Pearls of Wise

01/04/2018 4. These monkeys can never be the ally of the Lord as long as they are ruled by Vali, the incorrigible lust. As long as our minds are ruled by lust we are not ready to do Shri Rama’s work. So Vali is to be destroyed and see who comes to the throne – Sugreeva. Greeva means the reins of horses. Sugreeva – the total self control! Under Sugreeva the monkeys are available to do Shri Rama’s work and together they build the bridge – the bridge of contemplation to reach the realm of Ravana – the realm of pure materialism, to destroy the extrovertedness, destroy Ravana and take Sita to Shri Rama. Sita, the ego, when comes face to face with Shri Rama, the Self, the ego disappears. Just as ‘ the dreamer I’ disappears before ‘the waker I’, Sita thus disappears. It is Kapila muni who tells Shri Rama that he cannot go back to Ayodhya and bring about Rama Rajya without a queen. Hence Kapila muni makes a delusory Sita with whom Shri Rama returns to Ayodhya and rules for a short t

01/04/2018 In the same way, if the body is kept in a pure state by self-control, by not allowing the senses to move towards undesirable perception which create an agitation, an undesirable excitement and stimulation in the body centres, then the body becomes pure. If the practitioner restricts his food to not very gross, not very exciting, not very stimulating food, and brings about a certain control or selectivity in his food, then the entire structure of the body begins gradually to change from impurity to purity, from grossness to subtlety, from the Guna of Tamas and Rajas to greater and greater Sattva. Sattva has an upward movement. It is something that purifies, refines and controls the senses to self restraint and selectivity in eating habits and diets and also moderation; because even a good thing, unless consumed in moderate quantity, can tend to make one gross. Therefore, they say that gluttony and Yoga are far apart because it makes one gross. Therefore, Yoga in a

01/04/2018 1. When the practitioner takes up Yoga, there are times and circumstances when various forms of what are generally called “spiritual experiences” take place. There also can occur various experiences which are new to the outer mind and life, and which are considered “occult” or “esoteric” or “psychic” experiences. All of these experiences, when they begin to appear, bring with them their own self-evident reality. In some cases the experiences are so overwhelming that they virtually demand full acceptance and adherence from the seeker. These experiences tend to reinforce faith generally, but they also have their risks and limitations. As opening to subtler aspects of reality, whether inner realms or higher spiritual realms of consciousness, begin to occur, there is always the danger of misinterpretation, since it is generally the mental framework that tries to sort through these experiences, or the danger of undue fixation on them as may occur with emotional or vit

18/03/2018 Sunday, October 22, 1882 It was the day of Vijaya, the last day of the celebration of the worship of Durga, when the clay image is immersed in the water of a lake or river. About nine o'clock  in the morning M. was seated on the floor of the Master's room at Dakshineswar, near Sri Ramakrishna, who was reclining on the small couch.  Rakhal was then living with the Master, and Narendra and Bhavanath visited him frequently.  Baburam had seen him only once or twice. MASTER: "Did you have any holiday during the Durga Puja?" M: "Yes, sir.  I went to Keshab's house every day for the first three days of the worship." MASTER: "Is that so?" M: "I heard there a very interesting interpretation of the Durga Puja." MASTER: "Please tell me all about it." M: "Keshab Sen held daily morning prayers in his house, lasting till ten or eleven.  During these prayers he gave the inner meaning of the Durga Puja. 

18/03/2018 11 Talk of reason! Very few people reason, indeed. You hear a man say, "Oh, I don't like to believe in anything; I don't like to grope through darkness. I must reason". And so he reasons. But when reason smashes to pieces things that he hugs unto his breast, he says, "No more! This reasoning is all right until it breaks my ideals. Stop there!" That man would never be a Jnani. That man will carry his bondage all his life and his lives to come. Again and again he will come under the power of death. Such men are not made for Jnana. There are other methods for them — such as bhakti-yoga, Karma-Yoga, or Râja-Yoga — but not Jnana-Yoga. I want to prepare you by saying that this method can be followed only by the boldest. Do not think that the man who believes in no church or belongs to no sect, or the man who boasts of his unbelief, is a rationalist. Not at all. In modern times it is rather bravado to do anything like that. To be a rationalis

18/03/2018 3. There is something interesting about all this movement of Consciousness in the direction of the object. It is not easy to understand why this movement takes place at all. Why should we desire anything, is a simple question that we can pose for ourselves. Why is it that we should be perpetually asking for one thing or the other? How is it that we never remain contented with what we have or what we are? This is a question which takes us beyond the empirical structure or feature of human society. A mere perception of the existent conditions of life will not enable us to give an answer to this question. The phenomena of ordinary human life cannot provide an answer. This question arises from a realm of values which transcends the perceptional ken of our sense-organs. The world that we perceive is the object of our senses. Whatever the senses can cognise or perceive, is the world around us. But the senses are only the external instruments of this propelling force, the

18/03/2017 So they devised this science to get ultimate control over the inner Prana (to which we have no direct access) and regulate it by bringing about a regulation in its movement, a harmony of the Pranic movement. They made use of their knowledge of this interconnection between the outer breath and the Prana by formulating the science of Pranayama, and therefore, where Prana is pervading the whole body, if the body is steadied, the Prana gradually comes to a state of stability and steadiness.  It is not chaotic. It does not function in an agitated irregular manner. It becomes steady. And, when the Prana becomes steady it becomes harmonious, it is connected on the other side with the mind. The thought process also tends to gradually follow the pattern of Prana and gradually the thought process become stabilised. They are not chaotic. They are not very distracting. The restlessness of the mind, subsides to an appreciable extent, so that this interconnection of body, Pr

07/03/2018 1. Introduction : 1.4 1. Lord Krishna—The Supreme Lord -4. 4. Avataram-s Avataras appear for special reasons in special circumstances. Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress of people, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish, ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and Adharma prevail, whenever the foundations of social organisations are undermined, Avataras appear to establish Dharma and to restore peace. Avatara is a descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from the Hiranyagarbha descends on earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The work done by the Avataras and their teachings produce a benign spiritual influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment and Self-realisation. The Avatara comes to reveal the divine nature in man and makes him rise above the petty materialistic l

17/03/2018 Today, we will see the most formidable Pandava or the biggest enemy in the mental warfare of our Karma Kshetram. Bhishma, the Kuru Grandfather as you all know felt Hastinapur was “his kingdom” and it was his duty to maintain and protect it by any means. Whenever, he felt the pride of Hastinapur was threatened he used all his might and force. A simple example is his abducting the three princesses Amba, Ambika, Ambalika, against their will. We all know the story of Amba who was rejected by her Fiancé because of his reckless action, and in turn became Shikhandi causing his death. Let us see what Bhishma represents in our life. The word Bhishma comes from the root “bhi” meaning to scare or frighten. Bhishma represents our ego which becomes the grandfather of our individual existence, and generates all other vices in us. It attacks forcefully when threatened and has no remorse of any bad deeds because our ego always feels it is doing the right thing to protect our kingdom

17/03/2018 It is the nature of the intellect to try to establish certainties and be able to rely on them as solid realities that can be counted on. In mathematics, this is known as the development of an axiom, a core or basic tenet of understanding that is always true and which then becomes the foundation for extrapolation and development. This same tendency also permeates the action of the intellect in other fields of endeavour. Thus, the idea that the sun revolves around the earth, so obvious to the sensory perception, was accepted as axiomatic truth until just a few hundred years ago in most parts of the world. Similarly, the idea that the earth is flat not spheroid was a fixed dogma until those who had a new insight, and the faith to follow that insight into action, were able to establish that the world is a globe, not a flat plane. The errors that the mind latches on to are part of the systematic developmental process of growth, and are necessary stages, as we see in the dev

07/03/2018 26. Purification of mind :- M. (to the Master): "What should one do if one's wife says: 'You are neglecting me.  I shall commit suicide?' " MASTER (in a serious tone): "Give up such a wife if she proves an obstacle in the way of spiritual life.  Let her commit suicide or anything else she likes.  The wife that hampers her husband's spiritual life is an ungodly wife." Immersed in deep thought, M. stood leaning against the wall.  Narendra and the other devotees remained silent a few minutes.  The Master exchanged several words with them; then, suddenly going to M., he whispered in his ear: "But if a man has sincere love for God, then all come under his control - the king, wicked persons, and his wife.  Sincere love of God on the husband's part may eventually help the wife to lead a spiritual life.  If the husband is good, then through the grace of God the wife may also follow his example." This had a most sooth

07/03/2018 10. "Knowledge is power", says the proverb, does it not? It is through knowledge that power comes. Man has got to know. Here is a man of infinite power and strength. He himself is by his own nature potent and omniscient. And this he must know. And the more he becomes conscious of his own Self, the more he manifests this power, and his bonds break and at last he becomes free. How to know ourselves? the question remains now. There are various ways to know this Self, but in Jnana-Yoga it takes the help of nothing but sheer intellectual reasoning. Reason alone, intellect alone, rising to spiritual perception, shows what we are. There is no question of believing. Disbelieve everything — that is the idea of the Jnani. Believe nothing and disbelieve everything — that is the first step. Dare to be a rationalist. Dare to follow reason wherever it leads you. We hear everyday people saying all around us: "I dare to reason". It is, however, a very diffic

07/03/2018 Day 6. Devi defeated SUMBHA AND NISUMBHA as well. As life progresses we move away from battles fought on the base level of our nature and the material plane of our existence to a battle fought on the mental plane. This time the chief demons are Sumbha (“I” or “Me”, the pseudo-self) and Nisumbha (“Mine”, the attachment we feel). The story says when one brother is knocked off, the other rises. Exactly as in our mind, if it is not about ME….it is always about MINE (me, my family, my wealth, my job, my feelings etc). These thoughts come to us out of our own “Agjnanam”. Agjnanam does not mean lack of knowledge. We live in a world of information, which we deem to be knowledge. However, there is a big difference between the superficial knowledge of things and wisdom of life. This often is the reason for the conflict between generations. Youngsters rely on their world of information and tend to fight seniors who rather rely on wisdom gained through experie

07/03/2018 1. Introduction : 1.3 1. Lord Krishna—The Supreme Lord -3. Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action, altogether. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more intense, more sublime, more grand than His. Though Lord Krishna appeared in human form, He had an Aprakritika, divine body. He did not take any birth. He did not die. He appeared and disappeared through His Yoga Maya. This is a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages. Lord Krishna has played various parts during His stay in the world. He drove the chariot of Arjuna. He was an unparalleled statesman. He was a master musician. He gave lessons to Narada in the art of playing the Vina. The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and of all. He was a cowherd in Nandagaon and Gokul. He exhibited miracles even when he was a child and a boy. He killed many Rakshasas. He showed Visvaroopa to His mother. He did Rasalila, the secrets of which can

07/03/2018 2. We are daily trying to adapt ourselves to circumstances, physically, socially, politically and in all the fields or vocations of life. The adjustment of Consciousness is the principal motive, the guiding factor behind the various vocations of life in general. This is the Artha which we speak of in philosophical language – the purpose of existence. We pursue the objective of life and try to make it a part and parcel of our experience. And experience is nothing but the union of the object with the subject. The desire of the Spirit or Consciousness gets fulfilled, when it is united with its object, and a desire is nothing but the movement of Consciousness in the direction of the object. The impulsion of Consciousness towards the object that it has set before itself is the aspiration, the longing, the desire; the craving, whatever you may call it. The intention behind this desire is the cessation of the desire itself, and we are supposed to be happy, when the desi

07/03/2018 3. What did she do there? We must also go through the same discipline. She refused to co-operate with materialism all around. When she says ‘NO’, materialism cannot touch her. She remained under Ashoka tree. Shoka is sorrow and Ashoka is sorrowless. Though there is sorrow in all our minds, we refuse to recognise it. There under the Ashoka tree, she contemplated on Shri Rama with a sense of total surrender, recognising and realising the terrible mistake that she made and remained there. When we thus remain contemplating on Shri Rama, every seeker will get intimation from the Divine, Shri Rama that ‘I am coming’. Hanuman reaches her and gives her the symbol. Her hope increases and she is confident that Shri Rama is coming. She awaits the arrival of Shri Rama. As Sita weeps for him, Shri Rama also expresses sentimental emotions. Valmiki wants to communicate to us that when we cry for God, he responds. How will he go there? He is in the jungle. The only army he ca

07/03/2018 So, on one side, it is connected with the body because it dwells in the body, pervades the entire body, and so changing conditions of the body affect the Prana. On the other side, it is connected with the mind. It is the movement of Prana that brings about the movement of the thought process in the mind. If you can arrest Prana, your mind also becomes arrested for the time being. For example, if you want to avoid distraction when you are intently working upon some problem, or you want to have your hand very steady when you are engaged in doing some very minute work, such as repairing a switchboard or some electronic device, you want all concentration; you will find that your breathing automatically stops. Breathing is arrested when one wants total focussing of attention, or wants absolute steadiness in the concentrated work to be done. Breathing becomes subtle first and at the exact point when you are about to do that very subtle thing, automatically unconscious st

07/03/2018 When we ordinarily examine the concept of “faith” we start from the human standpoint and see it as a mental conviction, an emotional adherence or a vital attachment to some specific formulation for our existence. Since these all are based in the normal human consciousness, they are subject to bending or breaking under pressure. Sri Aurobindo notes that the term “faith” is actually not a fully accurate translation of the Sanskrit term “sraddha” which conveys a much more significant and deeper sense. “This sraddha … is in reality an influence from the supreme Spirit and its light a message from our supramental being which is calling the lower nature to rise out of its petty present to a great self-becoming and self-exceeding. And that which receives the influence and answers the call is not so much the intellect, the heart or the life mind, but the inner soul which better knows the truth of its own destiny and mission.” When we recognize that the ego-personality is