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Divinity
1. Had a thought that divinity is a
conglomerate of divinity in everyone.
Divinity is not a conglomerate. Its fullness
is complete even without expression/manifestation.
He expresses as Many.
Union
1. Had some moments of complete absorption with
feeling of flow within. After the meditation,
felt strongly that the moment of absorption,
the state of which is difficult to describe,
I had was the taste of Union with God and that
is what is the goal of life.
That is the taste or smell of the garden
of God. We in this system start with Yoga and
go on firming up our union with Him. (This has
close relationship with the system of Hindu
marriage where the union is established first
and then the process of understanding and development
of love between the couple starts.)
Craving
1. Just before the end, there was a feeling
of restlessness. My trainer said it was due
to the fact that we are unable to take that
much grace from the Master. After all the sittings,
there is always a feeling of settledness, the
mood is very upbeat and there is feeling that
everything is good in life.
Restless is not only due to the vessel
being full but also due to craving.
Yatra
Yatra in each knot means we have to
develop the positive qualities and get rid off
the negative qualities. These things are achieved
more by constant remembrance of the Master and
contemplating on his perfect nature. Manana
and Sravana are not excluded in our system.
Masters Voice has to reverberate in our being
and all the pores filled by him.
Dreams
1. Sometimes I get nightmares which I am scared
to recollect.
Nightmares are no good to have. You
surely require a few individual sittings and
you should be strict in cleaning your self in
the evening. Doing prayer before going to bed
placing yourself before the Master in total
submission will help you
2. Some times during
sadhana and sleep I am feeling as if am flying
and walking in air.
Dreams of flying denotes that you are
feeling insecure and there are unknown apprehensions.
3. Dreamt that Rev.
Master visited our house. Did not see His form
but vaguely remember He asking to do just what
He says. Then he has to go to Shahjahanpur and
I opted to join Him as I have nothing else to
do.
Whenever we dream of the Master, it
is but prudent we rise up and meditate of course
after bathing. The next day also in the morning
meditation we may specially recall the dream
and submit ourselves whole heartedly to him.
4. Sometimes I get
fearful dreams, though few.
Fears relate to adhi bouthika, adhi
daivika and adhi atmika i.e. they relate to
fear of nature, fear of gods and fear of self.
Unless the frontiers of fear are crossed the
way to freedom is not even found. Try to analyse
your dreams well and report.
Trusteeship
1. Many a times I do get irritated, but I think
about Master and get back to normalcy. I thank
you for your guidance.
When we do things as a matter of compulsion,
irritation is the result. Try as far as possible
to discharge your duties as a trustee as our
Master has suggested. It may take time but you
will surely succeed.
Doership
1. You have repeatedly told me that the malady
afflicting me is sense of doership, knowership
and enjoyership. Kindly tell me how to come
out of it.
Doership etc., arise only when we anticipate
the results in advance and in fact we really
plan to get the reward. If there can be disinterestedness
in the attainment of the goal the problem will
be solved easily.
Due Attachment
Ahimsa, Asteya, Aparigraha, Brahmacharya
and Satya are the pillars on which the spiritual
life has to be founded. There is no choice in
this so far as I know. Of course of the 5 obstacles
namely Kama, Krodha, Moha, Lobha and Ahankar
Master asks us to attend to the latter three
while only attempt moderation in Kama and Krodha.
The attachments we have are to wife, sons and
property; they should become due attachment
only. To the question what is due attachment
my finding is that which is coming in the way
of spiritual path is undue and that which does
not come in the way are due. There is no point
in going to details. While there is need to
arrive at certain basic parameters I do not
think any one can say these are the only parameters
in the sense of exclusiveness.
Strong attachments are good so long as they
are also leading us/ or they also move along
with us in the path. Otherwise in the Journey
there are many halts for alleged need for water
or rest or shade. Where is the time left for
such a rest before we reach the Home? Do you
know the search for water that we make is from
the river Saraswathi? It is invisible and according
to some, dried. But for us we try to bathe in
that water only. This is similar to swimming
in the dreary desert. Words perhaps but we live
in such circumstances that our thirst is quenched
by only such waters.
Undue attachment to anything or any effort brings
in certain amount of matter generated due to
the heat of the subject concerned and the heart
feels it. Awareness of fact that we are essentially
Souls and our nature is that of Love and our
instrument for action is Will helps us a long
way. We should not think our efforts get anything
nor is it necessary to consciously remember
the Masters which only indicate our deficiency
to some extent. We have been accepted by the
Master and it is our duty to serve them. We
should not remember them as we do not remember
our heart consciously. Matured state of Surrender
or Prapanna Dasa develops into its maturity
when our orientation to Master is total. Fortitude
and forbearance are small rewards of that condition.
You are right in understanding that the only
attachment we should have always is with God/Master
but that does not mean that we can ignore our
responsibilities that emanate due to our being
trustees of everyone under our care. Do not
react sharply for everything think over and
decide appropriate course of thought and action.
Denial is the path of Sanyasins and not of Grihastas.
Our path is due attachment and no denial to
anything that is there. Balanced living is the
goal
1. Sir, could you kindly
suggest how to develop due-attachment to work?
There can be only one attachment that
is due and that is to the Divine. We should
include work, office, home, friends and host
of the other things in the work that is due
to the Divine as a trustee.
2. My Attachment to
work is putting bar to my advancement in sadhana.
I have gone (and still going) through lot of
struggle with this. In a recent discussion with
the trainer, we felt that hidden career aspirations
could be preventing me, from surrendering to
Master. Intellectually I understand the idea
of not being a ‘doer’, the real
condition is not owned up.
There is nothing wrong in seeking what
we are entitled. If that does not become an
obsession it is fine. Everything has a place
in life and their just and due places should
be accorded by us. I am not able to understand
the link between efficiency in work and progress
in the same with the state of Surrender. Arjuna
was efficient in the use of weapons and did
aspire for the kingdom along with his brothers
and yet at the same surrendered totally to Lord
Krishna. I myself moved up the ladder in my
career to be the Head of a Govt. Department
at the State level and was totally surrendered
to my Master. They are compatible is what I
want to stress.
3. Attachments are
verily some of the hindrances for my progress.
Throughout this month I have been checking myself
in this aspect. I felt I did not know the difference
between Sat and Asat. I do not know the transitory
nature of existence. I felt I do not know what
is due attachment.
Attachments are the problem for any
person and it is that, that creates our wishes.
Attachment to body, attachment to mind, attachment
to property and so on are all capable of creating
their own worlds of desires. But if all these
attachments are replaced by the one attachment
to the Divine the problems get resolved slowly
but steadily. That you are having and therefore
there is no need for you to be unduly concerned
with that.
4. I was feeling happy
for myself that I have less undue attachment.
But then my husband left for Hyderabad and my
son too went to his friends' place for a sleepover
and I realised that I have a lot of undue attachment.
In my husband’s absence I realised that
I used to depend on him for doing my sadhana
regularly but during that period I became responsible
for my own sadhana and for attending satsanghs
regularly and being oriented.
Have you read/heard of Sri Ramas' pangs
of separation when Sita devi was carried away
by Ravana? Do you think Rama was overly attached?
Or would you say that when Pradhyumna was carried
away by a Rakshasa from the bed of Rukmini that
she and Lord Krishna are overly attached? Please
know we are grahasthas and we have a duty to
perform and we have our own emotions and feelings
and are not sanyasins. As for our own Master
he used to feel bad even when his dog died.
5. Not able to clearly
distinguish between due and undue parts of my
duties.
Remember you are only a trustee and
then due and undue becomes clear.
6. Mostly, during meditation,
I don’t have the awareness of the self.
I felt deeply absorbed in meditation but I could
not carry on with that feeling throughout my
day.
If it continues through the day how
you can work or attend to other duties? Kindly
read more on Constant remembrance.
7. When I am very much
in Master’s orientation, there seems to
be a feeling of laziness leading to inaction.
During this time, I may not be attending to
work at my job to the best possible extent.
Orientation to Master should lead to
efficiency in our performance of our duties.
That is possible by practicing the attitude
of being a TRUSTEE of the Master.
8. Had the feeling
that if we were to give up our everything and
focus on displaying the Master totally, we would
not have any problems in life.
God is every where. You agree that
God is all happiness. Then happiness alone is
every where. All is His and we can enjoy as
much as we want but we cannot possess any. The
cool breeze near the bay, the pleasant wind
near the mountains, the fresh air from the gardens
are all only AIR- they appear to possess some
qualities because of the situation in which
they are placed. We are trustees of God and
God you should have noted by now trusted your
body also which is His only. There is no question
of giving up anything. What can you give up
when you own nothing and it is only a duty of
a trustee you have?
9. I realized that
even unknowingly ego builds and prejudice creeps
in even as one thinks doing Master’s work.
I will do my best to guard against such feelings
by resorting everything sincerely to Him and
His work and doing prayer most sincerely and
with humility.
So long as we remember our Master whose
Grace is illimitable and whose presence is had
for the asking by any trainer, the problem of
ego may not assume any serious proportion to
disturb our balance. There is no limit to humility
and that we should cultivate and at the same
discharge our duties as effectively as we can
as trustees of the Master.
Undue Attachment
Attachment of any kind to anything
or person or place is a bondage and one in the
path has to get out of the shackles and he can
only be bonded to the Lord. This arises only
when there is goal clarity. It is for each one
to know that. I can only say that if one were
to analyse the thoughts and thought patterns
that one gets aware of during waking state,
dream state and during meditation practices
there will be an awareness of the bondage. These
invariably relate to the five kosas, five vikaras
and the three Ishanas. The mosaic is so very
difficult to decipher that it requires enormous
amount of dedication to the goal and of course
the grace of the Master. We are the lucky few
that have access to the grace of the Master
and the remaining portion is better left unsaid
and it would be the sadhana of the individual.
While one has access it is also the experience
of the discerning sadhakas that one does not
get it unless one deserves it. This is to be
done through an effort to develop devotion.
As the Master puts it “Our primary motive
is to develop devotion and for that service
is only a means. We serve in the real sense
only when our motive is sincere and honest.
It carries with it a sense of DUTY as well as
of LOVE, both being INSEPERABLE from, each other."
One in the path also understands that Devotion
is a consequence of the Atma swaroopa jnana
and is not something one has from the beginning
as it is assumed with the recitation of slokas
and mantras, poems etc.
Kartrtva Bhavana is the root cause for the formation
of all samskaras and all bondages. Unless this
is got rid off at every level the question of
going beyond the chains of bondages of various
categories already mentioned above does not
arise.
More on Undue Attachment
1. I request you to clarify me about undue attachment.
"Undue attachment which is Positive (Raga)
and negative both are poisonous to spiritual
progress" This I saw in the "Thought
for the day". My understanding to this
is, Positive undue attachment is the one which
can be had towards God.
Your understanding is far fetched.
We are attached to Things and persons and that
is called Raga and we also dislike and hate
many which is called Dwesha. Raga Dwesha are
the two subjects well discussed in traditional
literature. Master is referring to that only.
Both these are detrimental to sadhana. Attachment
to God is only Bhakti and not one of these.
Duty
1. Inspite of knowing the fact that it is He
who is the doer, knower and enjoyer, dropping
off of abhyasies disturbs at times. Trying to
come out of that feeling.
Our duty to pray for them need not
be neglected. When they do not do their duty
that also becomes ours and that is real love.
2. If some of my relatives
is not financially doing well and I intend to
help him rather than donate that money to a
charitable institution. Would this be my attachment
because I feel a stronger urge to help my relative
rather than donate to a charitable cause?
It is sense and duty to help your relatives.
If there is a quantum of money you intend to
spend as Dharma and Dana you should also learn
to proportionally distribute the same. Dana
is giving the needy and dharma is doing a general
good. The actual breakup you have to work out.
But the total amount of dana and dharma may
be not less than 10% our income. This is what
I practice.
3. Saw my mother during
sitting. Later my trainer clarified that undue
attachments are going away. It was surprising
to me as was all along feeling that I do not
have much attachment towards mother
That is not right. We owe our life
to our mother and father and there is considerable
attachment in all cases. It is not undue attachment
to mother (it can never be undue as pitr runa
has to be paid). Her presence in the sitting
means she is seeking spiritual fraternity with
us and is seeking Masters’ Grace. Be happy
that you are discharging your runa.
Tradition
1. Sometimes I get a thought of going to Temple
and feel I miss it also. For the past few days
I am getting this thought. But suddenly I awake
my selves and get into master's thought. I do
not know the reason for this thought. It comes
to me sometimes not always.
When we think about God, we think of
temples also. This has been part of our life.
So long as we know that realisation/liberation
does not come from visiting temples and also
know that it is only social custom there is
no problem about going to temples
2. I am following the
system more seriously for the past 1 year. First
of all it took me some time to come out of my
daily slokas, poojas and some vrathams. Now
I am clear in my path.
Poojas and slokas have their own purpose
and surely it is because of such pious practices
you have now come to this system that helps
us move towards our real goal. God is samavarthi
and therefore no effort goes waste.
3. I felt that Lord
Hanuman is flying in the sky and seeing all
people on the earth and I am in Hanuman seeing
all people.
Our path is too straight to accommodate
the personalities of yore however great they
are. In fact none of them respond to us and
it is fancy of our imagination that runs wild
due to pseudo religious and pseudo traditional
knowledge we acquired from our elders and well
wishers. Please do attend to cleaning more assiduously.
4. As for the question
how long you should do the Shraddha and Tarpana
etc.,
I have no answer to give. In the present
circumstances the way given by Rev. Lalaji in
Truth Eternal, in the chapter on Karma regarding
customs and religious rites may be the best
course. You may think and take appropriate decision.
I do not have any expertise on religious customs
and rites, which if I remember right I, had
always contempt for, the apparent hypocrisy.
Whenever I did any such thing it was to please
my wife and also to see that the poor Brahmin
community is also fed properly.
Self-Pity
Self pity is a great luxury. Please
do not fall into this pit. We can manage all
other luxuries and get out of them.
1. In your letter you
expressed a feeling that you were not able to
mould any person so far.
Again is it any of our concern? Is
not moulding ourselves so that it may arouse
a feeling of piety and love in others the Commandment?
Every Jiva has its own samskaras and vasanas
and our task shall be never to tinker with them.
It is a Divine decree and sacred pact with the
Divine the Jiva has as was well stated by Swami
Vivekananda. Who are we and How are we to do
the job of moulding others? Is the self-effort
evident here? Comparisons with others in this
regard thinking that they have moulded others,
do you think are justified? You can see the
play of Ego in all these views. We are participating
in the great task undertaken by the Master and
it is His work alone. The greatness of Revered
Lalaji Maharaj is that he was able to make a
plea and succeed in bringing the Centre yawning
towards the circumference. Ponder over that.
That is the basis of Pranahuti. The Pranasya
Pranah has yielded to the request of the Grand
Master How can humanity repay this debt? NEVER,
NEVER, NEVER. That we are, enabled to work in
this great task is our luck, perhaps that is
itself the Grace: Don't you also see in this
statement of yours a sense of self-pity? Watch
out your feelings and come to the correct perspective
so that this phenomena does not bother you much.
Intellect
It is necessary that the manas should
take a priority over intellect(buddhi). At the
same time intellect is necessary to understand
and explain the system to others.
Regarding the role of intellect and intellectual
presentation of matters and justifying it by
the sacred Gayatri mantra, I can say the Dhi
mentioned in the mantra is definitely not the
buddhi. Further reality can never be appreciated
by the buddhi and it is matter of the heart
and feelings only. Love is beyond intellect
and the barriers of intellect and its logic
will not apply in the spiritual sphere. No one
writing excellently using his intellectual prowess
was able to change the nature of a single person.
While everyone knows what is good only few do
good. This is because intellectual conviction
does not generate the love that is the basis
of universal brotherhood. You know this yet
the power of the intellect is such that it traps
you. I went through this phase and after Master
repeatedly pointing out this defect, with lot
of reluctance and almost unwillingly I stopped
this practice. Now I dare say it is a VYASANAM
and we should come out of it.
A Prapanna abides in God/Master and never asks
Him anything even by way of clarifications.
Clarifications and explanations are in the realm
of intellect which has no access to the heart
and feelings which is the real language of God/
Master. The drama of the manifested Divine were
described to some extent truly and to a large
extent with extraordinary imaginations and if
we seek to tally our experiences with it, So
far as I know it is not possible. The Omniscience
that is supposed to emerge from an understanding
the real nature of Brahman / God as spoken of
in the traditional texts and what we have learnt
from the learned is true only when occasion
demands it. And Omniscience is not granted for
idle curiosity or imaginary tasks that we seem
to undertake. The Reality that is presented
to us is naked and has its own beauty though
it is dry and almost void.
1. Undue attachments
are verily decelerators for spiritual progress.
By the time I am aware of it, it is like I was
already in it. Is emotional attachment to Master
an undue attachment?
That is how the intellect fools us.
Desire to reach the ultimate is no desire and
attachment to Master is no attachment and yet
the monkey(mind) plays its joke. Beware!
Power Grossness
The power that is vested in the trainers
should be utilised lest power grossness develops.
Any amount of justification for lapses will
not yield the desired results to get rid off
the grossness once it develops. Attachments
to our so called men and women who in reality
are His, helps none in the path. Promises made
to Master need to be kept lest Untruthfulness
casts its mark on the soul.
You did not have individual sittings for some
years. Therefore in addition to normal grossness
you have developed power grossness also. This
needs to be attended to immediately. Try to
comply with instructions and come for individual
sittings.
Karmic Law
1. I cannot understand as to why you have to
bear this ill health at current stage of spirituality
what kind of samskaras(yours or ??) / cleaning/bhog
. Please ignore if this does not require explaining
or is beyond my comprehension.
Your question is peculiar. Do you think
that spiritually evolved persons do not have
ailments? I am told by Master that our great
grand Master Lalaji Maharaj was suffering. I
saw our Master having never any thing that can
be called good health. I know my father was
also sick. I understand that Sri Aurobindo suffered
for too long and Maharshi Ramana was no exception.
Ofcourse I am not all that spiritually evolved
to merit comparison with the above persons.
Perhaps your question is based on your affection
towards me if so I thank you for the concern.
So long as the body is there the samaskaras
of the past go on clearing themselves and it
may not only be through sufferings or pain or
diseases.
2. In our system when
the trainer clears off impressions how does
the requisite bhoga taken care off as per karmic
law regarded as inviolable?
Who ever said that the trainers clear
off the impressions? In Toto ? It is repeatedly
asserted that we go through Bhog in meditation,
dreams and cleaning sessions. If all the karmic
load is cleared off where is the being? Karmic
law is inviolable and one has to go through
the effect in some plane or the other.
3. Is it because of
the connection established with the Special
Personality the Mahaparishad there is this facility
to redefine the karmic equation or Karma Vipaka
that the whole load passes off almost imperceptibly,
the Mahaparishad enjoying freedom to define
the Karma Bhoga as he chooses in a particular
case?
This is total misunderstanding of the
system and is a great wish that is based on
greed and unaccountability. The Maha Parishad
or even Avatar has his Karmic load. The question
is totally un-understandable from a person who
has been practicing the system this long. I
have seen the Masters suffering the karmic load
and if you carefully study the stories of the
Masters I am sure you will understand the silly
question. Law of Karma if is violated the Rtam
itself is affected and no spiritual person will
ever ask for that. You may have to read the
Commentary on Ten Commandments a few more times
in a spirit of prayer.
Influence of the Environment
1. I had different levels of calmness this month,
may be due to stay in multiple environments
(US & India).
Environment has a influence to some
extent: but we should be able to balance ourselves
in all places. Orientation to Master instead
of our self helps a lot.
2. Maybe since I am
staying in new place (hotel) for this month,
I had less devotional thoughts while in hotel.
Also Need to develop more viveka for effective
Sadhana. Please advice regarding this.
Please give a suggestion that the new
place is cleaned by the force of your will and
then stay in such places. Always have your own
cloth or towel over the pillows and sleep on
that. You cannot change the hotels you can adjust
to them by cleaning the atmosphere in the room
by the force of your will. Sadhana surely improves
with Viveka and also it promotes Viveka.
3. I was in India for
the month of January and came back to US on
31st January. I feel sorry to state that my
determination has not grown that strong as to
with stand an environment that is not so condusive
to Sadhana…meaning by my practice had
many misses during my stay there. Which made
me be grateful for the environment here (in
Fremont) that is so much in tune with our goal.
Okay. Many times the external circumstances
are not that easy to handle and that is part
of karma phala. But in the true spiritual order
we are to maintain an attitude to accept the
external rather than try to change the same.
Here in comes the practices of tolerance, patience
and fortitude. You will surely grow into those
realms with determination and love to Master.
Effect of Movies
You had already observed that the cinemas
have an effect on you during meditations. You
may think over this and slowly reduce the time
spent on them. Thoughts so long as they do not
disturb our meditation need not be given importance.
You may try to read again the articles on Control
of Mind and Concentration of our Master.
Values to Children
1. Sir I would like your advice on how to raise
children with good values. I ask kids to say
prayer in their own words before going to bed.
They ask me who is God and where is God? They
point to Bala Krishna's photo and ask is he
God? (They are 3 and 5 years old). I tried to
answer them that he is in sky and looks after
us like how we were taught. Can you please give
us some advice on what to answer them properly
and teach them good values and practices?
It is good you are trying to explain
the concept of God. Abstract concepts of God
cannot be easily explained to children. The
best method is to expose them to the stories
of Bhagavatam where there is so much of interest
to them in the stories of Avatars and most interesting
Hanuman. Ask them to repeat Rama nam before
going to bed as much as they can. Values are
taught through fables and stories. panchatantra
is an excellent book to start with for children.
If they like Bala Krishna say that he is God;
in fact Krishna is the Avatar till Kalki comes.
Stick to tradition and teach them some good
lullabies.
Perfection in action
1. Thoughtless condition of previous month seems
to be increasing also. Sometimes I try to think
of something to break that mode. Along with
that forgetfulness also seems to be there. Couple
of instances it proved to be a little costly
too.
I am sorry the thoughtless condition
we have should not lead to any inefficiency.
It is not good to loose and least of all when
the fault leads to expensive loss. Yoga should
lead us to perfection. Forgetfulness of course
comes to us because of the development of Vairagya
and attachment to the Divinity. But we should
mould ourselves to be more balanced.
2. One day in a meeting in office suddenly
I felt that I am not talking about what is being
discussed in the meeting rather I am explaining
the attendees about our system. Everybody seems
to be quiet and listening to me very carefully.
Startled by the awareness of this thought as
I came back to normal senses
I found that I am still continuing with the
meeting matter only. It happened twice. Second
time the awareness came much later.
Yogah karmasu kausalam. Beware of being
lost and become irrelevant. It is essential
we should be very attentive to the task in hand.
Treat work also divinely ordained and it is
your duty to be perfect.
3. My attitude about
sadhana has changed. I used to think that I
have to do everything properly. Now I feel it
is my duty to do sadhana and the rest what ever
happens during meditation or day to day life
is Master's.
Your attitude should always be to do
everything as perfectly as you can. Yoga really
means efficiency in action. It is not sitting
in some corner meditating all the time. Meditation
is only a part of our sadhana as you must have
understood by reading the Commentary on Ten
Commandments. Surely everything is ultimately
possible only by the grace of God but that should
not lead us to complacency or neglect of duties.
4. Feeling less interested
in work (less passionate) and other social matters
We should be detached and yet our work
should be the best and our relationships with
others are that of mutual respect.
5. Feeling less tolerant
of mundane discussions at work or home.
If it is all wasteful talk it is alright.
But our participation in essential discussions
is a must so that others evaluate as competent
and efficient. Yoga should be such that we are
competent: Yogah karmasu kausalam is the rule.
Inner Peace
Be on the lookout for symptoms of inner
peace. The hearts of a great many have already
been exposed to inner peace and it is possible
that people everywhere could come down with
it in epidemic proportions. This could pose
a serious threat to what has, up to now, been
a fairly stable condition of conflict in the
world. Some signs and symptoms of inner peace:
• A tendency to think and act spontaneously
rather than on fears based on past experiences.
• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each
moment.
• A loss of interest in judging other
people.
• A loss of interest in judging self.
• A loss of interest in interpreting the
actions of others.
• A loss of interest in conflict.
• A loss of the ability to worry. (This
is a very serious symptom).
• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
• Contented feelings of connectedness
with others and nature.
• Frequent attacks of smiling.
• An increasing tendency to let things
happen rather than make them happen.
• An increased susceptibility to the love
extended by others as well as the uncontrollable
urge to extend it.
WARNING:
If you have some or all of the above symptoms,
please be advised that your condition of inner
peace may be so far advanced as to not be curable.
If you are exposed to anyone exhibiting any
of these symptoms, remain exposed only at your
own risk.
Sensuousness
1. In this month I was also feeling very sensual
for couple of weeks during night times and pressured
by my basic urges and I think it was the result
of the impressions I formed during my college
days and early marriage days. During meditation
also I was getting such thoughts on some of
the days which I have mentioned below.
You may kindly note that sensuous feelings
and awareness of urges lose first their strength
or the impulsive tendencies and slowly get into
the stage of moderation. Even when a person
is in Brahmand these urges have their sway (umpteen
stories of Indra may be recalled) even as Master
himself has acknowledged their presence in his
auto biography. I did mention about this in
the book Path of Grace also. So be kind to yourself
and evaluate as a grahasta. I do not thereby
say we can be indulgent.
Astral Body
1. Can you please clarify what is astral world
and astral body?
For any thing that has form there are
three things 1. Physical form 2. The idea behind
the physical form and 3. the reason or cause
behind these two. Ex: a chair. It has a form.
This has a design behind it and this is the
astral form of the chair. There is a purpose
for having the type of design it has and that
is the causal form of the chair. Just as physical
forms exist in physical world; the ideas/plans/designs
behind the physical forms (which constitute
astral bodies) exist in the astral world.
Gunas
1. I recently read the book on Koshas and was
wondering if there is any connection between
the Koshas and the 3 gunas as defined in Gita.
In Gita the Lord says that each Guna has its
own characteristics and these characteristics
match with some of the Kosha characteristics.
The three gunas are always there and
even Vedas deal with them only. Activity(rajas),
indolence (tamas) and samatva (balance) govern
everything in life. The kosas relate to the
5 layers of consciousness which are in a great
mix. The kosas are also influenced by the gunas
and we in the path of spirituality seek to use
the Satva guna operate in all the layers. These
things were all discussed in the workshops on
the kosas and you may read them carefully.
Identicality
1. What is identicality of state?
Gross ego is present in Pind desh,
I ness remains in Brahmand to considerable extent.
Identity is something that will be there even
when we reach the central region.
Self
1. For couple of days there was a question like
what does self-mean? The only answer could find
was "nothing".
That is philosophy. Self is a bundle
of Ego, Intellect, Feelings and Awareness. Nothingness
is a condition that is arrived at after passing
several regions. In Nothingness there is no
self as it has to be sacrificed at the altar
of the Almighty.
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