He doesn’t open His eyes. She starts eating dried leaves only. Her parents no doubt are worried and sick with seeing their delicate young lovely daughter undergoing such austere penance. But He is unmoved. She stops even eating ‘dried leaves’. Now she fasts and lives only on Air. That’s when she becomes ‘Aparna Avatar’, the one who doesn’t eat even leaves. Satisfied with her penance, he grants himself to her as a boon against her penance. It’s only after that She is told of ‘her’ actual association with Him. She comes to know about her previous life as Sati too!

contd...... 

suggested reads : http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=tapas 

http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=penance 

http://kantipadam.blogspot.in/search?q=energies 

Me, My Guru Bhagavatam – surrender

Me, My Guru

Bhagavatam – surrender

Rahul and others hadn’t attended previous class and as I missed then and also wanted to share with them as to what was taught in class, I agreed to meet them today at a park. Others met here regularly but I hardly joined them mostly because of my official constraints. Today, I rescheduled my work to squeeze this meeting with them. I was glad I did it at the end of the day too!

I met them and after exchanging pleasantries gave them “Krishna’s management tips”. They listened and then said “Good atleast you attended among us. And here take this notes from the class that you missed “I was surprised. Because all the years I have known Rahul, he has never taken notes – never! And he had taken notes on the day I was absent. I questioned him with my eyes and he chuckled before answering “yeah, I don’t take notes and I know how you are crazy about taking notes. So thought would take it down for you. Well, not as detailed as yours but...adjust yaar....”. I was touched! It meant a lot for me. She had said umpteen times “If you have heart to feel, your eyes can see love in every small acts of others”. Today I saw ‘love’.

Such small acts, talked about ‘person’s character’. She was right. One small act can define who you truly are! When I got hold of my emotion, I started going through his notes.

“Vedantic stories, itihaas, puranas weren’t some ‘hog washed wizardy stories’ written by some desperate character in a dingy tea stall.

These were written by ‘Rishis’ who were far advanced in ‘spiritual path’ and who became voice of the Divine by totally negating their ego. So, the characters and their acts weren’t something written to fill the gaps of the story or to increase the word count or the length of these tales. They are called ‘Itihaasam’ which in Sanskrit (language) means “that which happened exactly so”. It is no fiction of some mind. Now if we take Krishna’s act of stealing butter – this point becomes very clear. The spiritual truth is so effortlessly explained.

Milk is the purest form of food available to man that can be taken by toddler to ripe old man. Even the sick can digest it. Cow is considered the epitome of purity among animals and it converts grass into milk and gives us this milk. This milk is again set to become curd.

This milk should be kept at a place where it is not disturbed, otherwise it doesn’t become curd.

Like-wise everyone should go into solitude say atleast for a day and sit in meditation without external turbulence acting on his senses to enable his mind to set on the Divine. Three-days would be excellent though!

...contd....

Guru poornima or Buddha poornima

On Guru Pournami

This is a very special day for people following Vedic culture, Buddhism and Jainism and hence this special day is celebrated both in India and Nepal in a very special way – called as ‘Guru Poornima’.

When it is celebrated : The festival is celebrated on the full moon day (Purnima) in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, as it is known in the Hindu calendar of India and Nepal. This day marks the first peak of the lunar cycle after the peak of the solar cycle. And this year it falls today!

Significance : This was the day when Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa – author of the Mahabharata – was born to sage Parashara and a fisherman's daughter Satyavati; thus this day is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima. Veda Vyasa did yeoman service to the cause of Vedic studies by gathering all the Vedic hymns extant during his times, dividing them into four parts based on their use in the sacrificial rites, and teaching them to his four chief disciples – Paila, Vaisampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu. It was this dividing and editing that earned him the honorific "Vyasa" (vyas = to edit, to divide). "He divided the Holy Veda into four, namely Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. The histories and the Puranas are said to be the fifth Veda." The seat of Guru is hence called as ‘Vyasa Peetam’ meaning ‘the seat of Vyasa’. It is believed that the ‘Guru’ is in the same lineage as ‘Guru Vyasa’ when he takes the seat of the Guru.

As per Hindu Mythology :

This is the day when Lord Shiva shared his knowledge with the ‘Saptarishis’ the Seven Rishis (Seers) and thus became the ‘Adiguru’ or the ‘First Guru’. This happened on the banks of the lake Kantisarovar, which stands a few kilometers above the Kedarnath Temple in the Himalayas. These Rishis then took the mantle of spreading the knowledge in the entire world.

As per Buddhism and Jainism : 

This is the day when in Sarnath, the great Gautama Buddha first gave his discourse to his ‘first five disciples’ after his enlightenment. 

And this is the day when Mahavira after attaining Kaivalya, made Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gautam Swami, a Ganadhara, his first disciple, thus becoming a Guru himself.

Thus, as per any culture or folklore, it is observed that this is the day when the ‘Guru’ initiated his ‘first students’ into his fold of knowledge.

...contd...... 

Beautiful song from the classic film 'Baiju bawra' hero Pradeep kumar's one of the classic movies....expresses beautifully the role of guru and his love for his student.........

Why can't we just sit and visualize anything?

What I would as CM/PM do to address the issues of terrorism?

“We have already lived this moment or for that matter every moment of life long before it has actually happened”.

 

Surprising? But, yes, it is true! How come? We live in our imaginations all those moments long before they’ve happened and put the seed of cause for every event and then suffer when such events happen in actuality.

 

So, knowing this why would I even hypothetically imagine myself as CM/PM and enact various situations faced and solved by me?

No. Not in my right sense. Because, then in some life time I would’ve to live that fantasy of mine and I am sure as of now as to what I don’t want for sure to experience. So……..

 

Once Brahma’s Manas purtra (Mind born son) went to sleep and had a dream.

 

 Brahma’s son was born Brahma Gnani that is one who knew Brahman (the one Universal force or cosmic power) by birth. Brahma Gnani’s never go to sleep leave along having a dream. But he did and in his dream he saw himself leading ‘Devas’ (demi-gods) against asuras (demons) in war. He saw himself very blood thirsty chieftain who was asking his devas to go for asuras and vanquish them completely. He got up with a jerk. He found this very odd. So, he sought explanation from his father – Brahma – regarding dream. Brahma smiled and replied “you in one of the lives were a son of a sage and were leading a life of a hermit when you heard lots of tales of woes, sufferings, tortures given by asuras to Rishis and innocent people. Being young and sensitive to the suffering of helpless, innocent and good people your blood boiled and you ever nurtured a thought to wipe out asuras from the world. But as a hermit your desire could not find an avenue to express it and that was the only desire you did not heal/experience before becoming “enlightened”. But the rule of Universe is that every psychic impression should find expression either in reality, fantasy or dream or healed completed so that it is transmuted completely out of the system. So, today you lived that psychic impression and let it out of your system completely. That’s all!”

 

....contd.....