WHAT IS KARMA ?

 

                                  

                                       KARMA YOGA

                  KARMA IS A SANSKRIT WORD MEANING ACTION OR TO WORK. EATING, SLEEPING, WALKING, THINKING AND READING ARE ACTIONS. BAL GANGADHAR TILAK IN GITA RAHASYA SAYS, "NO MAN IS FREE FROM ACTION AND THAT ACTION SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN UP". EVERY ACTION IS SPIRITUAL, IF IT IS DONE WITHOUT ANY SELFISHNESS IN DOING A TASK THEN IT IS ONLY "ACTION" AND NOT "KARMA YOGA".

                  UNSELFISH ACTIONS CLEAN THE MIND. ACCORDING TO PARAMAHAMSA HARIHARANANDA, "KARMA YOGA MEANS THE PRACTICE OF DETACHMENT IN ALL ACTIONS. UNSELFISHNESS PRODUCES DETACHMENT AND INDIFFERENCE TO THE RESULT OF ACTIONS". WHEN ONE DOES ALL THE KARMAS ASSIGNED TO ONESELF WITHOUT ANYTHING IN RETURN LIKE NAME, FAME, SATISFACTION OR MONETARY GAINS THEN ONE BECOMES KARMA YOGI.  A KARMA YOGI DOES ONE'S DUTY PROPERLY, ACCEPTS DESTINY AND DOES SELFLESS SOCIAL SERVICE IGNORING PERSONAL DESIRES. DOING ONE'S ALL DUTIES WHILE REMAINING IN THIS MATERIALITIC WORLD AND WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS, LEADS TO LIBERATION THROUGH KARMA YOGA. ONE CAN PRACTISE KARMA YOGA WITHOUT TAKING SANNYAS (LEAVING HOUSE TO LIVE A LIFE OF HERMIT).

                        KARMA YOGA CAN BE PRACTISED BY DETACHING ONESELF WITH THE FRUITS OF ACTIONS. IF THE RESULT IS NOT UPTO ONE'S EXPECTATION THEN ONE SHOULD NOT GET ANGRY, IRRITATED OR UNHAPPY. ONE SHOULD ACT ACCORDING TO ONE'S DUTY WITHOUT CONSIDERING ONE'S SELFISH DESIRES OR LIKE AND DISLIKES. WHATEVER MAY BE THE RESULT OF ONE'S ACTION IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT, ONE SHOULD KEEP DOING ONE'S SINCERELY.

                   KARMA IS OF THREE TYPES :

                 1. SANCHIT - THERE ARE THE ACCUMULATED KARMAS OF THE PAST ACTIONS.

                2.  PRARABDHA - THEY ARE THE PART OF SANCHIT KARMA. THESE ACTIONS WERE DONE IN THE PAST AND NOW THEY HAVE STARTED GIVING THEIR FRUITS. THESE ARE FRUCTIFYING KARMAS. THEY ARE EXHAUSTED  ONLY BY EXPERIENCING THEM.

                3. AGAMI/KRIYAMANA/ VARTAMANA - THESE ARE CURRENT ACTIONS WHICH WILL GIVE RESULTS IN FUTURE.

                     ONE'S SANCHIT AND PRARBDHA KARMA DECIDES WHAT ONE DESERVES AND ONE'S AGAMI KARMA DECIDE WHAT ONE WILL BE. WHATEVER ONE IS TODAY IS THE RESULT OF THE PAST KARMA. AND ONE'S FUTURE WILL DEPEND UPON KARMAS ONE DOES TODAY. ONE'S ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS DECIDE ONE'S DESTINY.

                        JNANA YOGA 

                     JNANA YOGA MEANS LIBERATION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE. JNANA IN SANSRIT MEANS KNOWLEDGE.  KNOWLEDGE IS TRUTH. AND TRUTH IS THAT GOD IS EVERYWHERE AND IN EVERYTHING . HE IS IN ALL BEINGS ARE IN HIM. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SELF AND GOD.

                    ACCORDING TO SWAM SIVANANDA . "SELF-REALIZATION OR DIRECT INTUITIVE PERCEPTION OF THE SUPREME SELF IS NECESSARY FOR ATTAINING FREEDOM AND PERFECTION. THIS JNANA YOGA OR THE PATH OF WISDOM IS, HOWEVER, NOT MEAN FOR THE MASSESS WHOSE HEARTS ARE NOT PURE ENOUGH AND WHOSE INTELLECTS ARE NOT SHARP ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND AND PRACTISE THIS RAZOR-EDGE PATH. HENCE, KARMA YOGA AND BHAKTI YOGA ARE TO BE PRACTISED FIRST, WHICH WILL RENDER THE HEART PURE AND MAKE IT FIT FOR THE RECEPTION OF KNOWLEDGE JNANA YOGI IS THE PATH OF SELF-ANALYSIS, REFLECTION AND ENQUIRY".

                         ADI SHANKRACHARYA AND RAMANUJA WERE JNANA YOGIS. SHANKRACHARYA I ATMABODHA SAID,

                      "SRAVANAADIBHI UDDEPTA

                       JNAANAAGNI PARITAPITAH

                       JEEVA SARVAMALAT MUKTAH

                      SWARNAVAT DYOTATE SWAYAM".

                       (THE INDIVIDUAL IS PURIFIED BY HEATING IN THE FIRE OF KNOWLEDGE KINDLED BY HEARING REASONING AND DEEP MEDITATION ON WHAT HAS BEEN HEARD AND REASONED OUT. THEN THE INDIVIDUAL SHINES OF ITSELF LIKE PURE GOLD WHICH IS OBTAINED AFTER PURIFYIN THE GOLD ORE BY MELTING. ONE HEATS GOLD ORE IN A CRUCIBLE TO PURIFY IT, SIMILARLY, ONE HAS TO USE THE FIRE OF KNOWLEDGE TO PURIFY THE MIND. KNOWLEDGE CAN BE ACHIEVED BY SRAVANA (HEARING) MANANA (REASONING OF TRUTH) AND NIDHI DHYASAMA (DEEP CONTEMPLATON) THE MIND WILL BE FREE FROM IMPURE THOUGHTS, AND THE FEELING OF INDIVIDUAL GETS AUTOMATICALLY DESTROYED. THEN ONLY THE SELF ILLUMINATING SOUL EXISTS).

CONCENTRATION POWER

 

                    

                          HOW TO CONCENTRATE

                                     IN PRESENT

                                                                           ❤

                      WHEN MIND IS AGITATED BECAUSE OF ANGER OR FEAR THEN BREATHING BECOMES SHORTER, SHALLOWER, FAST AND IRREGULAR. WHEN MIND IS RELAXED AND CALM THEN ONE BREATHES SLOWLY. MIND AND BREATHING ARE INTERRELATED. IF ONE IS CONTROLLED THEN IT WILL CONTROL THE OTHER AUTOMATICALLY.

                    EVERYBODY HAS CONCENTRATION POWER BUT ITS RANGE MAY VARY. ONE SHOULD STRENGTHEN MIND'S CAPACITY BY VARIOUS WAYS. A NEWCOMER IN THE FIELD OF MEDITATION MUST PRACTISE CONCENTRATION EXERCISES TO FOCUS THE SCATTERED RAYS OF MIND ON A SINGLE POINT WHICH LEADS TO SELF REALISATION. THERE ARE VARIOUS EXERCISES USING DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES LIKE POWER OF SOUND. VISUAL IMAE OF DEITY OR SYMBOL. BUT THEY ALL HAVE ONE AIM, TO CONCENTRATE THE MIND.

                                                                           ❤

                       TRATAK - IT IS STEADY GAZING ON AN OBJECT OR A POINT WITHOUT BLINKING TILL TEARS START FLOWING FROM EYES AND THEN CLOSING EYES AND TRYING TO VISUALISE THE OBJECT IN THE MIND. IN THIS EXERCISE THE OBJECT CAN BE THE TIP OF LEAF. TIP OF NOSE, THUMB PLACED IN FRONT OF EYES. LEAF IS VERY GOOD OPTION AS SEEING GREEN COLOUR IS GOOD FOR EYES. THE OBJECT SHOULD BE PLACED AT THE SAME LEVEL WITH THE EYES. IT DECREASES THE WANDERING OF MIND, INCREASES CONCENTRATION, MAKES EYES STRONGER AND STIMULATES THE AJNA CHAKRA, THE SIXTH CHAKRA OF KUNDALINI YOGA LOCATED IN BETWEEN THE EYES.

                                                                         👀

               CATEGORY CONCENTRATION - THIS EXERCISES IS VERY EASY TO PRACTISE. HAVE A LOOK AT THE ROOM. MEMORIZE FIVE THINGS IN A ROOM LIKE FAN, TUBE LIGHT, CHAIR, TABLE AND CUPBOARD. TRY TO VISUALISE THESE FIVE OBJECTS IN YOUR MIND WITH CLOSED EYES. OPEN THE EYES AND DELTE ONE ITEM, SAY CUPBOARD, NOW MEMORISE FOUR REMAINING OBJECTS. TRY TO VISUALISE THEM. REPEAT THE PROCESS DELETING EACH ITEM TILL ONLY ONE ITEM IS LEFT. FOCUS MIND ON THAT OBJECT. YOU CAN DO THIS EXERCISE IN A GARDEN ON FIVE DIFFERENT FLOWERS, FRUITS AND LEAVES. WITH THIS EXERCISES MIND BECOMES STILL BUT HAS A LITTLE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. IT HELPS IN INCREASING CONCENTRATION POWER OF MIND BY NARROWING THE POINT OF FOCUS.

                                                                         👀

                      CONCENTRATION ON SOUND - SIT COMFORTABLY IN SUKHASANA. CLOSE BOTH THE EARS WITH THE THUMBS AND EYES WITH FINGERS. TRY TO HEAR THE INNER SOUNDS. FLUTE, VIOLIN, HUMMING BEE, CONCH SOUND, THUNDER SOUND, BELL SOUND ETC. CAN BE HEARD. YOU MAY HEAR ONE SOUND OR MANY. TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON THE SOUND COMING FROM RIGHT EAR AND SOMETIMES ON THE SOUND COMING FROM LEFT EAR. ONE-POINTEDNESS OF MIND IS ACHIEVED BY FOCUSING MIND ON MYSTIC SOUNDS.

                                                                        👀

                   MINS IS A MONKEY WHICH CAN'T SIT AT ONE PLACE.

           MIND IS A MONKEY WHICH IS DRUNK SO WILL DO ALL NASTY THINGS.

                    AND MIND IS A MONKEY WHOSE TAIL IS ON FIRE WHICH WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING.

                                                                      ❤❤

                  JUST LIKE A MONKEY WHO JUMPS FROM ONE BRANCH TO ANOTHER. MIND CAN'T SIT QUIET. MONKEY MIND WANDERS FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER. SUCH THINKING IS CONSIDERED AS "SATVIK" THINKING. SIMILAR TO A MONKEY WHO IS DRUNK, MIND DOES UNPLEASANT AND HORRIBLE ACTIVITIES. SUCH THINKING COMES UNDER "RAJASIK" THINKING. LIKE A MONKEY WHOSE TAIL IS SET ON FIRE AND IS EAGER TO DESTROY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. THE OUTCOME OF SUCH SITUATION IS UNPREDICTABLE AND TOTALLY DIFFERENT. SUCH THINKING WITH A DESTRUCTIVE MOTTO IS "TAMASIC" THINKING. THE MIND, WHICH BEHAVES LIKE A MONKEY NEEDS TO BE TRAINED AND DIRECTED IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. THIS CAN BE DONE BY DISCIPLINING IT WITH PATIENCE AND PRACTICE. THEN ONLY THIS MIND MONKEY WILL BECOME TAME AND CALM.

                             MIND IS RESTLESS, UNSETTLED, CONFUSED, INDECISIVE AND UNCONTROLLABLE. MIND JUMPS FROM ONE THOUGHT TO ANOTHER JUST LIKE A MONKEY WHO JUMPS FROM ONE TREE TO ANOTHER. THE MONKEY MIND IS NOT SATISFIED IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. IT IS CONTANTLY DISTRACTED WITH REPLAYING THE HAPPENINGS OF PAST EVENTS OR PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. FOCUSING OF MIND TO STAY IN PRESENT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PRACTISING MEDITATION.

                                                                         👇

                     MEDITATION IS THE PRACTISE BY WHICH THERE IS CONSTANT OBSERVATION OF THOUGHTS ENTERING THE MIND. EVERY DAY NEAR ABOUT 50,000 THOUGHTS ARISE IN MIND. IF THEY ARE NEGATIVE THEN A PERSON WILL DEFINITELY FEEL SAD AND IF IT CONTINUE FOR SOME DAYS IT WILL LEAD TO DIPRESSION.

                    EVERY BODY HAS ITS OWN WORLD OF THOUGHTS. THERE ARE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF JAPA OF MANTRA. PRANAYAMA AND YOGA ALONG WITH READING SACRED BOOKS ONE CAN FILL MIND WITH PURE AND POSITIVE THOUGHTS AND ERADICATE IMPURE THOUGHTS FROM MIND.

                                                                             👇

                          MEDITATION IS A TECHNIQUE TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER MIND. IT TRAINS MIND TO WORK WITHOUT GETTING TENSED, STRESSED, TIRED AND AGED. IT KEEPS THE MIND CHEERFUL, PEACEFUL, CALM, SERENE AND YOUNG AS THERE IS INCREASE OF GREY MATTER. MOST IMPORTANTLY IT HELPS ONE TO BE PEACEFUL IN TURBULENT TIMES.

                          AN EAGLE SOARS HIGH IN THE SKY BUT STILL HAS A KEEN VISION FOR ITS PREY. AS THE EAGLE CAME DOWN TO ATTACK ITS PREY, THE MUSCLES OF ITS EYE BALLS CONTINUOUSLY ADJUST TO MAINTAIN SHARP FOCUS AND ACCURATE PERCEPTION THROUGHOUT ITS APPROACH. SIMILARLY A CONCENTRATE MIND IS FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR OBJECT AND IMPORTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN ONLY TO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. MIND PURELY FOCUSES ON FULLFILLMENT OF PURPOSE OF PRIORITY.

DAILY EXERCISES (ASANAS)

 

                

                              PROPER EXERCISES

                                             👀👀

                 ONE SHOULD MAKE A HABIT TO DO EXERCISE DAILY. SET ASIDE TIME FOR REGULAR EXERCISE. DO MODERATE EXERCISE. NEITHER OVERDO IT NOR UNDERDO IT. EXERCISE BENEFITS MORE WHEN DONE OUTDOORS IN FRESH AIR. IF ONE CAN'T DO IT OUTDOORS IN A GARDEN OR PARK THEN ONE CAN DO IT IN BALCONY, COURTYARD OR A WELL-VENTILATED PLACE. YOGA EXERCISE DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL CLOTHES OR EQUIPEMENTS, JUST A BIT OF SPACE AND A STRONG MOTIVATION TO DO EXERCISES. YOGA EXERCISE NOT ONLY TONES VOLUNTARY MUSCLES LIKE HANDS, LEGS, BACK, THIGHS, HIPS, NECK, SHOULDER ETC.BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN VITAL ORGANS LIKE LUNGS, HEART, STOMACH, INTESTINE ETC. THE DAILY EXERCISE WILL INCREASE MUSCLE STRENGTH, BODY SUPPLENSS AND MOTOR REACTION. IT KEEPS THE GLANDS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM IN RADIANT HEALTH. IT IS MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY STIMULATING. IN THE BEGINNING ONE SHOULD DO THE EXERCISES FOR MINIMUM. SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY INCREASE IT. WHILE PRACTISING YOGA POSTURES HOLD THE POSTURE FOR MINIMUM TIME AND THEN GRADUALLY INCREASES IT TO THE MAXIMUM TIME. THE YOGIC EXERCISES AND POSTURES WILL HELP ONE TO MAINTAIN SAME POSTURE WHILE MEDITATING FOR LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

                             ❤ SOME EASY POSTURES ARE AS FOLLOWS : ❤

                         1. PADMASANA - SIT ERECT. PUT ONE FOOT ON THE OTHER THIGH. FOLD THE OTHER LEG AND PLACE THE OTHER FOOT ON OPPOSITE THIGH. THIS CROSS - LEGGED POSTURE IS GOOD FOR CALMING THE MIND AND FOR IMPROVING PHYSICAL STRENGTH.

   

                          2. SIDDHAASANA - SIT ERECT. FOLD ONE LEG AND PUT IN ON THE OTHER THIGH. FOLD OTHER LEG SO THAT THE FOOT TOUCHES THE GROUND. IT IS GOOD FOR CONCENTRATING THE MIND. THOSE WHO CAN'T PRACTISE PADMASANA CAN DO IT WHILE MEDITATING.

                          3. SUKHAASANA - SIT STRAIGHT AND FOLD BOTH FEET SO THAT THEY TOUCH THE GROUND. IT IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE POSE FOR DOING MEDITATION IF ONE CAN'T SIT IN SIDDHASANA AND PADMASANA FOR PROLONGED HOURS.

                       4. VRIKSHANA - STAND ERECT, FOLD ONE LEG TO PLACE IT ON KNEE. INHALE SLOWLY AND PRESS HANDS TOGETHER IN THE PRAYER POSE ABOVE HEAD. STAND IN THE POSE FOR SOMETIME. EXHALE AND BRING DOWN HANDS AND LEGS IN NORMAL POSITION. THIS POSE HELPS IN BETTER CONCENTRATION. MOST OF THE YOGIS DO THIS ASANA FOR ENHANCING THEIR FOCUSING POWER.

                       5. SHASHANKASANA - SIT WITH FOLDED LEGS SO THAT FEET TOUCH HIPS. INHALE AND STRAIGHTEN ARMS UPWARD. EXHALE AND BEND DOWN TILL THE HANDS FOR FOREHEAD TOUCH THE GROUND. STAY IN THIS POSITION FOR SOME. INHALE ADN SLOWLY COME IN THE NORMAL POSITION. IT RELAXES THE MIND AND RELIEVES TENSION.

                    6. TADASANA - STAND ERECT. INHALE AND STRETCH ARMS UPWARD AND MAINTAIN BALANCE ON TOES. HOLD THE POSTURE FOR SOME TIME. WHILE EXAHALING, BRING ARMS DOWN AND FEET IN THE NORMAL POSITION. IT CALMS AND CLEARS NERVOUS SYSTEM.

                                                                     ❤❤❤

                          SOME POSTURES THAT HELP IN CONCENTRATING 

                            MIND ARE AS FOLLOWS 

                                                                      ❤❤❤

                          1. SHIRSHANA - INTERLACE FINGERS OF BOTH HANDS TOGETHER AND MAKE A CUSHION OF THEM ON THE GROUND. BEND DOWN AND PUT THE HEAD ON PALMS. INHALE AND PUSH THE BODY UPWARD. KEEP THE BACK STRAIGHT AND KNEES BENT. STABILISE YOUR BODY IN THIS POSITION WHILE INHALING AND EXHALING SLOWLY. MAINTAINING THE BALANCE, INHALE DEEPLY AND STRETCH THE LEGS TOWARDS SKY. ALL BODY WEIGHT COMES ON FOREHEAD. HOLD THE BREATH. EXHALE AND FOLD BACK YOUR LEGS TO KNEE LEVEL. INHALE AND EXHALE SLOWLY MAINTAINING THE BODY BALANCE. EXHALE AND COME TO THE NORMAL SITTING POSITION. THIS ASANA IS THE KING OF ALL THE ASANAS. IT INCREASES BLOOD CIRCULATION, CONCENTRATION POWER AND MEMORY.

                      2. SARVANGASANA - LIE DOWN. INHALE AND PUSH LEGS STRAIGHT UP. SLOWLY LIFT THE HIPS FROM THE GROUND. PUT HANDS ON BACK TO GIVE A SUPPORT TO THE BODY. THE CHIN SHOULD TOUCH THE LOWER PART OF THE NECK. BREATHE DEEPLY AND SLOWLY IN THIS ASANA ONCE THE DESIRED POSITION IS ATTAINED. HOLD THE POSTURE FOR SOME TIME THEN RETURN TO THE NORMAL POSITION. THIS ASANA IS GOOD FOR ENHANCING CONCENTRATION POWER. IT ALSO STIMULATES THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS.

                     3. AKARNA DHANURASANA - SIT AND SPREAD YOUR LEGS LEGS STRAIGHT. HOLD BIG TOES WITH OPPOSITE HANDS. FOLD ONE LEG AND BRING IT CLOSE TO EAR. EXHALE AND COME BACK IN NORMAL POSITION.

                  4.  GARUDASANA - STAND STRAIGHT. TWIST YOUR ONE LEG AROUND ANOTHER AND MAINTAIN THE BODY BALANCE ON ONE LEG. TWIST HANDS TOGETHER IN THE FRONT IN PRAYER POSE, HANDS ARE PRESSED TOGETHER AS IN NAMASTE".

                    5. MATSAYSANA - LIE DOWN. FOLD LEGS IN PADMASANA. INHALE AND BEND THE BACK TO MAKE AN ARCH SO THAT FOREHEAD TOUCHES THE GROUND. GRASP YOUR BIG TOES WITH YOUR RESPECTIVE HANDS. HOLD THE POSITION FOR SOME TIME. EXHALE AND STRAIGHTEN BACK. BRING LEGS IN NORMAL POSITION. IF SOMEBODY HAS SOME PROBLEM IN FOLDING LEGS IN PADMASANA THEN THIS EXERCISE CAN BE DONE WITH STRAIGHT LEGS. THIS IS GOOD FOR IMPROVING MEMORY AND FOCUSING POWER.

                  6. CHAKRASANA - LIE DOWN. FOLD LEGS AND BRING FEET CLOSE TO BUTTOCKS. KEEP THE FEET APART. FOLD HANDS AND BRING PALMS CLOSE TO HEAD. INHALE DEEPLY AND LIFT THE BODY UPWARDS MAINTAINING THE BODY BALANCE ON FEET AND PALMS. THE BACK WILL FORM AN ARMY. STAY IN THAT POSITION FOR SOME TIME. EXHALE AND COME DOWN WITHOUT DISTURBING FEET AND PALMS POSITION. STRAIGHTEN LEGS AND HANDS AND RELAX.

                                                                      ❤❤❤

             (ALL YOGA ASANAS MUST BE DONE UNDER EXPERT GUIDANCE)

                                                                       ❤❤❤

                    THE BEST BENEFIT OF EXERCISING IS THAT MAKES ONE HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER. WHEN ONE FEELS GOOD THEN ONE GETS ALONG BETTER IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE. ONE CAN MEDITATE EASILY AS REGULAR EXERCISE HELPS IN MAINTAINING THE POSE FOR QUITE GOOD TIME WHICH CONSEQUENTLY HELPS IN CALMING THE MIND.

BHAKTI YOGA - THE SALVATION

 

                             

                                        BHAKTI YOGA

                BHAKTI YOGA IS THE EASIEST FORM OF GOD REALISATION. IT IS A BEATIFUL WAY TO SHOW LOVE TOWARDS GOD. AS SAID, GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS GOD'. BHAKTI MEANS "TO WORSHIP" OR TO BE ATTACHED TO GOD'. ONE CANNOT ATTAIN GOD THROUGH LOGIC AND REASON BUT FROM PURE FAITH AND DEVOTION. ONE YEARNS FOR GOD AND GOD ALONE. IN THIS FORM OF LOVE THERE IS NO EXPECTATION AND SELFISHNESS. IT PURIFIES ONE'S HEART.

                                                                      ❤❤❤

                     1. SAKAM BHAKTI : IN SAKAM BHAKTI, ONE DESIRES FOR MATERIALISTIC GAINS. IF ONE WORSHIPS GOD SINCERELY AND WITH INTENSE DEVOTION ARISING FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART, GOD FULFILLS ONE'S MATERIALISTIC WISHES. BUT ONE CAN'T ATTAIN SALVATION WITH SAKAM BHAKTI.

                   👀MR. 'X' WENT TO A SANCTUM, LIT A LAMP IN FRONT OF DEITY AND OFFERED A RED FLOWER AND PRAYED. HE ASKED FOR HIS WIFE'S HEALTH IMPROVEMENT, HIS DAUGHTER'S MARRIAGE, HIS SON'S JOB, BUYING A NEW HOUSE AND FOR HIS PROMOTION IN JOB.

                      ONE FLOWER FOR THE DEITY AND INFINITE DESIRES FOR HIMSELF!

                                                                      ❤❤❤

                  2. NISHKAM BHAKTI : IN NISHKAM BHAKTI, ONE DESIRES OF GOD AND NOTHING FROM THIS MATERIALISTIC WORLD. ONE IS THANKFUL TO GOD FOR WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN. IT PURIFIES THE HEART. IT HELPS IN BECOMING ONE WITH GOD.

                   👀 MR. 'Y' VISITED A SANCTUM, LIT A LAMP IN FRONT OF THE DEITY AND OFFERED A RED FLOWER. HE THANKED GOD FOR GIVING HIM GOOD JOB, COMFORTABLE HOUSE AND OBEDIENT CHILDREN. HE ASKED HIM TO BLESS THE WORLD WITH HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PEACE.

                     NOTHING FOR MYSELF AND INFINITE DESIRES FOR THE WORLD!

FORMS OF DEVOTION  : IN BHAGAVATA PURANA, PRAHLAD EXPLAINED TO HIS FATHER HIRANYAKASHIPU, " THERE ARE NINE WAYS TO WORSHIP GOD.".

                                                                           ❤❤❤

                         *    SRAVANAM      : LISTENING TO SCRIPTURES, STORIES OF GOD'S LILA (PLAY) , HIS NAME AND HIS POSITIVE QUALITIES. DEVELOPING TASTE FOR ASSOCIATION WITH DEVOTEES WHO SPREAD LOVE AND HEARING TALES WHICH ARE NECTAR TO EARS AND MIND. SERVING DEVOTEES WHO ARE LOVE INTOXICATED SO THAT MAXIMUM TIME CAN BE SPENT WITH THEM.

                     IN RAMACHARITMANAS, GARUDA LISTENED TO THE STORY OF RAM WITH FULL DEVOTION AS NARRATED BY KAKBHUSHUNDI.

                        * KIRTANAM - SINGING OF GOD'S GLORY IN CHORUS. COMMUNAL CHORUS. CHANTING HIS NAME, PRAISES AND STORIES. MIND WILL DEVELOPE EXTREME FONDNESS FOR GOD. DOING ONE'S OWN DUTY WITH TOTAL DEVOTION. CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND HIS DISCIPLES PERFORMED KIRTANAM IN THE STREETS PRAISING LORD KRISHNA.

                          IT IS MENTIONED IN SRIMAD VALMIKI RAMAYANA THAT ON THE PATHS OF AYODHYA, LUV AND KUSH SONG AND DANCED ON POETIC VERSES OF RAMAYANA WRITTEN BY SAINT VALMUKI.

                        * SMARANAM - REMEMBERING GOD'S NAME AND HIS IMAGE MENTALLY ALL THE TIME WITHOUT ANY DISCONTINUATION. DOING JAPA, CONTINUOUS REPETITION OF GOD'S NAME AND CHANTING BHAJANS (DEVOTIONAL SONGS), FIXING ONE'S THOUGHT ON HIM AND DOING UNCEASING PRAYERS.

                          AHILAYA WAS CURSED BY HER HUSBAND, GAUTAM MUNI FOR INFIDELITY. AFTER THIS INCIDENT SHE WAS CONSTANLY REMEMBERING LORD RAM TILL HE VISITED HER HUT.

                        * PADASEVANAM - WORSHIP OF LORD'S FEET. THIS WORLD IS LORD'S FEET, SERVING EVERYBODY IN THIS WORLD IS A WAY TO SERVE LORD'S FEET. ONE SHOULD SEE GOD IN FATHER, MOTHER, GURU, BROTHER, HUSBAND AND THE POOR AND FIX MIND IN SERVING THEM AS THEY ARE SERVING GOD. SERVING HUMANITY LIKE SERVING GOD.

                              BHARAT, LORD RAM'S BROTHER WORSHIPPED HIS PADUKAS AND LOOKED AFTER HIS KINGDOM, AYODHYA FOR FOUTEEN YEARS WHEN HE WAS IN EXILE. BHARAT WORSHIPPED THOSE SANDALS AS GOD'S FEET AND CONSIDERED WITH WHOLE KINGDOM AS LORD'S FEET. HE SERVED THE CITIZENS OF AYODHYA WITHOUT WISHING ANYTHING IN RETURN.

                        * ARCHANAM - PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING GOD WITH RITUALS WITHOUT ASKING ANYTHING IN RETURN FROM HIM. ADI SHANKARA USED TO PRACTISE ARCHANAM.

                          DURING EXILE, WHEN LORD RAM WENT INTO THE FOREST THEN NISHAD CHIEF, GUHA WELCOMED HIM WITH FLOWERS AND SERVED HIM FRUITS. NUTS AND ROOTS WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATIONS FROM LORD RAM.

HOW TO BE IN POSITIVE THOUGHTS

 

         

                                 POSITIVE THINKING

                 THE WAY ONE THINKS, AFFECTS ONE'S BODY AS WELL AS MIND. POSITIVE THOUGHTS CALM THE MIND AND NEGATIVE FEELINGS AGITATE THE MIND. IF THERE ARE RIPPLES IN WATER THEN ONE CAN NOT SEE THE SURFACE OF LAKE BUT IF THE WATER IS STILL INE CAN SEE THE SURFACE OF LAKE CLEARLY. SIMILARLY WHEN MIND IS STILL AND NO THOUGHTS ARE ARISING THEN IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PEEK INSIDE AND EXPERIENCE THE INNER SELF.

                    WHAT ONE MUSES DURINT THE WHOLE DAY AFFECTS THE MIND WHILE MEDITATING ! ONE HOUR OF MEDITATION IS AFFECTED BY THE THOUGHT PRODUCED IN ONE'S MIND THROUGHOUT TWENTY THREE HOURS! DURING THE WHOLE DAY, POSITIVE FEELINGS LIKE KINDNESS, TRUTHFULESSM HOSESTY, WILL HELP IN EASY CONCENTRATION OF MIND WHEREAS NEGATIVE FEELINGS LIKE STEALING DECEIVING,  DISHONESTY WILL KEEP HAUNTING THE MIND EVEN DURING MEDITATIVE HOURS. NEGATIVE THOUGHTS STIR UP THE MIND. MIND BECOMES BUSY IN PRODUCING ONE BAD THOUGHTS AFTER ANOTHER WITH THE RESULT IT IS NOT CONCENTRATED ON ONE POINT. NEGATIVE THOUGHTS DRAIN OUT ONE'S PRECIOUS ENERGY AND DON'T ALLOW ONE TO STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. ONE CAN VERY EASILY FALL PREY TO NEGATIVE THINKING. THE MORE ONE THINKS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. THE BIGGEST THEY GROW. ONE SMALL NEGATIVE THOUGHTS CAN TURN HUGE AND DO BLUNDERS. THAT'S WHY EVEN A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS SHOULD BE CHECKED FROM ENTERING THE MIND.

                  SOMETIMES, A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OF THE SAME FOREC AND INTENSITY ENTERS ONE'S MIND. AFTER THAT, THE NEEDLE TIP NEGATIVITY INCREASES ITS SIZE MAKING ONE'S LIFE HELL.

                      ONE SHOULD KEEP MOVING ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH OVERCOMING OBSTACLES COMING THE PATH. ONE SHOULD ENJOY THE JOURNEY ONE IS MOVING ON AND NOT ONLY THE DESTINATION. ONE SHOULD TAKE PLEASURE IN DOING  THE WORK AND SHOULD NOT RELISH THE MERE REWARD. ONE SHOULD CONSIDER ONE'S TROUBLES AS A GIFT FROM GOD TO IMPROVE ONESELF AND TO MAKE ONE A BETTER PERSON.

                      THERE IS AN OLD SAYING 'AS YOU SOW SO SHALL YOU REAP'. THE POSITIVE ACTIONS WILL GIVE POSITIVE FRUITS AND NEGATIVE WILL GIVE NEGATIVE RESULTS. NEGATIVE SITUATIONS ARISING IN THE FUTURE LIFE CAN DECREASED BY DOING POSITIVE DEEDS IN THE PRESENT. THEREFORE, ALWAYS THINK POSITIVE AND MAINTAIN POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ALWAYS DO GOOD DEEDS. ALWAYS FORM HIGH-QUALITY HABITS.

                    IN GENERAL THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PERSONS. IN FIRST CATEGORY, THOSE PERSONS WHO FEEL DEPRESSED AND LOW ARE COVERED. THEY ARE PESSIMISTIC. THEY EXTRACT POSITIVE ENERGY FROM THE ENVIROMENT AND SURROUNDINGS. IN SECOND CATEGORY ARE THE PERSONS WHO FEEL HAPPY AND SATISFIED IN ALL CONDITIONS. THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC.

                       OPTIMISTIC PERSONS ARE ALWAYS BUBBLING WITH POSITIVE ENERGY. SUCH PERSONS ALWAYS GIVE POSITIVE VIBES IN THE ENVIRONMENT THEY LIVE. ALWAYS TRY TO BE THE PERSONS OF SECOND CATEGORY - GIVER OF POSITIVE VIBES.

                    ONE SHOULD SPREAD POSITIVE AND GOOD THOUGHTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

                       MEDITATION IS NOT JUST SITTING WITH CLOSED EYES FOR HOURS IN A ROOM. NO, IT IS NOT MEDITATION. MEDITATION MEANS THAT YOU ARE TOTALLY INVOLVED IN WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. IT MAY BE COOKING FOOD, IT MAY BE DOING YOUR OFFICE WORK OR IT MAY BE DOING SOCIAL SERVICE. FORGET YOURSELF IN DOING THAT TASK. AND WHEN YOU COME OUT OF IT YOU HAVE TO ERASE THE FACTOR. 'I' FROM IT. YOU HAVE TO WIPE OUT" I DID THE WORK' THIS IS WHAT MEDITATION MEANS TO BE COMPLETELY ABSORBED IN WORK WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE FACTOR "I". A SAINT EXPLAINED THE MEANING OF MEDITATION  TO AN ELDERLY WOMEN. MAKER EVERY ACTION OF LIFE A PART OF MEDITATION. DO ALL THE CHORES THINKING THAT YOU ARE IN SERVICE TO GOD. YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOUR VERY OWN GOD. AND YOU DO NOT WANT ANYTHING IN RETURN FROM GOD. OR YOU ARE DOING IF FOR THE WELFARE OF SOCIETY AND YOU DO NOT EXPECT ANYTHING IN RETURN FROM THEM. OR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHERS. MOREOVER YOU ENJOY ACTIONS OF LIKE YOU ENJOY MEDITATION. "HE PAUSED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND CONTINUED. WHATEVER YOU THINK BUT THERE SHOULD NOT BE " I FACTOR" OR THAT "I AM THE DOER OF THIS TASK" THINK THAT YOU ARE JUST A CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THAT WORK IS DOING DONE".

PROPER FOOD AND RELAXATION IN MEDITATION

 

                       

                             PROPER RELAXATION

                   BODY AND MIND CAN BE RELAXED BY DOING RELAXATION EXERCISES LIKE SHAVASANA (CORPSE POSE),  MEDITATION AND PRANAYAMA. RELAXATION THOROUGHLY REJUVENATES NERVES, MUSCLES AND PROVIDES INNER PEACE. SLEEP CAN ALSO RELAX BODY TO SOME EXTENT. BODY AND MIND CAN BE RELAXED BY KEEPING THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN MIND.

                 ❤     1. ONE SHOULD SLEEP NOT TOO MUCH NOR TOO LESS. THE MODERATE SLEEP IS GOOD.

                 ❤      2. AN OLD SAYING IS "EARLY TO BE AND EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE'. ONE SHOULD AVOID SLEEPING LATE AT NIGHT. MOREOVER, ONE SHOULD WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING .

                ❤      3. MEDITATION SOOTHES BODY AND MIND. DOING MEDITATION OUTDOORS RELAXES BODY AND MIND AS ONE COMES IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH NATURE. ON HILLS, THE OXYGEN IS LESS WHICH HELPS IN BETTER CONVERSATION.

               ❤        4. LISTENING TO CLASSICAL MUSIC, DEVOTIONAL SONGS AND LECTURES BY SAINTS HELPS IN KEEPING THE MIND CAN.

              ❤     5. READING SCRIPTURES AND SACRED BOOK IS GOOD FOR MIND'S HEALTH.

              ❤      6. DATING ON DEVOTIONAL SONGS RELAXES BODY AND MIND.

             ❤ 7. PAINTING AND DRAWING LORD'S IMAGE HELPS IN KEEPING THE MIND SERENE IN EVEN TURBULENT SITUATIONS.

                   PROPER RELAXATION MEANS THAT ONE SHOULD BE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND SPIRITUALLY RELAXED. MENTAL RELAXATION CAN ONLY BE COMPLETELY ACHIEVED IF THERE IS SPIRITUAL PEACE. I'LL ONE IDENTIFIES ONESELF WITH BODY AND MIND, ONE CAN'T BE COMPLETELY RELAXEDAS HERE WILL BE EMOTIONS LIKE FEAR, ANGER, GREED, WORRY AND DOUBT. TO BE SPIRITUALLY ELAXED ONE HAS TO DETACH ONE SELF AND TO BE A MERE WITNESS OF BODY AND MIND. TO BE ONE WITH THE SELF GIVE SUPREME PEACE.

                                     PROPER  DIET

                  YOGA BECOMES THE DESTROYER OF PAIN FOR HIM WHO IS ALWAYS MODERATE IN EATING AND RECREATION (SUCH AS WALKING , ETC), WHO IS MODERATE IN EXERTION IN ACTION, FOOD SHOULD BE BOUGHT WITH MONEY THAT IS EARNED BY RIGHTEOUS METHODS AND NOT BY ILLEGAL OR DECEITFUL WAYS. THE FOLLOWING POINTS RELATED TO DIETARY HABITS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

   

                           👀    1. THE FOOD SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN TO PLEASE THE TONGUE RATHER SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH.

                          👀    2. THE FOOD SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PROPER AMOUNT NEITHER TOO LESS NOR TOO MUCH .

                         👀        3.  ONE SHOULD EAT SMALLE QUANTITY OF FOOD REGULAR INTERVALS INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO OR THREE LARGE MEALS.

                          👀         4. STOP EATING BEFORE YOU FEEL FULL.

                         👀       5.  ONE SHOULD NOT BE IN A HUNGREY WHILE TAKING MEALS.

   

                          👀        6. ONE SHOULD CHEW THE FOOD PROPERLY AND SHOULD THINK ABOUT GOD WHILE TAKING MEALS.

                          👀        7. ONE SHOULD NOT EAT ANYTHING LATE AT NIGHT.

                         👀        8. THE MEAL SHOULD BE TAKEN IN SMALL QUANTITY THAT CAN BE DIGESTED EASILY.

                         👀       9. ONE SHOULD AVOIDE TAKING PRESERVED, SPICY AND JUNK FOOD.

                       👀        10. MEAL SHOULD BE NUTRITIVE AND SHOULD BE ACCORDING TO THE GENERA HEALTH OF ONE'S BODY.

                       👀   11. A BALANCED DIET CONTAINING CARBOBYDRATES, PROTEINS, VITAMINS, FATS AND MINERALS IS RECOMMENDED. ENOUGH FIBRES SHOULD BE PRESENT IN DIET.

                      👀   12. UNCOOKED FLOWERS, ROOTS, STEMS, FRUITS, LEAVES ARE BEST. GREEN SALAD AND SPROUTS SHOULD BE TAKEN DAILY. ACCORDING TO J.K DAGAR, THE MORE CLOSELY OUR FOOD IS TO ITS NATURAL ORIGINAL FORM, THE BETTER THE FOOD IS, SO, EAT THE FOOD IN ITS RAW FORM AS FAS AS POSSIBLE.

                      👀        13. WATER DRINKING SHOULD BE AVOIDED WITH MEALS.

                       👀      14. ONE SHOULD DRINK PRENTY OF WATER IN BETWEEN THE TWO MEALS.

                      👀      15. AS SOON AS ONE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING, ONE SHOULD GULP DOWN PLENTY OF WATER.

                     ONE SHOULD BRING THE CHANGES IN EATING HABITS TO GET SUCCESS IN MEDITATION.

JAPA MANTRA

                          JAPA MANTRA AND ITS USES

                    THE FOLLOWING POINTS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED WHILE DOING MEDITATION:

                                                          👀

                1. A ROSARY MALA IS USED TO RECITE THE MANTRA. ONE CAN USE A MALA OF 108 BEADS OF RUDRAKSHA SEED, TULSI (BASIL) OR CHANDAN (SANDA) WOOD. RUDRAKSHA MALA IS USED WITH SHIVA MANTRAS. IT CALMS THE MIND. TULSI MALA ENHANCES THE DEVOTION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH OF THE USER. A SANDAL WOOD MALA HAS FRAGRANCE. IT REPELS NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND PURIFIES MIND AND SPIRIT.

                                                                   👀

                2. A MALA IS USED AS A WHIP TO GUARD THE MIND AS MIND IS VERY NAUGHTY. IT WILL START DISTRACTING DURING MEDITATION IF ONE IS FEELING ACTIVE OR WILL SLEEP IF ONE IS HAVING LOW ENERGY.

                                                           👀

              3. THE MALA HELPS IN CONTROLLIN THE MIND FROM WANDERING AND HELPS IN ACHIEVING SINGLE-MINDEDNESS.

                                                           👀

              4. IN A MALA ALL BEADS ARE STRUNG TOGETHER AND WITH EACH BEAD MANTRA IS RECITED. THE CONTINUOUS RECITATION OF MANTRA ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITHOUT ANY BREAK KEEPS THE MIND OCCUPIED . IT ACTS LIKE AN ANCHOR.

                                                          👀

               5. THE MALA BEADS ARE ROTATED IN RYTHM WITH MANTRA AND BREATH WHICH SHUMS THE FANTASIES AS WELL AS SLEEP. WITH THE HELP OF ROSARY, A LAZY PERSON CAN BECOME ACTIVE AND A DEVILISH MIND CAN BECOME DOCILE.

                                                         👀

               6. BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS EFFORTS MANTRA DOES NOT LEAVE THE MIND. AT THAT STAGE THE ROSARY MAY BE DROPPED. BUT FOR BEGINNERS IT IS THE BEST TOOL TO FOCUS THE MIND.

                                                       👀

                      👉   TODAY I DID TEN ROSARY ROUNDS OF MANTRA, "MR.'J' SAID, 

                        WHAT IF YOU CAN'T FOCUS YOUR MIND ON THE MANTRA

                        WHILE CHANTING AND THE MIND STARTS WANDERING? MS. 'Z' ASKED.

                        THEN I DO TWO EXTRA ROUNDS". HE BEAMED.  👈

                                                        👀

                   7. HOLD THE ROSARY MALA IN HAND NEVER BELOW THE NAVEL BUT TO HEART.

                                                        👀

                 8. ALWAYS COVER THE ROSARY MALA WITH A CLEAN CLOTH OR HANDKERCHIEF SO THAT OTHERS CAN'T SEE IT.

                                                       👀

                 9. ONE SHOULD USE THE MIDDLE FINGER AND THE THUMB TO ROLL THE BEADS. THE INDEX FINGER SHOULD NOT BE USED IN ROLLING BEADS.

                                                      👀

                10. MERU OF THE MALA (HEAD BEAD) SHOULD NOT BE CROSSED. ON REACHING NEAR IT, ONE SHOULD TURN AROUND WITHOUT CROSSING THE HEAD BEAD TO COMPLETE ONE MORE CYCLE.

                                                      👀

              11. WHILE REPEATING THE MANTRA ONE'S MIND SHOULD NOT WANDER IN WORLDLY CHORES. ONE SHOULD TRY TO CONCENTRATE ONE'S MIND ON LORD. PLACE THE IMAGE OF DEITY OF THE MANTRA IN THE FRONT OF EYES. FEEL THE BLESSINGS BEING SHOWERED BY THE DEITY. IF CONCENTRATING ON OM THEN TRY TO FOCUS MIND ON FLAME OF DIYA.

                                                     👀

                12. NEVER CHANT THE MANTRA IN A HURRIED WAY. ALWAYS CHANT IT WITH FULL BHAVA OR DEVOTION. CONCENTRATE ON ITS MEANING AND NOT ON THE SPEED.

                                                     👀

                13. IF MIND BEGINS TO WANDER THEN ONE INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE MANTRA. IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP MIND ALERT DURING PRAYERS.

                                                     👀

                 14. PRONUNCIATION OF THE MANTRA SHOULD BE ACCURATE.

                                                      👀

                15. FOCUS MIND ON THE MANTRA AND AVOID ANY SORT OF SOUND DISTRACTIONS FROM T.V. RADIO  OR MOBILE. BETTER TO KEEP THE MOBILE ON SILENT MODE WHILE MEDITATING. CLOSE THE DOOR OF YOUR ROOM TO MAINTAIN SILENCE IN THE ROOM. SURDAS SAID, "TATEIN SAB CHINTA KARI TAYAG. SURDAS KAROON HARI-PAD ANURAG! (THAT'S WHY SHED ALL TENSIONS, WORSHIP HARI-FEET WITH DEVOTION!)