Notes on Spirituality 150222

This all sounds good, but how to tap into this so-called higher state of consciousness, you ask?

Reflection (chintan),
meditation (dhyana),
self-study (svadhyaya),
devotion (bhakti) and
mindfulness (smriti)
are some of the methods for lasting effects. And the beauty is that none of these are mutually exclusive. Indeed, together they carve an incredibly rewarding path for you.

Each Veda has four subdivisions –
the Samhitas (mantras and benedictions),
the Aranyakas (text on rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices), the Brahmanas (commentaries on rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices), and
the Upanishads (texts discussing meditation, philosophy and spiritual knowledge).

Just like eyes, as nerve end, perform a function in the body. An individual is the nerve end of the universe and performs a function in the universe.

All your sense are vibrations and woven into pattern and that sums up your experiences. Just like you can't describe music in words, but can experience it when you listen to it. Same goes for your experiences, vibrations. Simply observe how they go. That is essentially the process of meditation.

My English Podcast "Lifebook" can be listened on the link https://anchor.fm/sanjay-gora7

My Hindi Podcast "Kitabi Keeda" can be listened on the link https://anchor.fm/sanjay-gora

Books written by me are available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notionpress sites.

https://www.amazon.in/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ASanjay+Gora&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

https://www.flipkart.com/search?q=sanjay%20gora&otracker=search&otracker1=search&marketplace=FLIPKART&as-show=on&as=off

https://notionpress.com/author/36667

Notes on Spirituality 131221

 Ya ma sa ma ya. That which is not but appears to be so is Maya.

Four Vedas explain who am I.
Pragnayam Brahma. Consciousness is the almighty, all pervading self. (Rigveda Maithreye Up.)
Tata tvam asi. That which you are seeking, you are. (Samveda Chandukya Up.)
Ayam atma brahman. My self is brahman. (Atharva veda, Mandukya Up.)
Aham brahmasmi. I am Brahma. (Yajurveda, Bhridaranyak up.)

Rama is acharniy (worth emulation) and Krishna is shravniy (worth listening)

Spirituality is anything that lifts your spirit like music also, poetry, art, songs and practices like meditation, knowledge.

Quality of your life is dependent on quality of your mind and meditation is like a daily shower for your mind. It is five times more effective than sleep to refresh your mind.

Mindfulness requires efforts. Meditation is effortless. Meditation is transcending mind. In Patanjali Yoga Sutra there are three stages mentioned. Dhyana or focus, dharana like oil continuous and samadhi is meditation

Mantra is the sound vibration that allows you to transcend the mind. It energises mind and uplifts your consciousness.

There are 12 constellations and 9 planets so 108 possible impacts. That is why we chant 108 times. Vedic astrology.

Mental chanting is more effective than vocal chanting as it avoids distractions and helps you meditate

Notes on Spirituality 151121

 There is difference between prayaankaal and antkaal. Former means time of departure that is one will come back, latter means end time that is going for good.

Brahmchari means one who is engaged in Brahma all the time. Karamchari means who is engaged in karma or action all the time, like an employee.

Sanyasi is the one who has given up the sense of agency, I am the doer. One who has given up the expectations of the results of actions is yogi. One practices yoga to become sanyasi.

Vibhuti yoga is yoga of divine glories.

Just as electricity is there in a dark room in the form of wiring and it manifests itself when the bulb is switched on, God is everywhere and manifests itself.

Ganesha has two wives, Ridhi and Sidhi. Ganesha is God which removes obstacles. He does so by Ridhi, power and Sidhi, faculties.

Our mind is Kaamdhenu. It grants all our wishes.

Vasuki snake signifies oneness, smallest and longest. It is very small snake used as ring on finger of Siva. But Vasuki is also used as long rope to churn ocean for nectar.

People from the land of Sindhu river are called Hindus

Gayatri Mantra is in the praise of sun god Savitter.

Notes on Spirituality 120921

Existence of God can be understood through cause and effect. It is not like milk and curd because milk causes curd to be made, but curd cannot become milk. It is not like ice and water because both can convert to the other but don't exist at the same time. It is more like snake and rope. Rope is the cause snake is the effect. Those who know it is a rope, they know. Those who think it is a snake will not believe easily that it is a rope. Both exist at the same time. It is a superimposition of cause over effect.

In Gita, Krishna says I am the source of all beings. If you can identify with your source, you will start liking everything because it comes from the same source. Just like you don't dislike anything your child does because you identify with and love your child.

World is a projection of yourself. If you are good, all are good. If you are bad, all are bad.

Mind is flow of thoughts. A thought is inert in itself, when we identify with it, the thought becomes flow.. Just like a bucket of water cannot be a river, a mere thought cannot be powerful. River is flow of water, the more water flows, more deep and strong the river. If flow of thoughts is more, they become stronger.

Notes on Spirituality 300821

A crow vision (kak drishti) is distorted. If it flies over a beautiful garden, it will not look at flowers, it will look for carcasses. At times, we also look at what is wrong in our life and not what is right.

That which did not change in me is who I am.

That which is not so but appears to be so is Maya, illusion.

Ancient scriptures first stressed on immortality or no death. Later they stressed on no birth. Because there will be no death if there is no birth.

Action is the signature of life. No action, no life.

Gyan yagna is when you burn your ignorance in the fire of knowledge

Adi Shankaracharya in Vivekchudamani says bumblebee has attraction for taste sense so dies in lotus flower, elephant has attraction for sense of touch by rolling in mud so suffers, patanga has attraction for sense of sight so it does. Humans have attractions of five senses.

Wherever I attach, that becomes myself. Body, mind, intellect, accomplishments or profession, that becomes myself.

Mind is just flow of thoughts. When you control these thoughts and turn towards yourself, that is meditation.

I minus I want is happiness.

Notes on Spirituality 170721

Socrates was nearing his death. His disciples asked him, where would you like to be buried? He replied, you can bury me if you catch me. You can only bury my body, that you can bury anywhere. He was pointing to the concept of immortality.

There are many electric gadgets in the house like bulb running on the power of electricity. If a bulb says I am all powerful on my own, it is wrong. Just like that if I say that I am the doer, that is wrong. I am the all pervading soul, body is the doer.

There is an overload cutout built in our electricity supply. This ensures that connection with main supply is cut off when there is overload in some part. This ensures safety and prevents further damage to the main supply. Similarly when there is an emotional overload in our body like when we are angry, the cutout disconnects our brain to prevent further damage and to avoid leaving these episodes permanent scars on the mind.

There are five elements of nature. Earth, water, fire, air and space. Earth has all the five sense elements, so it is grossest. Shabd/sound, sparsh/touch, roopah/seeing, Rasa/taste and Gandha/smell. There is no smell in pure water, so it has four. There is no taste and smell in fire. Then air has only two, sound and touch. Space has only one, shabda. Space is the subtlest. Senses can work only in presence of sense objects. Both are made up of three Gunas, rajas, Tamas and saatvik.

Notes on Spirituality 110721

There is a difference between Saying I am There is a difference between saying, I am Sanjay gora and my name is Sanjay Gora. In former, you identify self as Sanjay Gora, in latter you identify body with Sanjay Gora and identify soul as different.

Everything in a dark room can be seen by a flashlight. But battery in the flashlight cannot be seen by the same light because battery is the source. Similarly everything in the world can be understood by the intellect but not the concept of soul, which is the source of the intellect.

If someone says he does not want to be happy at all times, sometimes he wants to be sad or unhappy like when watching sad movie or song. The counter is that he wants to be sad because it makes him happy.

Be like a tortoise in using your senses. Tortoise retracts its body parts under hard shell whenever it feels danger. Likewise we should withdraw and stay away from situations where our senses may be endangered. For example, a smoker trying to quit smoking,  should avoid groups where others are smoking. Because he may be tempted to smoke.

Lord Rama killed  Bali by hiding behind a tree. Because Bali represented lust and he had a boon that his opponent will lose half his power when facing him. So he could be killed only by hiding from him and lust.

Notes on Spirituality 020721

Heard this interesting interpretation of a Gita sloka in a podcast today. Out of three yoga's : karma yoga, gyan yoga and bhakti yoga, you can try to follow first two by actions or knowledge, But you can't plan to follow bhakti yoga. Bhakti is love for divine, it will happen when it has to happen. You just cannot inculcate bhakti forcefully.

Another concept shared was Shreyas and Preyas  (श्रेयस और प्रेयस) things. Preyas are things which may feel good but may not be good in reality. For example scratching your body may suppress the itch and feels good but excess scratching may harm the body. Preyas things are reverse. For example, doing exercise may not feel good but it is good for the body in the long term.