Hari Om Parents,
We began with the Opening Prayers. We continued to learn to chant Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verses, Swamiji's video – Verses 31,32 & 33 was shown. We continued with chanting of Shiva Panchakshari Stotram.
We had initially talked with the students for some time to plan for our monthly program.
Everyone around us in essence Lord Himself; but we do not recognize this fact as we are caught up in the external personality. To remember Lord and function in the world is then the trick. It is as if – when you are driving to a destination, in the back of the mind we all always remember our destination that we need to reach, despite all that happens enroute. If we can remember all the things God gave us – we can remember Him easily – but we get and forget; we choose people and objects over God. To overcome our weaknesses our scriptures have given us various means to remember God – one of them is to say a prayer to Him during various activities of the day – so we covered this aspect in our class today.
Upon Waking – we look up at our palms and say
Om Karagre vasate lakshmi
Kar mule saraswati
Kar madhe tu govinda
Prabhate kara darshanam
On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi; on the palm is Goddess Saraswati; in the wrist is Lord Govinda. In this manner, look at your palm.
Getting down from bed
Om Samudra vasane devi
Parvatastana manditi
Vishnu patni namastubhyam
Padasparsham kshamasva me
(Oh Mother Earth) O Devi, You Who have the Ocean as Your Garments, and Mountains as Your Bosom,
O Consort of Lord Vishnu, Salutations to You; Please Forgive my Touch of the Feet (on Earth, which is Your Holy Body).
Before Studies
Saraswathi Namastubhyam Varade Kamarupini
Vidyarambam Karishyami Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sada
I salute Goddess Saraswathi who fulfills my wishes,
I am starting my education with prayer that I may become successful always.
Before meals
Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva
Praninaam Dehamaashritaha
Pranapana Samayuktah
Pachaamyannam Chaturvidham – Gita XV: 14
Food we eat broadly can be divided into four categories – masticated, swallowed, licked and sucked. Eternal Reality pulsating through our body Itself manifests as the digestive fire (Vaishvanara) which digests, assimilates and absorbs the food consumed. Life Principle manifests as the peristaltic movement (prana) which propels the food we eat from esophagus to the stomach. The same divine power gives intestines the power to throw out (apana) undigested and unwanted food material.
Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnau Brahmanaahutam
Brahmaiva Tena Ghantavyam
Brahmakarma Samadhina - Gita IV: 24
Yagna is the divine ritual, which has four essential factors – deity to whom oblations offered; fire into which oblations offered; material things that constitute offering and individual performing the yagna. This verse explains that Truth alone exists. All yagnas arise from Brahman; performer is Brahman; oblations are Brahman and the fire into which the oblations are offered is also Brahman. Extending this analogy, while we are eating – food is Brahman, it is being offered to Brahman, it is being digested by Brahman. That is all exists is Brahman - to keep this idea constantly in our daily interactions, will help us develop a detached attitude from our enjoyments and elevate our mind to higher levels, leading us to endless beatitude.
When we lite a lamp
Shubham Karoti Kalyaannam-Aarogyam Dhana-Sampadaa
Shatru-Buddhi-Vinaashaaya Diipa-Jyotir-Namostute
When we light a lamp, it removes darkness. It is used metaphorically to show that knowledge which is the light, brings brilliance, auspiciousness, health, wealth and destroys ignorance which is an enemy to us. Just like a lamp with its brilliance destroys darkness, so also knowledge of the Self destroys ignorance which is our enemy. So I bow down to that lamp which brings light.
Before Sleeping
Karacharanakritam Vaakkaayajam Karmajam Vaa
Shravana Nayanajam Vaa Maanasam Vaa Aparaadham
Vihitamavihitam Vaa Sarvametatkshamasva
Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe Shree Mahadeva Shambho
This is a good one because whatever mistakes we do during the day we ask the Lord to forgive us at the end of the day! How do we make mistakes or commit sins? With my hands or feet, or by speech, or through the eyes, ears, or mind, knowingly or unknowingly, So Lord, O Mahadeva, O Sambho, kindly forgive all my sins, You being the ocean of kindness.
We hurt people with our hands or feet, or speak ill of others, maybe see or hear wrong doings, our minds too can think of evil things. They may arise while we do our duties intentionally or not. This sloka will take care of that.
Kayena vacha manasendriyenva Buddhayatmnava prakreetiswabhavat
Karomi yadhyat sakalam parasmai Narayanayeti samarpayami |
Whatever I do with my mind, body, speech or with other senses of my body, Or with my intellect or with my innate natural tendencies, I offer everything to the Lord.
By remembering God with the aid of these prayers in and through different activities we start tuning our mind to the higher; by sincerely pursuing such activities we develop more and more devotion towards God – which will firmly place us on the path to Moksha/Liberation, which is the goal of life.
Once Brahmaji wanted to teach about Self to Indira, king of devas and Virochana, king of asuras. He told them to bring a pot of water and asked them to look in it. Brahmaji then said whatever you see in that pot is Self, which is immortal. Virochana understood that since he saw the body; that the body was immortal; so the goal of life is to fulfill the desires of the body. Hence asuras started reveling in sense pleasures. Indira on the other hand thought about what Brahmaji said, and felt that this body perishes so how can it be immortal? So he went back to Brahmaji and asked him to teach more about Self Knowledge. Brahmaji said one who plays happily is Atma. Indira started going back, then he had a doubt again – the mind is not always happy – so it can't be Self. So he went back again and asked for more clarification. Brahmaji now stated – that One who is asleep, tranquil and not dreaming is Self. Indira contemplated more and concluded when one is asleep, the person is not aware of himself – how can that be Self? He again went back now Brahmaji gave him more elaborate explanation regarding Self – the body, mind, intellect all change with time; the Self is the changeless witnessing factor within the body. It is because of the Self within that we are able to hear, see etc.. Happily Indira returned and taught this knowledge to all the devas.
Similarly students who learns spiritual knowledge under guidance of a Guru, slowly contemplates on the teachings, retires to solitude and meditates and comes to experience – This Self is Brahman; Ayam Atma Brahman. This is the goal to be reached – I am Brahman, Aham Brahmasmi!
Pranam,
Rukmani Sriram
Devender Akula
