I enjoy your satsangs swamiji. From my personal experience, I feel that Yogic practice(meditation and pranayama techniques) has immensely helped me to calm my mind down to understand such deep knowledge, I found it really difficult to grasp such knowledge with a restless mind. The deeper I get into my spiritual sadhana, the more I am able to understand the scriptures(all that you say) beautifully and a sense of joy fills me. The more I understand these teachings, the more I enjoy my meditation and vice versa.
I echo your sentiments. Since my Upanayanam ages ago, I have been doing pranayama and gayathri mantra japa off and on. Being nearly illiterate in Sanskrit, I was pretty much going through the motions mechanically. Sri Shankaracharaya would have called my earlier pranayama practice just an exercise in torturing my nose (as he playfully suggested in his Aparokashanubhuti). After gaining some appreciation of Vedantic meditation (Swamiji's book is one of my resources), the practice is more meaningful for me now because I recognize its utility in preparing my mind for gaining the understanding required to become enlightened and free from suffering. If I may quote Swami Tattvavidananda, a gurubhai of Swamiji, "Meditation is being, not doing". I assume Swamiji has a similar view as well.
Aatmiya Swami Ji. Jay Thakur. Hare Krsna. Knowing. Learning, Understanding true (extended) nature of Consciousness.... Sat Chi ETERNAL Aanand. Also, appearance of AHANKAR (ego), and it's function in declaring "I"NESS is clearly explained. Loving you one and all my fellow learning colleagues Now and HERE in this Light and Moment.
Very clear and confirming. I'm happy there was a short discussion on Yoga Vasistha, as I have spent a lot of time with that huge book over the past couple of years.
Swamiji, Thank you so much for this lesson. Especially liked the section on the difference between Yogic and Vedantic approaches. I had this unresolved confusion in the back of my mind for a while! Thank you. Really enjoying your lectures.
I recently read that Ramana Maharshi knew Yoga Vasishtha so well that he himself often acted as Vasishtha. Once he was asked: “The text states that everything happens in accordance with the desire of the mind and that it is the mind that is the creator of everything. But how is this possible? " - “How is this possible? - Maharshi was surprised. - But don't you remember the story of ten brahmanas in the same place? " And he recounted the parable of how Brahma rested before creation world, and waking up, found ten ready-made worlds around him. He was unusually surprised how whole worlds could appear besides his will. When he wanted to know their source, he asked the nearest the sun from where it was born. It turned out that ten hermits decided to meditate on Brahma, continuously repeating: "I am Brahma" - and completely forgetting about your own body. Soon their bodies became like dried leaves in the wind, and due to the concentration of all thoughts on Brahma each of them has become a creator of the world. The power of desire contained in the mind of each of them, spread infinitely, and in the surrounding whole worlds, corresponding to their aspirations, have condensed into emptiness. So mind truly is the creator of the world for any person. But the ability of the mind also includes its extraordinary resourcefulness, often generated giving a distortion of the true state of affairs, that is, a lie. Ramana Maharshi told one more history about sage from Yoga Vasishtha. He told how once a sage meditated in the deep jungle, however, his eyes remained open. Suddenly a deer flew past him, and after a while a hunter appeared, tired of the chase, and began to ask the sage in which direction his prey fled. The one paused and replied: “My friend, hermits live in the forest of universal unity and are deprived of a sense of their own I, therefore they are unable to distinguish separate objects around them. And since there is no one in my mind thoughts, what can I know about your deer? " Of course, the hunter mistook him for crazy and went on. The secret of calming the mind, after which it becomes possible to achieve the highest bliss consists in its one-pointedness - in other words, concentration on one object is the main condition for meditation. Once a visitor transmitted Maharshi note asking him to explain how to turn the mind away from the sensual world and achieve continuous bliss, and the Maharshi again turned to the example from Yoga Vasishtha. Queen Achalya entered into an affair with a commoner, and the king, upon learning of this, he subjected both of them to terrible torture. But, to his surprise, with them nothing happened, and they continued to lovingly look at each other in eyes. When the king had mercy and asked to reveal to him the secret of their power and perseverance, the queen replied: “Can't you see? When we look friend on the other, we are immersed in thoughts only about each other. Nothing exists for us around, so what can affect us? " So, the power of concentration of the mind is such that it can not only create the world, but also to destroy it, leaving only its foundation - the pure bliss of being.
Swami ji I feel so blessed that I started hearing your lectures on Atma Bodh. Since the last 2/3 months my mind was in a restless state and it was pure coincidence I came across your first video of Atma Bodh. Your videos have engrossed me completely and I am trying to gain knowledge but a Guru is very important . I am from India and after the pandemic is over I want to go to Swami Dayanandji's ashram in Rishikesh. Could I get the address. Do you have any ashram in Chicago which I can go to when I visit my son there. Thank you Swamiji for directing me towards the path of Adwait Vedanta.
the explanation of the difference between yoga and vedanta was vey new to me. Yoga wants to control and educate the mind whereas vedanta aims to discern that what happens in the mind is irrelevant to atma,?
Such clarity is really unprecedented. And style of presentation is par excellence. Shat shat charan vandana. Is it possible to contact you swamiji in a one to one basis ?
Concentration, one pointedness, means one thought, like ' Shivo-hum ' , 'Om Namashivaya', then you reach zero thought from one thought. It's very much possible to reach zero thoughts. It's mind and thoughts is the Veil to the Atma. At zero thoughts, Atma revealed, Samaadhi, Blissful nature of Atma revealed.
Anandha is Bliss only. Because Bliss is an experience but intrinsic nature of Atma. When you meditate, you are in Bliss, uninterruptedly, continuously.
I see both blend well together for Vedanta and yoga. Not to control the action of the mind, not event to calm it or change it. Ignorance is end up in the mind or known to you by the mind in present of atma. Atma is not directly involve itself in both ways. It is untouchable. only through its reflection as an image its manifest to be experiencable and that can be supper impose by closeness since there is no seperation. Which you know is not true. What is a condition to experience, how to experience and enffluence of that is up to this combination. The reflection go both way, so they can supper impse each other. Which one you preffer. Vedanta in the core of the mind, the mind return to it true nature. Yoga or meditation is the mean to get vedata to its core, so, The mind too is uninffluence by what is imposed on them. the intrinc of the mind is not imperfection. Atma is present in the mind, through the mind you conscious. Do you realize atma without the mind? art of yoga is practice to see atma image consciously and clealy. Not to make the mind enemy. In deep sleep, mind is not disappear. But more fundamental. no suffering. Yoga make you conscious of this stat of mind and fully present of atma.
Swamiji gave a valuable point that the mind, whose nature is imperfection and dualistic perception, cannot be brought to a perfect state, but can be overcome through knowledge alone (Jnana). It is interesting to know the opinion of a realized Jnani, which Sri Ramana Maharshi undoubtedly is, about the nature of the mind and the methods of working with it on the path of realizing the Atman: A sannyasi asked: It is said that the Self is beyond the mind and yet the realisation is with the mind. Mano na manute, Manasa na matam, and Manasaivedamaptavyam. (The mind cannot think it. It cannot be thought of by the mind and the mind alone can realise it). How are these contradictions to be reconciled? M.: Atman is realised with mruta manas (dead mind), i.e., mind devoid of thoughts and turned inward. Then the mind sees its own source and becomes That. It is not as the subject perceiving an object. When the room is dark a lamp is necessary to illumine and eyes to cognise objects. But when the sun is risen there is no need of a lamp, and the objects are seen; and to see the sun no lamp is necessary, it is enough that you turn your eyes towards the selfluminous sun. Similarly with the mind. To see the objects the reflected light of the mind is necessary. To see the Heart it is enough that the mind is turned towards it. Then the mind loses itself and the Heart shines forth. OM TAT SAT ओम् तत् सत्
The superimposition is coming from the thing itself though, which is odd. May be it is part of the fulness? As a mirage is an unreal yet true and necessary by product of the desert, the more fundamental reality.
Why Vedanta need meditation. Is meditation is not prep the mind? It is not to perfect the mind. It is already is if you leave it alone and not to confuse it. How wisdom get in if the mind confused?
Limitlissmess ,......REAL. SUT. Master, would it be correct in saying limitlessness is like the ever-changing river it is never the same river twice. be like the crystal sitting at the bottom of the river calm serene watching the waves of your troubles pass by at the surface? You can reach this place by being the crystal dropped from the stormy surface of the river? Thank you for making my rock a clear crystal. Thank you for polishing the mirror. Thank you for removing another layer. Teacher, you teach Shiva Natarajas open hand? Is this the same? This is peace ? You teach the message of forgiveness? Master ,... tell me this is all one in the same!!! Oh LORD I CRY OUT TO YOU!!! I see YOUU!!! YOU ARE LOVE. Oh master,Thank you for this beautiful taught path 💜. You are my Guru.
Swamiji, you said in yoga, meditation is the main means for kaivalyam and in vedanta Viveka is enough. But in previous classes you were also saying the meditation in this life is a "tapas" to study these vedantic texts. Can we say in yoga viveka is important but meditation is ultimate way of kaivalya, whereas in Vedanta meditation is important but Viveka is the ultimate method?
I have the same wuestion as in your last sentence above. Not sure if these comments are seen by swamiji and replied to. How to get answers to our questions ?
@@dineshdewan i think he selects the questions himself and not answering each question. I did not get the reply of this question neither, or maybe he gave it and i am not aware 😔
I think you missed the point. He was saying that discernment is more important than control of the mind, so yoga isn't going to get you enlightened. He was referring to Patanjali's yoga. If you feel you've missed a video, then just watch them all. :)
Samaadhi- Sama is equal, Aadhi is God, I.e., at zero thoughts, you are Sat-Chit-Anandha, you are in Bliss, it's very much possible to get into zero thoughts. Thoughts are veil to reality of your true Nature.
I have a question. How can one "understand" something which is not of the mind, from the mind? Once you use your mind to understand any concept, then that very thing is from the mind...
My understanding of Swamiji’s teachings so far is this. The scriptures make it clear that Atma cannot be grasped by the mind, described by words, etc., etc. The scriptures also make it clear that you are Atma - there was never a time when you were not Atma and there will never be a time when you are not Atma. However, as unenlightened beings, our minds labor under the misunderstanding that we are a thing other than Atma. The locus of this misunderstanding or ignorance or self-non-recognition or avidhya is the mind. The purpose of Advaita Vedanta is to guide us through a journey of self-discovery by which our mind understands this misunderstanding and removes it to discover the Absolute Truth indicated by the mahavakyas. Once the misunderstanding is removed you remain who you already were, i.e., Atma, minus unneeded baggage, i.e., ignorance. The enlightened one who is Atma doesn’t need to understand anything for what is there to understand beyond Atma. Therefore, the need for a mind to perform the mental activity of understanding the Self doesn’t arise for an enlightened one who is none other than Atma. I hope that if I have misunderstood “understanding” then Swamiji would understand and, through one of his upcoming discourses, make me understand “understanding”, understanding of course my understanding limitations. If those reading this conclude that I don’t understand “understanding”, I understand that as well!
@@rsr9200 Thank you for your reply. Although i agree with your explanation, i think the mind is created to work like the way it works, that is, to identify with the ego. This is how we maintain sanity and identity in the worldly affairs. On the other hand, the mind is very clever too. There is no way you can by pass the mind. It will adjust to any ideology you tell it, just to make you feel better and satisfy your ego or non ego, whatever way you want to put it. You may not perceive it that way because it is very well planned and hidden beneath layers. But in reality, whatever you teach your mind, it will calmly accept it after an initial argument, when it sees that you are bent upon a certain concept. Then it will not fight you. It will lead you to believe that you have overpowered it and have been "enlightened". It will make you believe you have mastered it, while it continues to master you, in the way you like to be mastered, if you understand what i mean.
@@rsr9200 I have been going through various literature belonging to different religions and ideologies to understand the concept of "self". What I've understood till now is that there is a self, which is not the earthly self we experience in this world neither the self that we will experience in after life. These two "selves" are and will be a result of identification with something. In this life, it is the body, the genes, the religion, traditions, culture we're born into. In the after life, it will be the karma we reap in this life. We will go through experiences based upon identification with these selves, neither of which are true. The real self is "no" self. I know it sounds contradictory, but this is how I've concluded so far. Atma is not a self. Atma is just light or consciousness, which when superimposed with an earthly body or a karmic body, gives rise to a sense of "self". So in essence, the self is nothing but a means of experience. The journey from self to non self shows that there is actually no self at the end of the tunnel, but the light, which is just consciousness. That consciousness is the only real thing that exists and it does not exist as individuals, rather it gives the perception of being an individual, once it identifies with a body (earthly or karmic). The purpose of "self" will remain till we are to experience things which the consciousness cannot experience, being itself. It has to create a sense of duality to create differences, on which experience can be built upon. Therefore, the feeling of "I", which does exist ( either as ego or atma, depending upon your understanding) is not real to begin with. There is no "I" and no self. It is only an illusion to create the whole game we call "life" or "afterlife". This self will continue to go through experiences and cycles after cycles till God knows when (only the creator knows the purpose and the end).
@@rsr9200 So now, play the game knowing that it's a game. Try to enjoy it, if you can, by staying in the moment. First I did not take my mind (with its thoughts) seriously. Now I don't take my self seriously 😊
@@DS-vq9dm Thank you for your detailed response. While I may agree with portions of what you have said, I have serious reservations about other portions. Most notably it seems to me that you have assumed consciousness or Atma to be a "thing" or object which has a sense of agency wherein "it gives the perception", "it identifies with a body" and "It has to create a sense of duality to create differences", etc. Advaita is very clear that only non-dual consciousness (Atma) exists and furthermore Atma is your true self providing the underlying reality of all your experiences and well as the underlying reality of the cosmos; the experience of apparent duality is an error caused by ignorance. "It" in the English language is used to refer to some object that is separate from the referring subject, i.e., you. Therefore, Atma is never "it" because there is no second entity apart from Atma that can refer to Atma as "it". Therefore, this appears antithetical to the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. Perhaps I misinterpreted your words but this is the sense I got.
Dear Swamiji, I cannot agree that Yoga Vasishtha supports the idea of achieving the perfection or peace of the mind. Throughout the entire scripture, Consciousness is glorified, and many parables are called to reveal in the seeker a non-dual perception of himself and the world. Yoga Vasishtha is an extremely voluminous work, but I allow myself to cite several passages that illustrate the spirit of this scripture: "O Rama, give up the perception of objects and multiplicity, establish yourself in awareness. That which Consciousness contemplates instantly materializes due to its inherent power. Then the materialized thought shines as independent! Thus, that which the mind contemplates (having the ability to think) materializes. This is the reason for diversity. Therefore, this seeming world is neither real nor unreal. As conscious beings create and experience various objects in their dream, this world is actually the dream of Brahman. When this is realized as Brahman, the seeming world dissolves, because from an absolute point of view it does not exist. O Rama, whatever you do, know that this is nothing but pure Consciousness. Only Brahman manifests here as all this, because nothing else exists. There is no space for "that" and "that". Therefore, leave even the concept of Liberation and unfreedom, remain in this pure state without the feeling of ego and do things that are natural for you. ... I am the absolute Brahman. I am the Creator of this creation and the Teacher of all. I created all this with my thoughts and concepts. This is how I exist, but I was never born. I saw the universe, outside of it I saw nothing; it is all pure nothing, emptiness, pure sensation. Nothing (earth, etc.) exists and nothing has ever been created. Nothing exists outside. Everything is in Consciousness, everything is Consciousness. There is no peace in Brahman, but Brahman sees and feels the world. This perception is just a concept. This Truth cannot be seen with physical eyes, which can only perceive physical material objects. When you look with your inner vision, you see creation as it really is: Pure Brahman." Please correct me if my understanding of the philosophy of Yoga Vasishtha is not sufficient. 🙏 OM TAT SAT ओम् तत् सत्
As someone with almost no knowledge of Yoga Vasishtha, the message I took away from what Swamiji said was that in terms of their views on Atma, there was no disagreement between Advaita Vedanta and Yoga Vasishtha. The difference lay in their respective views on moksha or freedom from suffering. While Vedanta holds that Tattva Gnana is sufficient for moksha, Yoga Vasishtha insists on two additional steps beyond Tattva Gnana for the same. Is your understanding of moksha in the Yoga Vasishtha tradition different than this?
@@rsr9200 Namaste! My knowledge of Yoga Vasishtha is also superficial, a few years ago I listened an audio book. But I have an idea of this scripture. Yoga Vasishtha is the Yoga of Self-awareness, Self-realization. Swamiji said YV agrees, that tattwagyana (knowledge of reality) required, but it's not enough, according to YV they take two more steps in bringing the mind into a particular condition where you can enjoy perfect peace. Unfortunately, he did not explain these steps in more detail. Also, I cannot agree with Swamiji's statement that YV is a quasi Vedantic scripture. In my opinion, such a grandiose scripture, created to free seekers from stereotypical thinking and all conditioning of the mind, would belittle itself, making perfection or peace of mind a prerequisite for cognizing Reality and achieving moksha. I think this is an eternal problem of interpretation. Here is a small example from YV, in which the sage Vasishtha discusses going beyond the mind and the state of supreme peace: Rama said: Wise one, please tell us how this cosmic intelligence becomes objects like unreasonable stones. Vasishta replied: In substances like stones, consciousness remains motionless, leaving the ability to think and unable to achieve a state of no-mind. It is like a state of deep sleep, very far from the state of liberation. Rama asked again: But if they exist in a state of deep sleep without any concepts or perceptions, I think they are close to liberation! Vasishta replied: Liberation or awareness of the infinite is not the same as the state of an immobile being! Liberation is achieved when you achieve a state of supreme calm, after intelligent exploration of the essence of yourself and after this exploration has led to inner awakening. Complete liberation is the attainment of a pure being who has consciously transcended the limitations of the mind after careful examination. The wise say that a person is established in pure existence or Brahman only after examining the essence of truth as described in the scriptures, in company and with the help of the enlightened wise.
I read your answer about yoga Vasishtha and I understand the same, at least from my book in spanish text (my nature language). Could you tellme or do you know where could I get the .PDF english versión? thankyou very much.
@@dardoporta5346, Greetings! I am sure that it is much more useful to you comprehend the essence of Advaita Vedanta in your native language than in English. By the way, my native language is Russian. The only thing I can recommend to you is to read, again in your native Spanish, the books of the incomparable Ramana Maharshi, the jnani who awakened me to the spiritual comprehension of our essence - Atman, and Nisargadatta Maharaj, who simply blew my brain and the whole bunch of concepts that I was oversaturated. These two jnanis are the highest manifestation of Sat-Chit-Ananda, given to humanity for the benefit of deliverance from suffering and for Self-realization.
How about God as the manifestation of the inherent divinity of all in existence? If I may quote Swamiji's guru, Swami Dayananda, "We do not say there is only one God, we say there is ONLY God. .......all that is here is Isvara, the Lord."
Swamiji's assertion that Yoga seeks to control the mind which is uncontrollable is fallacious.Without the practice of Yoga there is no Realization.Swamiji is very good at explaining the vedanta but he should keep his hands off of Yoga Darshan!
As a Vedantin, I did not interpret what Swamiji said as deprecating the value of yogic techniques for enabling self realization. My understanding is that yogic techniques used within the Vedantic framework are indeed very useful in preparing the mind to manifest the knowledge required for self discovery, i.e., the discovery that I am Atma, the underlying reality or substrate of all experiences as well as the underlying reality or substrate of the entire cosmos. I am assuming that you are coming at this as a proponent of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali who has a different perspective than this and I would certainly be interested in hearing an elaboration of your perspective. So in Yoga Darshan, what is Realization and what is the role of the mind in attaining this Realization?
He just said that the focus on yoga was control of the mind, whereas in Vedanta the focus is on discernment from the mind. We can't have perfect minds, but we can have perfect discernment. He never said that yoga was bad or unimportant. He also specified that he was talking about Patanjali yoga.
Koti Koti Pranaam Prabhuji 🙏🙇♂️🙇♂️🙏
Ys🙏
I enjoy your satsangs swamiji. From my personal experience, I feel that Yogic practice(meditation and pranayama techniques) has immensely helped me to calm my mind down to understand such deep knowledge, I found it really difficult to grasp such knowledge with a restless mind. The deeper I get into my spiritual sadhana, the more I am able to understand the scriptures(all that you say) beautifully and a sense of joy fills me. The more I understand these teachings, the more I enjoy my meditation and vice versa.
I echo your sentiments. Since my Upanayanam ages ago, I have been doing pranayama and gayathri mantra japa off and on. Being nearly illiterate in Sanskrit, I was pretty much going through the motions mechanically. Sri Shankaracharaya would have called my earlier pranayama practice just an exercise in torturing my nose (as he playfully suggested in his Aparokashanubhuti). After gaining some appreciation of Vedantic meditation (Swamiji's book is one of my resources), the practice is more meaningful for me now because I recognize its utility in preparing my mind for gaining the understanding required to become enlightened and free from suffering.
If I may quote Swami Tattvavidananda, a gurubhai of Swamiji, "Meditation is being, not doing". I assume Swamiji has a similar view as well.
Thank you so much for explaining everything so clearly and lucidly, I have been watching all your videos with great interest and enjoyment.
Aatmiya Swami Ji.
Jay Thakur.
Hare Krsna.
Knowing. Learning, Understanding true (extended) nature of Consciousness.... Sat Chi ETERNAL Aanand.
Also, appearance of AHANKAR (ego), and it's function in declaring "I"NESS is clearly explained.
Loving you one and all my fellow learning colleagues Now and HERE in this Light and Moment.
I am blissful - listening to you. Thank You for your smile while explaining
Thank you so much for your kindness and mercy for sharing such a valuable jewel of wisdom with my ignorant head. I greatly appreciate, Thank You!!!
That was beautiful swamiji.
Thunder perfect mind.
Shanti, shanti, shanti 🙏
What a lucid explanation that should be recollected and remembered for ever of remembering or one with it what we are already
Thank you for explaining tremendously complex subject in a simple manner. The underlying subtle body is complex subject.
An Intimate Encounter with Your EGO - Ahankara ua-cam.com/video/8R6BTp_Ggko/v-deo.html
Very clear and confirming. I'm happy there was a short discussion on Yoga Vasistha, as I have spent a lot of time with that huge book over the past couple of years.
Swamiji, Thank you so much for this lesson. Especially liked the section on the difference between Yogic and Vedantic approaches. I had this unresolved confusion in the back of my mind for a while! Thank you. Really enjoying your lectures.
I recently read that Ramana Maharshi knew Yoga Vasishtha so well that he himself often acted as
Vasishtha.
Once he was asked: “The text states that everything happens in accordance with the desire of the mind
and that it is the mind that is the creator of everything. But how is this possible? "
- “How is this possible? - Maharshi was surprised. - But don't you remember the story
of ten brahmanas in the same place? "
And he recounted the parable of how Brahma rested before creation world, and waking up,
found ten ready-made worlds around him. He was unusually surprised how whole worlds could appear
besides his will. When he wanted to know their source, he asked the nearest the sun from where it was born.
It turned out that ten hermits decided to meditate on Brahma, continuously repeating: "I am Brahma" -
and completely forgetting about your own body. Soon their bodies became like dried leaves in the wind,
and due to the concentration of all thoughts on Brahma each of them has become a creator of the world.
The power of desire contained in the mind of each of them, spread infinitely, and in the surrounding whole worlds,
corresponding to their aspirations, have condensed into emptiness. So mind truly is the creator of the world for any person.
But the ability of the mind also includes its extraordinary resourcefulness, often generated
giving a distortion of the true state of affairs, that is, a lie.
Ramana Maharshi told one more history about sage from Yoga Vasishtha.
He told how once a sage meditated in the deep jungle, however, his eyes remained open.
Suddenly a deer flew past him, and after a while a hunter appeared, tired of the chase,
and began to ask the sage in which direction his prey fled. The one paused and replied:
“My friend, hermits live in the forest of universal unity and are deprived of a sense of their own I,
therefore they are unable to distinguish separate objects around them. And since there is no one
in my mind thoughts, what can I know about your deer? " Of course, the hunter mistook him for
crazy and went on.
The secret of calming the mind, after which it becomes possible to achieve the highest
bliss consists
in its one-pointedness - in other words, concentration on one object is the main condition for meditation.
Once a visitor transmitted Maharshi note asking him to explain how to turn the mind away
from the sensual world and achieve continuous bliss, and the Maharshi again turned to the example from Yoga Vasishtha.
Queen Achalya entered into an affair with a commoner, and the king,
upon learning of this,
he subjected both of them to terrible torture. But, to his surprise, with them nothing happened,
and they continued to lovingly look at each other in eyes. When the king had mercy and asked to reveal to him
the secret of their power and perseverance, the queen replied: “Can't you see? When we look friend on the other,
we are immersed in thoughts only about each other. Nothing exists for us around, so what can affect us? "
So, the power of concentration of the mind is such that it can not only create the world, but also to destroy it,
leaving only its foundation - the pure bliss of being.
Thank you Swami for these enlightening teachings!
thanks for the beautiful explanation of the difference between the yogic and vedantic approach for the elimination of suffering.
Thank you, Thank you, Swami, for these words of total wisdom. Your talks are bringing together for me a life time of reflections. So wonderful.
Lucid, simple and profound. A thousand thanks 🙏🏼
Sri Guruve Namaha🙏🙏🙏
Brilliantly clear - thank you!
.
Very interesting perspective, the distinction between yoga and Vedanta is well described.
Namo Namaha Swamiji.
Thank you Swamiji.
Swami ji I feel so blessed that I started hearing your lectures on Atma Bodh. Since the last 2/3 months my mind was in a restless state and it was pure coincidence I came across your first video of Atma Bodh.
Your videos have engrossed me completely and I am trying to gain knowledge but a Guru is very important .
I am from India and after the pandemic is over I want to go to Swami Dayanandji's ashram in Rishikesh. Could I get the address.
Do you have any ashram in Chicago which I can go to when I visit my son there.
Thank you Swamiji for directing me towards the path of Adwait Vedanta.
the explanation of the difference between yoga and vedanta was vey new to me. Yoga wants to control and educate the mind whereas vedanta aims to discern that what happens in the mind is irrelevant to atma,?
Heart touching lecture.
Thank u very clear like crystal.
A master of nuance
Thanks Guruji for a wonderful session. 🙏
Astounding 🕉️🌸🌏🌳⭐️✨🙏🕉️
Such clarity is really unprecedented.
And style of presentation is par excellence.
Shat shat charan vandana.
Is it possible to contact you swamiji in a one to one basis ?
Pronaams!🙏
Perfect explanation 👌
I love your way you teach
Thanks a lot Gurudev🙏
Concentration, one pointedness, means one thought, like ' Shivo-hum ' , 'Om Namashivaya', then you reach zero thought from one thought. It's very much possible to reach zero thoughts. It's mind and thoughts is the Veil to the Atma. At zero thoughts, Atma revealed, Samaadhi, Blissful nature of Atma revealed.
Does Discernment belong to mind and intellect?
It is like the teachings of " the course in miracles"
Anandha is Bliss only. Because Bliss is an experience but intrinsic nature of Atma. When you meditate, you are in Bliss, uninterruptedly, continuously.
can you speak more about mahasamadhi. please.
Control the silly mind through knowledge,nice point swamy 🙏
I see both blend well together for Vedanta and yoga. Not to control the action of the mind, not event to calm it or change it. Ignorance is end up in the mind or known to you by the mind in present of atma. Atma is not directly involve itself in both ways. It is untouchable. only through its reflection as an image its manifest to be experiencable and that can be supper impose by closeness since there is no seperation. Which you know is not true. What is a condition to experience, how to experience and enffluence of that is up to this combination. The reflection go both way, so they can supper impse each other. Which one you preffer. Vedanta in the core of the mind, the mind return to it true nature. Yoga or meditation is the mean to get vedata to its core, so, The mind too is uninffluence by what is imposed on them. the intrinc of the mind is not imperfection. Atma is present in the mind, through the mind you conscious. Do you realize atma without the mind? art of yoga is practice to see atma image consciously and clealy. Not to make the mind enemy. In deep sleep, mind is not disappear. But more fundamental. no suffering. Yoga make you conscious of this stat of mind and fully present of atma.
Swamiji gave a valuable point that the mind, whose nature is imperfection and dualistic perception,
cannot be brought to a perfect state, but can be overcome through knowledge alone (Jnana).
It is interesting to know the opinion of a realized Jnani, which Sri Ramana Maharshi undoubtedly is,
about the nature of the mind and the methods of working with it on the path of realizing the Atman:
A sannyasi asked: It is said that the Self is beyond the mind and yet
the realisation is with the mind.
Mano na manute, Manasa na matam, and Manasaivedamaptavyam.
(The mind cannot think it. It cannot be thought of by the mind and the mind alone can realise it).
How are these contradictions to be reconciled?
M.: Atman is realised with mruta manas (dead mind), i.e., mind devoid
of thoughts and turned inward.
Then the mind sees its own source and becomes That. It is not as the subject perceiving an object.
When the room is dark a lamp is necessary to illumine and eyes
to cognise objects.
But when the sun is risen there is no need of a lamp, and the objects are seen;
and to see the sun no lamp is necessary, it is enough that you turn your eyes towards the selfluminous sun.
Similarly with the mind. To see the objects the reflected light of the mind is necessary.
To see the Heart it is enough that the mind is turned towards it. Then the mind loses itself and the Heart shines forth.
OM TAT SAT
ओम् तत् सत्
Praṇāma, Swamiji
Hari Om.
Thank you. 🌱 59:44
Pujya Swamiji...i got the same doubt....if atma is uneffected... then how i have sadness
We can translate the word to Delight
As it is a cause or source of great pleasure.
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Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you🙏🙏
I HAVE A QUESTION SWAMIJI [S THERE A WAY TO CONTACT YOU IF YOU ARE AMINABLE TO SUCH INFORMAL QUESTIONS?
Namaskar
Thank you
The superimposition is coming from the thing itself though, which is odd. May be it is part of the fulness? As a mirage is an unreal yet true and necessary by product of the desert, the more fundamental reality.
Superimposition is coming from ignorance in the mind, it is not a creation of Atma.
What when there is a snake and you think it is a rope?
Why Vedanta need meditation. Is meditation is not prep the mind? It is not to perfect the mind. It is already is if you leave it alone and not to confuse it. How wisdom get in if the mind confused?
Limitlissmess ,......REAL. SUT. Master, would it be correct in saying limitlessness is like the ever-changing river it is never the same river twice. be like the crystal sitting at the bottom of the river calm serene watching the waves of your troubles pass by at the surface? You can reach this place by being the crystal dropped from the stormy surface of the river? Thank you for making my rock a clear crystal. Thank you for polishing the mirror. Thank you for removing another layer. Teacher, you teach Shiva Natarajas open hand? Is this the same? This is peace ? You teach the message of forgiveness? Master ,... tell me this is all one in the same!!! Oh LORD I CRY OUT TO YOU!!! I see YOUU!!! YOU ARE LOVE. Oh master,Thank you for this beautiful taught path 💜. You are my Guru.
whatever happens in your mind, states in your mind ha,ha,ha,ha
Swamiji, you said in yoga, meditation is the main means for kaivalyam and in vedanta Viveka is enough. But in previous classes you were also saying the meditation in this life is a "tapas" to study these vedantic texts. Can we say in yoga viveka is important but meditation is ultimate way of kaivalya, whereas in Vedanta meditation is important but Viveka is the ultimate method?
I have the same wuestion as in your last sentence above.
Not sure if these comments are seen by swamiji and replied to.
How to get answers to our questions ?
@@dineshdewan i think he selects the questions himself and not answering each question. I did not get the reply of this question neither, or maybe he gave it and i am not aware 😔
Om
Where are the yoga's I could be doing? Is there a video I've missed?
I think you missed the point. He was saying that discernment is more important than control of the mind, so yoga isn't going to get you enlightened. He was referring to Patanjali's yoga. If you feel you've missed a video, then just watch them all. :)
@@alukuhito Thankyou.
Samaadhi- Sama is equal, Aadhi is God, I.e., at zero thoughts, you are Sat-Chit-Anandha, you are in Bliss, it's very much possible to get into zero thoughts. Thoughts are veil to reality of your true Nature.
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I have a question. How can one "understand" something which is not of the mind, from the mind? Once you use your mind to understand any concept, then that very thing is from the mind...
My understanding of Swamiji’s teachings so far is this. The scriptures make it clear that Atma cannot be grasped by the mind, described by words, etc., etc. The scriptures also make it clear that you are Atma - there was never a time when you were not Atma and there will never be a time when you are not Atma. However, as unenlightened beings, our minds labor under the misunderstanding that we are a thing other than Atma. The locus of this misunderstanding or ignorance or self-non-recognition or avidhya is the mind. The purpose of Advaita Vedanta is to guide us through a journey of self-discovery by which our mind understands this misunderstanding and removes it to discover the Absolute Truth indicated by the mahavakyas. Once the misunderstanding is removed you remain who you already were, i.e., Atma, minus unneeded baggage, i.e., ignorance. The enlightened one who is Atma doesn’t need to understand anything for what is there to understand beyond Atma. Therefore, the need for a mind to perform the mental activity of understanding the Self doesn’t arise for an enlightened one who is none other than Atma.
I hope that if I have misunderstood “understanding” then Swamiji would understand and, through one of his upcoming discourses, make me understand “understanding”, understanding of course my understanding limitations. If those reading this conclude that I don’t understand “understanding”, I understand that as well!
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Thank you for your reply. Although i agree with your explanation, i think the mind is created to work like the way it works, that is, to identify with the ego. This is how we maintain sanity and identity in the worldly affairs. On the other hand, the mind is very clever too. There is no way you can by pass the mind. It will adjust to any ideology you tell it, just to make you feel better and satisfy your ego or non ego, whatever way you want to put it. You may not perceive it that way because it is very well planned and hidden beneath layers. But in reality, whatever you teach your mind, it will calmly accept it after an initial argument, when it sees that you are bent upon a certain concept. Then it will not fight you. It will lead you to believe that you have overpowered it and have been "enlightened". It will make you believe you have mastered it, while it continues to master you, in the way you like to be mastered, if you understand what i mean.
@@rsr9200
I have been going through various literature belonging to different religions and ideologies to understand the concept of "self". What I've understood till now is that there is a self, which is not the earthly self we experience in this world neither the self that we will experience in after life. These two "selves" are and will be a result of identification with something. In this life, it is the body, the genes, the religion, traditions, culture we're born into. In the after life, it will be the karma we reap in this life. We will go through experiences based upon identification with these selves, neither of which are true. The real self is "no" self. I know it sounds contradictory, but this is how I've concluded so far. Atma is not a self. Atma is just light or consciousness, which when superimposed with an earthly body or a karmic body, gives rise to a sense of "self". So in essence, the self is nothing but a means of experience. The journey from self to non self shows that there is actually no self at the end of the tunnel, but the light, which is just consciousness. That consciousness is the only real thing that exists and it does not exist as individuals, rather it gives the perception of being an individual, once it identifies with a body (earthly or karmic). The purpose of "self" will remain till we are to experience things which the consciousness cannot experience, being itself. It has to create a sense of duality to create differences, on which experience can be built upon. Therefore, the feeling of "I", which does exist ( either as ego or atma, depending upon your understanding) is not real to begin with. There is no "I" and no self. It is only an illusion to create the whole game we call "life" or "afterlife". This self will continue to go through experiences and cycles after cycles till God knows when (only the creator knows the purpose and the end).
@@rsr9200
So now, play the game knowing that it's a game. Try to enjoy it, if you can, by staying in the moment. First I did not take my mind (with its thoughts) seriously. Now I don't take my self seriously 😊
@@DS-vq9dm Thank you for your detailed response. While I may agree with portions of what you have said, I have serious reservations about other portions. Most notably it seems to me that you have assumed consciousness or Atma to be a "thing" or object which has a sense of agency wherein "it gives the perception", "it identifies with a body" and "It has to create a sense of duality to create differences", etc.
Advaita is very clear that only non-dual consciousness (Atma) exists and furthermore Atma is your true self providing the underlying reality of all your experiences and well as the underlying reality of the cosmos; the experience of apparent duality is an error caused by ignorance. "It" in the English language is used to refer to some object that is separate from the referring subject, i.e., you. Therefore, Atma is never "it" because there is no second entity apart from Atma that can refer to Atma as "it". Therefore, this appears antithetical to the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. Perhaps I misinterpreted your words but this is the sense I got.
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Dear Swamiji, I cannot agree that Yoga Vasishtha supports the idea of achieving the perfection or peace of the mind.
Throughout the entire scripture, Consciousness is glorified, and many parables are called to reveal in the seeker
a non-dual perception of himself and the world. Yoga Vasishtha is an extremely voluminous work,
but I allow myself to cite several passages that illustrate the spirit of this scripture:
"O Rama, give up the perception of objects and multiplicity, establish yourself in awareness.
That which Consciousness contemplates instantly materializes due to its inherent power.
Then the materialized thought shines as independent! Thus, that which the mind contemplates
(having the ability to think) materializes. This is the reason for diversity. Therefore, this seeming world is neither real nor unreal.
As conscious beings create and experience various objects in their dream, this world is actually the dream of Brahman.
When this is realized as Brahman, the seeming world dissolves, because from an absolute point of view it does not exist.
O Rama, whatever you do, know that this is nothing but pure Consciousness. Only Brahman manifests here as all this,
because nothing else exists. There is no space for "that" and "that". Therefore, leave even the concept of Liberation and unfreedom,
remain in this pure state without the feeling of ego and do things that are natural for you.
... I am the absolute Brahman. I am the Creator of this creation and the Teacher of all. I created all this with my thoughts and concepts.
This is how I exist, but I was never born. I saw the universe, outside of it I saw nothing; it is all pure nothing, emptiness, pure sensation.
Nothing (earth, etc.) exists and nothing has ever been created. Nothing exists outside. Everything is in Consciousness, everything is Consciousness.
There is no peace in Brahman, but Brahman sees and feels the world. This perception is just a concept.
This Truth cannot be seen with physical eyes, which can only perceive physical material objects.
When you look with your inner vision, you see creation as it really is: Pure Brahman."
Please correct me if my understanding of the philosophy of Yoga Vasishtha is not sufficient. 🙏
OM TAT SAT
ओम् तत् सत्
As someone with almost no knowledge of Yoga Vasishtha, the message I took away from what Swamiji said was that in terms of their views on Atma, there was no disagreement between Advaita Vedanta and Yoga Vasishtha. The difference lay in their respective views on moksha or freedom from suffering. While Vedanta holds that Tattva Gnana is sufficient for moksha, Yoga Vasishtha insists on two additional steps beyond Tattva Gnana for the same. Is your understanding of moksha in the Yoga Vasishtha tradition different than this?
@@rsr9200 Namaste!
My knowledge of Yoga Vasishtha is also superficial, a few years ago I listened an audio book.
But I have an idea of this scripture. Yoga Vasishtha is the Yoga of Self-awareness, Self-realization.
Swamiji said YV agrees, that tattwagyana (knowledge of reality) required, but it's not enough,
according to YV they take two more steps in bringing the mind into a particular condition where you can enjoy perfect peace.
Unfortunately, he did not explain these steps in more detail. Also, I cannot agree with Swamiji's statement that YV is a quasi Vedantic scripture.
In my opinion, such a grandiose scripture, created to free seekers from stereotypical thinking and all conditioning of the mind,
would belittle itself, making perfection or peace of mind a prerequisite for cognizing Reality and achieving moksha.
I think this is an eternal problem of interpretation.
Here is a small example from YV, in which the sage Vasishtha discusses going beyond the mind and the state of supreme peace:
Rama said:
Wise one, please tell us how this cosmic intelligence becomes objects like unreasonable stones.
Vasishta replied:
In substances like stones, consciousness remains motionless, leaving the ability to think and unable to achieve a state of no-mind.
It is like a state of deep sleep, very far from the state of liberation.
Rama asked again:
But if they exist in a state of deep sleep without any concepts or perceptions, I think they are close to liberation!
Vasishta replied:
Liberation or awareness of the infinite is not the same as the state of an immobile being!
Liberation is achieved when you achieve a state of supreme calm, after intelligent exploration
of the essence of yourself and after this exploration has led to inner awakening.
Complete liberation is the attainment of a pure being who has consciously transcended the limitations
of the mind after careful examination. The wise say that a person is established in pure existence or Brahman
only after examining the essence of truth as described in the scriptures, in company and with the help of the enlightened wise.
I read your answer about yoga Vasishtha and I understand the same, at least from my book in spanish text (my nature language).
Could you tellme or do you know where could I get the .PDF english versión? thankyou very much.
@@dardoporta5346, Greetings!
I am sure that it is much more useful to you comprehend the essence of Advaita Vedanta in your native language than in English. By the way, my native language is Russian. The only thing I can recommend to you is to read, again in your native Spanish, the books of the incomparable Ramana Maharshi, the jnani who awakened me to the spiritual comprehension of our essence - Atman, and Nisargadatta Maharaj, who simply blew my brain and the whole bunch of concepts that I was oversaturated. These two jnanis are the highest manifestation of Sat-Chit-Ananda, given to humanity for the benefit of deliverance from suffering and for Self-realization.
@@ustinovvadim2114 Thankyou very much for your answer! I appreciate it. I know about those jnanis, I love what they teach also.
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Then who is GOD???
How about God as the manifestation of the inherent divinity of all in existence?
If I may quote Swamiji's guru, Swami Dayananda, "We do not say there is only one God, we say there is ONLY God. .......all that is here is Isvara, the Lord."
Swamiji's assertion that Yoga seeks to control the mind which is uncontrollable is fallacious.Without the practice of Yoga there is no Realization.Swamiji is very good at explaining the vedanta but he should keep his hands off of Yoga Darshan!
As a Vedantin, I did not interpret what Swamiji said as deprecating the value of yogic techniques for enabling self realization. My understanding is that yogic techniques used within the Vedantic framework are indeed very useful in preparing the mind to manifest the knowledge required for self discovery, i.e., the discovery that I am Atma, the underlying reality or substrate of all experiences as well as the underlying reality or substrate of the entire cosmos.
I am assuming that you are coming at this as a proponent of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali who has a different perspective than this and I would certainly be interested in hearing an elaboration of your perspective. So in Yoga Darshan, what is Realization and what is the role of the mind in attaining this Realization?
He just said that the focus on yoga was control of the mind, whereas in Vedanta the focus is on discernment from the mind. We can't have perfect minds, but we can have perfect discernment. He never said that yoga was bad or unimportant. He also specified that he was talking about Patanjali yoga.
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