Brahmanyan
Active member
I wish to share my thoughts that I have posted in my Blog in 2006 in another website, under the head "Right Living".
I have been visiting many blogs written by the new generation of educated and well provided youngsters regularly. One thing I found common in the most of their writings is the restless mind and lack of satisfaction. Or should I call it melancholy? Most of these youngsters seem to come from affluent families with good cultural background. They are above average in education and employment, still there is a sort of disappointment in life. I was wondering what has gone wrong with these nice people! Is it because these youngsters got every thing in life without asking for or is it because of not knowing the other side in life called suffering and hunger? I am told that highest percent of mental problems is found in the most affluent societies of Scandinavian Countries. We all know that hunger stimulates action. Thus there should be little bit of hunger in us always. When I say "hunger" I do not confine it to stomach or body only, it includes hunger for knowledge and wisdom also. When the mind is absorbed in action(karma) it is at peace. Hence it is essential to keep the mind occupied. But there is also a problem. We have to check the action we perform is right or wrong. How are we to decide this" right and wrong"? Here comes the help from the wisdom of people who have analysed life and living, whom we call Religious Prophets, Sages, Gurus, Yogis or spiritual teachers. By which ever name they are called, for me all of them are same.
In Yoga Sastra the" Right Living" is based on "Yama and Niyama". Very simple ethical disciplines of "dos and donts". Sage Patanjali in his authoritative Treatise " Yoga Sutras" builds his entire Eight fold path of Yoga on the foundation of Yama and Niyama. Please be not scared by the word " Yoga Sutras", We are not going in to Yoga at all. I am a selfish person I would like to use what ever good where ever available, if it is useful to me.
The word "Yama" can be broadly translated as "Self Restraints". They are the following five.
1) Ahimsa - Non-violence. Restraint from harming other living beings. Extending love and affection to all other creations of nature. Compassion, mercy and gentleness towards every other living being.
2) Sathya - Truthfulness, Restraing from falsehood, in thought, word and deed. Be genuine and honest to out inner self.
3) Asteya - Non-stealing. Restraining from desire to take what is not yours.
4) Brahmacharya - Litrally means "moving towards realisation of Brahman". Restraint from waste of energy in body, mind and speech. But nowadays the word is synonimous with Celibacy.
5) Aparigraha - Non grasping (coveting). Restraint from hoarding and greed. Holding things which are not needed. In the modern parlance "consumerism".
Please go through the above again and find whether these are difficult to follow in our day to day inter action with others. If any of the" Yamas" is difficult to follow, let us atleast attempt the one or few which can be followed. I am purposely not elaborating the disciplines to allow the readers to find the meaning by themselves.
Well, Now let us see what are the " Niyamas". Regulations or internal restraints.
1) Saucha - Cleanliness and Purity of body, mind and thoughts. This will bring orderliness, punctuality and clarity in our living.
2) Santosa - Meaning Contentment within. True happiness in life lies in accepting the way of things that the life offers. Then Peace and tranquility will follow with patience. One of the words which is highly misunderstood. Real happiness cannot be got by material pursuits or laughing at jokes.
3) Tapas - Burning desire for spiritual path.
4) Swadyaya - Self study. Broadening of intellect through serious study of known (physical world) and unknown (spiritual world).
5) Iswara Pranidana - Complete surrender to the Lord. Accepting the fact that nothing is in our hands. All that happens are for the good. Its Lord's Will.
There is one more discipline added to the list.
6) Mithahara - Meaning "Moderate appetite" Very important indeed. We should take neither excess not too little food. Food should be taken as per the requirement of the body for each person. Food should not be consumed for taste only.
These Yama and Niyamas are prescribed by Yogasutras for Yogic training. But if you go through item by item,we will find that even if we follow some of the important disciplines, our life will change considerably.
Our life is what we make or break. There is no use of complaining others for the results in our life. Human beings are provided with a special faculty called discrimination. We have to use this fully to our advantage.
There is another important factor which affects peace of mind. That is" Fear". There is no fear in the" present", fear is always "about" some thing or some event in future. So let us live the "present" properly then there will be no fear.
Interestingly I found the the guidance for Right Living in the Gujarati Prayer song by Sri Narsi Mehta, which was loved by Gandhiji: "Vashnavajanato.."
Vaishnava jan to tene kahiye je peedaprayi jane re.
"call that person a Vaishnav Who feels the suffering of others"
Par dukkhe upkar karo toye Man abhimaan na aane re
"who seeks to relieve pain in others , and has no pride in his mind"
Sakal lok maan sahune vande nindaa na kare keni re
"He bows respectfully to the entire world, He talks ill of no one"
Vaach kaach man nischal raakhe Dhan-dhan janani teni re
"Keeps his words,actions and thoughts pure, blessed be his mother! "
Samdrishtine thrishna thyaagi Par Stree jene maatare
" He sees every thing equally, rejects greed and avarice, considers all other women as his mothers"
Jivah thakhi asathya na bole par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re
"The tongue may get tired but never speak lies, will never touch some one else's wealth"
Moh- maaya vyaape nahi jene, dridh vairaagya jena manmaan re
"He remains unaffected by maya and moha, in his soul is total detachment;"
Ram Naam shoon taali laagi sakal thirat tena tan maan re
"Who has been addicted to Ram Nam, within his body all thirthas are found"
Van-Lobi ne Kapat-rahit chhe, Kaam Krodh Nivaarya re
"Without greed and deceit is he, without lust or anger"
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta, KuL ekoter taarya re
"Says Narsaio, by the mere view of such a Sant, seventy one generations find salvation."
(The meaning of the word "Vaishnav" is "follower of Vishnu". The word "Vishnu" etymologically means "the all pervading one" )
What a wonderful words.
Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
I have been visiting many blogs written by the new generation of educated and well provided youngsters regularly. One thing I found common in the most of their writings is the restless mind and lack of satisfaction. Or should I call it melancholy? Most of these youngsters seem to come from affluent families with good cultural background. They are above average in education and employment, still there is a sort of disappointment in life. I was wondering what has gone wrong with these nice people! Is it because these youngsters got every thing in life without asking for or is it because of not knowing the other side in life called suffering and hunger? I am told that highest percent of mental problems is found in the most affluent societies of Scandinavian Countries. We all know that hunger stimulates action. Thus there should be little bit of hunger in us always. When I say "hunger" I do not confine it to stomach or body only, it includes hunger for knowledge and wisdom also. When the mind is absorbed in action(karma) it is at peace. Hence it is essential to keep the mind occupied. But there is also a problem. We have to check the action we perform is right or wrong. How are we to decide this" right and wrong"? Here comes the help from the wisdom of people who have analysed life and living, whom we call Religious Prophets, Sages, Gurus, Yogis or spiritual teachers. By which ever name they are called, for me all of them are same.
In Yoga Sastra the" Right Living" is based on "Yama and Niyama". Very simple ethical disciplines of "dos and donts". Sage Patanjali in his authoritative Treatise " Yoga Sutras" builds his entire Eight fold path of Yoga on the foundation of Yama and Niyama. Please be not scared by the word " Yoga Sutras", We are not going in to Yoga at all. I am a selfish person I would like to use what ever good where ever available, if it is useful to me.
The word "Yama" can be broadly translated as "Self Restraints". They are the following five.
1) Ahimsa - Non-violence. Restraint from harming other living beings. Extending love and affection to all other creations of nature. Compassion, mercy and gentleness towards every other living being.
2) Sathya - Truthfulness, Restraing from falsehood, in thought, word and deed. Be genuine and honest to out inner self.
3) Asteya - Non-stealing. Restraining from desire to take what is not yours.
4) Brahmacharya - Litrally means "moving towards realisation of Brahman". Restraint from waste of energy in body, mind and speech. But nowadays the word is synonimous with Celibacy.
5) Aparigraha - Non grasping (coveting). Restraint from hoarding and greed. Holding things which are not needed. In the modern parlance "consumerism".
Please go through the above again and find whether these are difficult to follow in our day to day inter action with others. If any of the" Yamas" is difficult to follow, let us atleast attempt the one or few which can be followed. I am purposely not elaborating the disciplines to allow the readers to find the meaning by themselves.
Well, Now let us see what are the " Niyamas". Regulations or internal restraints.
1) Saucha - Cleanliness and Purity of body, mind and thoughts. This will bring orderliness, punctuality and clarity in our living.
2) Santosa - Meaning Contentment within. True happiness in life lies in accepting the way of things that the life offers. Then Peace and tranquility will follow with patience. One of the words which is highly misunderstood. Real happiness cannot be got by material pursuits or laughing at jokes.
3) Tapas - Burning desire for spiritual path.
4) Swadyaya - Self study. Broadening of intellect through serious study of known (physical world) and unknown (spiritual world).
5) Iswara Pranidana - Complete surrender to the Lord. Accepting the fact that nothing is in our hands. All that happens are for the good. Its Lord's Will.
There is one more discipline added to the list.
6) Mithahara - Meaning "Moderate appetite" Very important indeed. We should take neither excess not too little food. Food should be taken as per the requirement of the body for each person. Food should not be consumed for taste only.
These Yama and Niyamas are prescribed by Yogasutras for Yogic training. But if you go through item by item,we will find that even if we follow some of the important disciplines, our life will change considerably.
Our life is what we make or break. There is no use of complaining others for the results in our life. Human beings are provided with a special faculty called discrimination. We have to use this fully to our advantage.
There is another important factor which affects peace of mind. That is" Fear". There is no fear in the" present", fear is always "about" some thing or some event in future. So let us live the "present" properly then there will be no fear.
Interestingly I found the the guidance for Right Living in the Gujarati Prayer song by Sri Narsi Mehta, which was loved by Gandhiji: "Vashnavajanato.."
Vaishnava jan to tene kahiye je peedaprayi jane re.
"call that person a Vaishnav Who feels the suffering of others"
Par dukkhe upkar karo toye Man abhimaan na aane re
"who seeks to relieve pain in others , and has no pride in his mind"
Sakal lok maan sahune vande nindaa na kare keni re
"He bows respectfully to the entire world, He talks ill of no one"
Vaach kaach man nischal raakhe Dhan-dhan janani teni re
"Keeps his words,actions and thoughts pure, blessed be his mother! "
Samdrishtine thrishna thyaagi Par Stree jene maatare
" He sees every thing equally, rejects greed and avarice, considers all other women as his mothers"
Jivah thakhi asathya na bole par-dhan nav jhaalee haath re
"The tongue may get tired but never speak lies, will never touch some one else's wealth"
Moh- maaya vyaape nahi jene, dridh vairaagya jena manmaan re
"He remains unaffected by maya and moha, in his soul is total detachment;"
Ram Naam shoon taali laagi sakal thirat tena tan maan re
"Who has been addicted to Ram Nam, within his body all thirthas are found"
Van-Lobi ne Kapat-rahit chhe, Kaam Krodh Nivaarya re
"Without greed and deceit is he, without lust or anger"
BhaNe Narsaiyyo tenun darshan karta, KuL ekoter taarya re
"Says Narsaio, by the mere view of such a Sant, seventy one generations find salvation."
(The meaning of the word "Vaishnav" is "follower of Vishnu". The word "Vishnu" etymologically means "the all pervading one" )
What a wonderful words.
Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
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