I am the person who asked this question. You will not believe what had just happened. I traveled to India for a year where I lived at an Ashram. I came back just over a month ago. Mind you, I have not watched this channel for this entire year. Just this morning, I was thinking very deeply about the spiritual path and what it truly means to fully commit oneself to it irrevocably and whole-heartedly. I had serious reservations as to whether I am fit for it, given my age and lack of life experience. I opened UA-cam and saw this video in the recommendations. To reiterate, I have not seen a single video on this channel for this entire year. And my question pops up. Truly mesmerising. The universe is at work.
In thoughts, I mused on prayers one day, Should I seek desires or follow the righteous way? Should I pray for love that's divine and true, Or grace to guide in all that I pursue? In whispered words, I sought dispassion's fire, To quell worldly wants and rise even higher. For the focus of mind, a spiritual quest, In deep contemplation, I'd find my best. I prayed for humanity, for creatures great and small, For the benevolence of God to touch and heal all.
🙏🙏🙏 Pranaam Swami Sarvapriyanandaji . iam now undergoing serious tragedies and life threats from my own family... esp from my elder brother who does blackmagic on me. i sense great danger in near future... my life is on the verge of total disaster... within a few days my brother may succeed in ending up my life in an assylum. i deeply pray to God and Swamiji for blessings and grace to be saved from my family and to be shifted to a place which is conducive for practising Spiritual Sadhanas. 🙏🙏
প্রণাম মহারাজ। আপনার কথাগুলো শুনতে গিয়ে মনে এল রবীন্দ্রনাথ এক জায়গায় লিখছেন.... Save me from the perils of overmuch desire. শ্রী শ্রী মাও বলতেন নির্বাসনা হওয়ার জন্য প্রার্থণা করতে। আমাকে দয়া করুন কৃপা করুন লক্ষ্যে যেন পৌঁছতে পারি। .... 'গহন আঁধার কবে পুলকে পূর্ণ হবে ওহে আনন্দময় তোমার বীণারবে' আপনি বলেছিলেন কোনোখানে remember not all your prayers will be answered, but keep praying!! Yes it is a diehard practice.
Pranam Maharaj 🙏🙏🙏 Jai Shree Ramakrishna It has been a great solace to listen to your speeches. i deeply aspire to dedicate this life for Spiritual Sadhana and to get closer to God as much as possible. But there is a big obstacle in my Spiritual path which is dragging me again n again into negativities each time i progress a little. Since childhood i ve been a helpless victim of blackmagic n crooked tortures from my elder brother n his wicked guru. That has caused health problems in my body , mind and has ruined my social life. And now with the help of some durmanthravadins , astrologers n oraganizations he is trying to trap me and put me in assylum. Within a week he may succeed in it and if he does, he will destroy me so badly that i would never be able to do any Spiritual Sadhana in this life , after that. i am in big trouble. Please help and bless me Swamiji , to be shifted to a secure place to stay protected from his men... where i can pursue my Spiritual Goal more deeply. Humbly seeking Your blessings. 🙏 OM
Jai Sri Ramakrishna 🌺🙏 Vedic Science is same; the truth of visual, non visual, having or not having!!! Nothing is far behind and none is after!!! The complete, calm, stable, pure and always!!!! Jai Swamiji 🙏🌺 Now this world is just an articulate, films… But being the change in systems our practical experience and working systems should also be follow being the family life…. We can’t always run with one thought… Vedic Science >>> if we say one can follow as Swamiji…. But in families if one will come as monk then the outer door will be shown…. Thakurji has shown the real truth what’s the life, how one can change even his spiritual God and how deeply adopted…. We had by chance got a 0 equality in comparison but we had seen the falsehood of these systems how are being used …. Our simple and humble request is to your greatness to do come in field and do make a new change of these so called Modernisation…. So that people can live this small life with some goodness!!! Jai Sri Ramakrishna 🙏🌺🌟
As always, Swami Sarvapriyananda never fails to enlighten; but having said that, I would like to, if I may, present an alternate point of view - alternate, not contradictory by any means. Alternate, because it comes from an extremely rudimentary and limited place as far as spiritual knowledge is concerned, but the struggle is very real. I have personally come to the conclusion that The Gita is infallible, but needs a fair amount of contemplation. Every question I have ever had seems to be addressed, although striking me at different times. With that in mind, the first thought that occurs to me is in Chapter 7 (16-18), which tells us that even praying for material things is noble, just not quite as noble as praying for nothing. But that's not to say that one will get those things. As Swamiji points out, whatever you do get could be a lot better than anything you could have possibly imagined. My own experience has been that, even though whatever I get may not always be what I want, what I do get invariably includes a HUGE bonus spiritual gift which dwarfs that which I wanted. In Chapter 2, we are exhorted not to go for "things" (Verse 45). This comports with the Bible that tells us not to seek what we eat or drink, but to seek the Kingdom of God. Then, all those things will come to you anyway (Gita 9-22). This is all very well, but how do I get there from here? Part of my problem is that all the descriptions of Divinity (as well as those of my own Divine identity) sound awesome, but are definitely not reflected in my day to day experience. What's even more discouraging, The Gita tells us that even severe ascetism is not much use without Divine contact (2-59,60); however the Saving Grace is that even a fleeting glimpse of Divine contact is enough (2-40). And we all know the beautifully compassionate set of verses (12-8,9,10,11) that addresses the various stages of spiritual development. No matter where you are, there is a path. Still, I find myself in a place that is far below even the lowest rung. I really needed something simple, something basic, something actionable. And, personally, I found that in the Old Testament (Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6). They key trait to develop, for me, is trust, not intellectual understanding ("lean not unto thine own understanding"); and the key action item is acknowledgement of the Divine at all times. Then, the Divine GPS begins working ("He shall direct thy paths"). I don't need to know all about San Francisco in detail before flying there, but I most certainly need to know how to get to the airport. And that is impossible for even the most intellectually profound interpretation to provide, simply because one's next step is completely dependent on where one is at any given time. I'm still conflicted about praying for "big things", like an end to the Ukraine war, or to famine or natural disasters. Granted, we would all prefer peace to war, but if that were always true, would Krishna compel Arjuna to fight and kill his family (the things of God are foolishness to man, paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 2:14, and vice versa)? This is truly beyond me, so I try not to lean unto my own understanding. I will add, finally, that one's own interpretation of The Gita (or any other scripture) is always the best, because it applies individually. And that's all we need. My two cents, FWIW.
What do you define as “a place far below even the lowest rung”? I am not understanding how “lean not unto thine own understanding” and “one’s own interpretation … is always the best” can both be true at the same time. Until the time my own heart and mind has knowingly become Guru, I pray for Guru!
@@KriB510 I'm not defining the lowest rung, per se, but referring to the lowest of the four types in those verses. My view of "lean not unto thine own understanding" means not to depend on your intellect. I think it's very clear that we're not undertaking a venture that has a user manual akin to one for using a piece of machinery. I've found many shades of grey at every point, and these, to me, call for inner insight for illumination on that matter. My post was not necessarily meant to convince anybody of anything, but just to present my point of view. Your approach of praying for Guru is your own, and you have obviously come to that conclusion on your own. There is a wonderful book called "The Mind And It's Control", written by one of the Swamis in the Vedanta organization. There is a great exercise in it that helps to train the mind on how two seemingly contradictory ideas can be true at the same time. You take some thought or idea, then think of it's exact opposite, then contemplate how they can both be true. This is vaguely reminiscent of how a figure can be both a square and a circle at the same time. They can, if they're two-dimensional figures, and represent different views of a cylinder. I don't expect anybody to agree with anything I mentioned, and that's a good thing, because it's a confirmation that we are all on unique paths.
@@srinip Thank you for your thoughtful writing and response to my very curt comment and questions. I will try not to be quite as curt (although it will most likely sound rushed … because it is). In reading your response (and me likely not being as well read as you), I have been encouraged to read some of the verses you listed from Bhagavadgita, so thank you for that. I will surely need to rely on my own understanding because I have not read Chapter 12 under the guidance of a teacher, as I have been largely only listening to the readings and commentary through Vedanta New York (still on chapter 10), and that since about mid-2020. I didn’t have a problem with what you wrote per se; it was only that it sounded contradictory. I’ve had a Bible savant of sorts in my midst who would have probably jumped on me for making a similar contradiction (not to mention jumping on me for reading the Bhagavadgita, but that's another issue altogether) - but I myself am fine with nuance, on an individual basis. In any case, upon reading the chapter 12 verses you listed, I saw nothing about rungs. I think karma yoga is largely underestimated in this day and age (I am taking the leap and assuming that you are implying that the lowest rung is karma yoga) … and I don’t think karma yoga is easy. Who in this day and age wants to willingly, or is ever even able to sincerely, renounce the fruits of his/her actions? In today’s age? I can hardly think of one! What faster way to destroy the smallest ego? And it can be about as difficult and full of tribulations in the initial stages as the worship of the unmanifest as mentioned in verse 12.5 (in my own humble opinion, of course). In reading those verses from chapter 12, I am not seeing the rungs. It could be as in making donations. A 100-dollar donation from a millionaire would be almost an insult, whereas a 1-dollar donation from a meagerly employed person might actually have meaning to both the giver and the recipient. I have more I would like to reply, but I must take it up a bit later. Thank you! And thank you for the book recommendation!
@@KriB510 Your response was not curt at all, so please don't feel the need to explain yourself! In fact, it is my turn to apologize, because I meant to point to Chapter 7 (verses 16-18), and not Chapter 12. I should have read through my own post better. These are the verses that describe the "four types of virtuous men who worship Me", and those are the rungs I was referring to. My own assessment is that I probably don't make the cut for even the lowest rung. In fact, your take on Chapter 12 is not that different from mine, and I agree, karma yoga is not easy at all - in fact, none of the four yogas is easy. For me, it seems like I always need a combo at all times, since one seems to help with the others. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it, right? You bring up a couple of other interesting points as well, for example, worship of the Unmanifest. I always wondered what Krishna could have meant by "I" and "Me", because it's one thing to have Krishna as your charioteer and have Him tell you to worship Him, and quite another for us to read about it and know what "I" means. What if the story never actually took place? Does that invalidate the entire Divine Principle? Of course not! Both you and I know that the story is just a literary device, the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. I was told at one time, that it could mean the deity of your choice. That sounded good at the time, but didn't quite do it for me. FYI, I'm also a big follower of Joel Goldsmith's Infinite Way, which is primarily Christian based, but in reality makes no distinction between religious traditions. Joel consistently emphasizes that "I" is the best name we have for God, because at the deepest level, the "I" refers to each one of us. This is exactly the same thing that Ramana Maharshi used to say. With that in mind, my take on the early verses in Chapter 12 that you referenced is that there is actually an even more subtle literary effect going on. On the one hand, you could take it as referring to a deity, but on the other hand you could take it as referring to the "I" at your very core. This is the same "I" which is everybody's (and the entire world's ) core. This, in my view, is being compared with the completely undefinable, un-namable Unmanifest, Ineffable etc. That resonates more with me - and it may be not be the case for anybody else. Edit: Sorry for the long post and this amplification, but one could make a case for the comparison in the last paragraph being roughly similar to the Chapter 8 (and Chapter 15) descriptions of the Unmanifest (or Imperishable) to that which is "beyond the Unmanifest" (or Imperishable). Could that be a clue that this quest is never ending? Could you get to the Unmanifest, only to find that that is now the manifest in relation to another layer of the Unmanifest, beyond which is the true Unmanifest? After all, since the Ultimate Reality is infinite, this demarcation between the Unmanifest and "beyond the Unmanifest" could very well be the result of the limitations of the finite manifest consciousness. As always, this is beyond me! This interpretation also seems to comport with another verse in the Gita where Krishna says that "fools think that I have a manifest form", or words to that effect (I'm not very good with accurate quotes, unfortunately), so I feel comfortable in not worrying about a specific form, be it Krishna or Jesus or any other. To me, the Principle supersedes everything. From your Bible study, you have no doubt had occasion to wonder about Jesus' statement, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Light; nobody comes to the Father but by Me". What if there were no historical Jesus at all? After all, nobody has found any concrete evidence, and even if they did, how much sense would it make for the Divine to send only one messenger to a remote corner of a remote speck in a remote galaxy in perhaps one of infinite universes? And that, for thirty years? BUT, if the "I" that Jesus was referring to, is the same "I" that Joel and Ramana Maharshi - and in my view, Krishna - are talking about, it suddenly brings into much sharper focus the message of those Chapter 12 verses. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful, intelligent discussion. But, as I'm sure you know only too well, we could discuss this till the cows come home, and make no spiritual progress unless even a tiny speck of the Truth seeps into our consciousness.
In our Visishtadvaidha philosophy, Lord Narayana sits in on the seat of Judgement, while Mahalakshmi, the Mother sits on the seat of mercy. Hence, it is advocated to route our prayers through Her
Sincere prayer is listened by God surely ,but do we actually know which of our desires will bring ultimate peace & happiness?? One lady of a well to do family of kolkata ( West Bengal) regularly visited Kali temple to pray for her son's sake ,for a good scool ,good college ,good course ,good job & all her prayers were fulfilled . Once ,after many years ,that lady was found sitting in the corner of the temple weeping . The priest there ,knew that rich women who often visited that temple to worship, asked -- mother ,why crying ?? The lady sadly said -- my son doing a executive job in a reputed MNC ,but management filed a case of corruption & he is now languishing in prison.I am now in great pain. The priest said -- when I was child ,I used to come to the temple with my father ,who was the priest and saw you visiting & worshipping , praying for your son .You also visited to worship when you prayers were fulfilled .But ,mother,I never found you ever prayed for your son to be a good human being of good character .Had you been done that ,surely ,you would have not come here again to weep. THE MORAL IS -- pray to God to guide how to proceed in this life ,for strength & courage ,for love & compassion. Who knows, the worldly desire which one wish now, will be pleasurable, tolerable & will bring ultimate peace & happiness as & when fulfilled ,as, we all are very short sighted ??
Enters a best way to pray with spiritual knowledge and pleasure far superior to what most perceive as reality a spiritual reality lies just beyond ordinary abilities of perception and original spiritual consciousness is revived
Best way to pray is the pure love for God which eternally established in the hearts when the heart is purified by chant mantra of praying the living entity naturally awakens
@Vedanta Newyork, Thumbnail looks really Elegant . But, may I please request you to increase the Size of Swamiji's Image. It's getting cornered and invisible. Thank you.
Five pillars of vedanta is Parathma, Jeevathma, Eswara (God), karma, maya. jeeva strive realize parathma with ocean of karma and Maya with mercy of Eswara.
‘ Sufferings continues’…. But Thakur says their degree can be lowered if one has faith. Am I right? Will be very grateful Swamiji if you expound on this. Pronams 🙏
I wonder whether our Ego prevents us from accepting that its God at work,not anything else.I would try accepting God theory and waiting for things to happen (l call them minor miracles)
“Love was wider than the universe. The whole world could take refuge in her single heart” . What the western world does not know is the great force which ended WWII. Who is it ? It is our Mahashakti , our Divine Mother with her almighty grace power. There is also Krishna and Shiva. Pray to them all. And do your prayers in a voice volume which one can hear. This is an occult secret. There is a huge difference between a silent prayer and a prayer with a voice one can hear. The first hasn’t got 1% effect of the second prayer version. And from whom are the first two sentences ?
So basically don't pray for yourself, praying for others is fine. The only personal thing you can pray for, is for the love of god and becoming closer?
Of course not. That can never be wrong. In my opinion, pray for anything, as long as you're not praying for harm to be brought upon another, and as long as your prayers are sincere. In my opinion, I don't see why one can't pray for better financial circumstances. I'm a bit puzzled by the answer in this video... Is it just me?
@@Savoera Paramathma, Jeevathma, Karma, Eswara (god), Maya are Anadhi meaning eternal. Jeeva strives to reach paramathma by removing Maya through Karma and can only be possible with mercy of god. 😊😊
Should we be vaccinated in order to pray? Swami Sarvapriyananda requires the Covid vaccine to attend his spiritual lectures. So I would guess that applies to prayer as well?
Vaccination for Prayer is mainly purification of Mind . That's why in scriptures Yama & Niyama is prescribed as a first step & That's the Vaccination for spirituality!!
I am the person who asked this question. You will not believe what had just happened. I traveled to India for a year where I lived at an Ashram. I came back just over a month ago. Mind you, I have not watched this channel for this entire year. Just this morning, I was thinking very deeply about the spiritual path and what it truly means to fully commit oneself to it irrevocably and whole-heartedly. I had serious reservations as to whether I am fit for it, given my age and lack of life experience. I opened UA-cam and saw this video in the recommendations. To reiterate, I have not seen a single video on this channel for this entire year. And my question pops up. Truly mesmerising. The universe is at work.
Maybe it's the power of UA-cam's Algorithm.
One is freedom (not just free) from beginningless time whether fit for realizng that fact or not.🙏
Consciousness conspires in coincidence, the guiding hand on our shoulder is always with us, we just have to take notice 🙏
Spiritual life and ashram is the best way to truth
The best of life
Love of God ,
Acceptance of circumstances
In thoughts, I mused on prayers one day,
Should I seek desires or follow the righteous way?
Should I pray for love that's divine and true, Or grace to guide in all that I pursue?
In whispered words, I sought dispassion's fire,
To quell worldly wants and rise even higher.
For the focus of mind, a spiritual quest,
In deep contemplation, I'd find my best.
I prayed for humanity, for creatures great and small,
For the benevolence of God to touch and heal all.
🙏🙏🙏
Pranaam Swami Sarvapriyanandaji .
iam now undergoing serious tragedies and life threats from my own family... esp from my elder brother who does blackmagic on me. i sense great danger in near future... my life is on the verge of total disaster... within a few days my brother may succeed in ending up my life in an assylum.
i deeply pray to God and Swamiji for blessings and grace to be saved from my family and to be shifted to a place which is conducive for practising Spiritual Sadhanas.
🙏🙏
Param Pujyapada Shreemat Swami Sarbopriyanandaji Maharaj ji r chorone bhumistho pronam nibedon kori 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Swami sarvpriyanand ji
JOY RAMKRISHNA
Pranam Swami Jee 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
প্রণাম মহারাজ 🙏🙏🙏
What a beautifully worded deeply sincere question!
JAI guru dev 🙏🏻 ✨️ 🎉
PRAYERS has it's own POWER . 🙏 .
প্রণাম মহারাজ। আপনার কথাগুলো শুনতে গিয়ে মনে এল রবীন্দ্রনাথ এক জায়গায় লিখছেন.... Save me from the perils of overmuch desire.
শ্রী শ্রী মাও বলতেন নির্বাসনা হওয়ার জন্য প্রার্থণা করতে। আমাকে দয়া করুন কৃপা করুন লক্ষ্যে যেন পৌঁছতে পারি।
.... 'গহন আঁধার কবে পুলকে পূর্ণ হবে
ওহে আনন্দময় তোমার বীণারবে'
আপনি বলেছিলেন কোনোখানে remember not all your prayers will be answered, but keep praying!!
Yes it is a diehard practice.
Give me yearning for God! 🙏
Jaag Darde Ishq Jaag. Awaken me to the love of God! ❤
Swamiji Your wards always boost my mental strength
Thank you, Maharajji
Namaskaram swamiji
I am a new subscriber and thank you for making me realise the greatness of hindu philosophies.
We know not what to pray for until wisdom sets in.
If we are deserving we need not desire.
I am striving to apply these in my life
MY SINCEREST REGARDS AND GRATITUDE TO YOU MAHARAJ ALWAYS
Pranam Maharaj 🙏🙏🙏
Jai Shree Ramakrishna
It has been a great solace to listen to your speeches. i deeply aspire to dedicate this life for Spiritual Sadhana and to get closer to God as much as possible.
But there is a big obstacle in my Spiritual path which is dragging me again n again into negativities each time i progress a little.
Since childhood i ve been a helpless victim of blackmagic n crooked tortures from my elder brother n his wicked guru. That has caused health problems in my body , mind and has ruined my social life.
And now with the help of some durmanthravadins , astrologers n oraganizations he is trying to trap me and put me in assylum. Within a week he may succeed in it and if he does, he will destroy me so badly that i would never be able to do any Spiritual Sadhana in this life , after that.
i am in big trouble. Please help and bless me Swamiji , to be shifted to a secure place to stay protected from his men... where i can pursue my Spiritual Goal more deeply.
Humbly seeking Your blessings.
🙏 OM
@Swami ji : Please come back to India. Bharat, in this fast developing phase, needs you.
Pranam, Swamiji. May Thakur's blessings come down upon the whole world.
Pranam to Sri Thakur ji and to all.
Namaskar Swami Sarvapriyanandaji Maharaj 🙏🏻
Profound & Precise question &
Profound & Precise answer 🙏🏻
Pronam Maharaj ji soul stirring presentation
YES , SWAMIJI, your presence is MOST IMPORTANT FOR BHARATAVARSHAM & OUR PEOPLE!🙏🕉🌺
God is using his tongue to speak... So listen with your 💜 heart
Pranam Swamiji
Jai Sri Ramakrishna! Jai Sri Ramakrishna! Jai Sri Ramakrishna! Om Namo Bhagwate Ramakrishnaye !
Pranaam Swami Saravpriyananda ji
Om namo bhagwate vasudev
Pranam Pranam Pranam
❤❤❤❤🎉❤❤❤❤
Thank you a lot, gurudev. Accept my gratitude at your lotus feet.
Jai Sri Ramakrishna 🌺🙏
Vedic Science is same; the truth of visual, non visual, having or not having!!! Nothing is far behind and none is after!!! The complete, calm, stable, pure and always!!!! Jai Swamiji 🙏🌺
Now this world is just an articulate, films…
But being the change in systems our practical experience and working systems should also be follow being the family life….
We can’t always run with one thought…
Vedic Science >>> if we say one can follow as Swamiji….
But in families if one will come as monk then the outer door will be shown….
Thakurji has shown the real truth what’s the life, how one can change even his spiritual God and how deeply adopted….
We had by chance got a 0 equality in comparison but we had seen the falsehood of these systems how are being used ….
Our simple and humble request is to your greatness to do come in field and do make a new change of these so called Modernisation…. So that people can live this small life with some goodness!!!
Jai Sri Ramakrishna 🙏🌺🌟
Shri Gurubhyo Namah.
गुरोः अनुग्रहेणैव पुमान् पूरणः प्रशान्तये
Pranam Maharaj...
As always, Swami Sarvapriyananda never fails to enlighten; but having said that, I would like to, if I may, present an alternate point of view - alternate, not contradictory by any means. Alternate, because it comes from an extremely rudimentary and limited place as far as spiritual knowledge is concerned, but the struggle is very real.
I have personally come to the conclusion that The Gita is infallible, but needs a fair amount of contemplation. Every question I have ever had seems to be addressed, although striking me at different times. With that in mind, the first thought that occurs to me is in Chapter 7 (16-18), which tells us that even praying for material things is noble, just not quite as noble as praying for nothing. But that's not to say that one will get those things. As Swamiji points out, whatever you do get could be a lot better than anything you could have possibly imagined. My own experience has been that, even though whatever I get may not always be what I want, what I do get invariably includes a HUGE bonus spiritual gift which dwarfs that which I wanted. In Chapter 2, we are exhorted not to go for "things" (Verse 45). This comports with the Bible that tells us not to seek what we eat or drink, but to seek the Kingdom of God. Then, all those things will come to you anyway (Gita 9-22).
This is all very well, but how do I get there from here? Part of my problem is that all the descriptions of Divinity (as well as those of my own Divine identity) sound awesome, but are definitely not reflected in my day to day experience. What's even more discouraging, The Gita tells us that even severe ascetism is not much use without Divine contact (2-59,60); however the Saving Grace is that even a fleeting glimpse of Divine contact is enough (2-40). And we all know the beautifully compassionate set of verses (12-8,9,10,11) that addresses the various stages of spiritual development. No matter where you are, there is a path.
Still, I find myself in a place that is far below even the lowest rung. I really needed something simple, something basic, something actionable. And, personally, I found that in the Old Testament (Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6). They key trait to develop, for me, is trust, not intellectual understanding ("lean not unto thine own understanding"); and the key action item is acknowledgement of the Divine at all times. Then, the Divine GPS begins working ("He shall direct thy paths"). I don't need to know all about San Francisco in detail before flying there, but I most certainly need to know how to get to the airport. And that is impossible for even the most intellectually profound interpretation to provide, simply because one's next step is completely dependent on where one is at any given time.
I'm still conflicted about praying for "big things", like an end to the Ukraine war, or to famine or natural disasters. Granted, we would all prefer peace to war, but if that were always true, would Krishna compel Arjuna to fight and kill his family (the things of God are foolishness to man, paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 2:14, and vice versa)? This is truly beyond me, so I try not to lean unto my own understanding.
I will add, finally, that one's own interpretation of The Gita (or any other scripture) is always the best, because it applies individually. And that's all we need.
My two cents, FWIW.
Srinip you have expressed yourself beautifully. Your thoughts really resonated with me.
What do you define as “a place far below even the lowest rung”? I am not understanding how “lean not unto thine own understanding” and “one’s own interpretation … is always the best” can both be true at the same time. Until the time my own heart and mind has knowingly become Guru, I pray for Guru!
@@KriB510 I'm not defining the lowest rung, per se, but referring to the lowest of the four types in those verses. My view of "lean not unto thine own understanding" means not to depend on your intellect. I think it's very clear that we're not undertaking a venture that has a user manual akin to one for using a piece of machinery. I've found many shades of grey at every point, and these, to me, call for inner insight for illumination on that matter.
My post was not necessarily meant to convince anybody of anything, but just to present my point of view. Your approach of praying for Guru is your own, and you have obviously come to that conclusion on your own.
There is a wonderful book called "The Mind And It's Control", written by one of the Swamis in the Vedanta organization. There is a great exercise in it that helps to train the mind on how two seemingly contradictory ideas can be true at the same time. You take some thought or idea, then think of it's exact opposite, then contemplate how they can both be true. This is vaguely reminiscent of how a figure can be both a square and a circle at the same time. They can, if they're two-dimensional figures, and represent different views of a cylinder.
I don't expect anybody to agree with anything I mentioned, and that's a good thing, because it's a confirmation that we are all on unique paths.
@@srinip Thank you for your thoughtful writing and response to my very curt comment and questions. I will try not to be quite as curt (although it will most likely sound rushed … because it is).
In reading your response (and me likely not being as well read as you), I have been encouraged to read some of the verses you listed from Bhagavadgita, so thank you for that. I will surely need to rely on my own understanding because I have not read Chapter 12 under the guidance of a teacher, as I have been largely only listening to the readings and commentary through Vedanta New York (still on chapter 10), and that since about mid-2020. I didn’t have a problem with what you wrote per se; it was only that it sounded contradictory. I’ve had a Bible savant of sorts in my midst who would have probably jumped on me for making a similar contradiction (not to mention jumping on me for reading the Bhagavadgita, but that's another issue altogether) - but I myself am fine with nuance, on an individual basis.
In any case, upon reading the chapter 12 verses you listed, I saw nothing about rungs. I think karma yoga is largely underestimated in this day and age (I am taking the leap and assuming that you are implying that the lowest rung is karma yoga) … and I don’t think karma yoga is easy. Who in this day and age wants to willingly, or is ever even able to sincerely, renounce the fruits of his/her actions? In today’s age? I can hardly think of one! What faster way to destroy the smallest ego? And it can be about as difficult and full of tribulations in the initial stages as the worship of the unmanifest as mentioned in verse 12.5 (in my own humble opinion, of course).
In reading those verses from chapter 12, I am not seeing the rungs. It could be as in making donations. A 100-dollar donation from a millionaire would be almost an insult, whereas a 1-dollar donation from a meagerly employed person might actually have meaning to both the giver and the recipient.
I have more I would like to reply, but I must take it up a bit later. Thank you! And thank you for the book recommendation!
@@KriB510 Your response was not curt at all, so please don't feel the need to explain yourself! In fact, it is my turn to apologize, because I meant to point to Chapter 7 (verses 16-18), and not Chapter 12. I should have read through my own post better. These are the verses that describe the "four types of virtuous men who worship Me", and those are the rungs I was referring to. My own assessment is that I probably don't make the cut for even the lowest rung.
In fact, your take on Chapter 12 is not that different from mine, and I agree, karma yoga is not easy at all - in fact, none of the four yogas is easy. For me, it seems like I always need a combo at all times, since one seems to help with the others. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it, right?
You bring up a couple of other interesting points as well, for example, worship of the Unmanifest. I always wondered what Krishna could have meant by "I" and "Me", because it's one thing to have Krishna as your charioteer and have Him tell you to worship Him, and quite another for us to read about it and know what "I" means. What if the story never actually took place? Does that invalidate the entire Divine Principle? Of course not! Both you and I know that the story is just a literary device, the spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down. I was told at one time, that it could mean the deity of your choice. That sounded good at the time, but didn't quite do it for me.
FYI, I'm also a big follower of Joel Goldsmith's Infinite Way, which is primarily Christian based, but in reality makes no distinction between religious traditions. Joel consistently emphasizes that "I" is the best name we have for God, because at the deepest level, the "I" refers to each one of us. This is exactly the same thing that Ramana Maharshi used to say. With that in mind, my take on the early verses in Chapter 12 that you referenced is that there is actually an even more subtle literary effect going on. On the one hand, you could take it as referring to a deity, but on the other hand you could take it as referring to the "I" at your very core. This is the same "I" which is everybody's (and the entire world's ) core. This, in my view, is being compared with the completely undefinable, un-namable Unmanifest, Ineffable etc. That resonates more with me - and it may be not be the case for anybody else.
Edit: Sorry for the long post and this amplification, but one could make a case for the comparison in the last paragraph being roughly similar to the Chapter 8 (and Chapter 15) descriptions of the Unmanifest (or Imperishable) to that which is "beyond the Unmanifest" (or Imperishable). Could that be a clue that this quest is never ending? Could you get to the Unmanifest, only to find that that is now the manifest in relation to another layer of the Unmanifest, beyond which is the true Unmanifest? After all, since the Ultimate Reality is infinite, this demarcation between the Unmanifest and "beyond the Unmanifest" could very well be the result of the limitations of the finite manifest consciousness. As always, this is beyond me!
This interpretation also seems to comport with another verse in the Gita where Krishna says that "fools think that I have a manifest form", or words to that effect (I'm not very good with accurate quotes, unfortunately), so I feel comfortable in not worrying about a specific form, be it Krishna or Jesus or any other. To me, the Principle supersedes everything. From your Bible study, you have no doubt had occasion to wonder about Jesus' statement, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Light; nobody comes to the Father but by Me". What if there were no historical Jesus at all? After all, nobody has found any concrete evidence, and even if they did, how much sense would it make for the Divine to send only one messenger to a remote corner of a remote speck in a remote galaxy in perhaps one of infinite universes? And that, for thirty years? BUT, if the "I" that Jesus was referring to, is the same "I" that Joel and Ramana Maharshi - and in my view, Krishna - are talking about, it suddenly brings into much sharper focus the message of those Chapter 12 verses.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for a wonderful, intelligent discussion. But, as I'm sure you know only too well, we could discuss this till the cows come home, and make no spiritual progress unless even a tiny speck of the Truth seeps into our consciousness.
Pronam swamiji 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you so much Swamiji🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
❤om🌹🙏
My humble pranaam to swamiji maharaj
Thank you very much swamiji
In our Visishtadvaidha philosophy, Lord Narayana sits in on the seat of Judgement, while Mahalakshmi, the Mother sits on the seat of mercy. Hence, it is advocated to route our prayers through Her
Thank you swamiji
We happened to have desires and so born here but as soon as became aware of the deceiving world,,, the mind turns in.
NAMASKAR SWAMIJI
Pronams revered Swamiji, my spiritual teacher, bless me.
Touched by the question of the Ukrainian lady and your answers are always so good and so thoughtful. Pranam.
It’s a Ukrainian man.
MAHARAJ AMAR ANTORIC NAMASKAR R PRONAM JANAI MAHARAJ
Sincere prayer is listened by God surely ,but do we actually know which of our desires will bring ultimate peace & happiness??
One lady of a well to do family of kolkata ( West Bengal) regularly visited Kali temple to pray for her son's sake ,for a good scool ,good college ,good course ,good job & all her prayers were fulfilled .
Once ,after many years ,that lady was found sitting in the corner of the temple weeping .
The priest there ,knew that rich women who often visited that temple to worship, asked -- mother ,why crying ??
The lady sadly said -- my son doing a executive job in a reputed MNC ,but management filed a case of corruption & he is now languishing in prison.I am now in great pain.
The priest said -- when I was child ,I used to come to the temple with my father ,who was the priest and saw you visiting & worshipping , praying for your son .You also visited to worship when you prayers were fulfilled .But ,mother,I never found you ever prayed for your son to be a good human being of good character .Had you been done that ,surely ,you would have not come here again to weep.
THE MORAL IS -- pray to God to guide how to proceed in this life ,for strength & courage ,for love & compassion.
Who knows, the worldly desire which one wish now, will be pleasurable, tolerable & will bring ultimate peace & happiness as & when fulfilled ,as, we all are very short sighted ??
So true. Very well explained. It's learning lesson for all of us. We first need to be a good human being.
Brilliant as always
Om shri gurubhyo namaha 🙏🙏I regularly listen to sarvapriyananada swamiji's preachings. 🙏
His talks reach common men as they are simple & straight.. 🙏
DIVINE GRATITUDE
Pronam maharaj _______ Shikha
Enters a best way to pray with spiritual knowledge and pleasure far superior to what most perceive as reality a spiritual reality lies just beyond ordinary abilities of perception and original spiritual consciousness is revived
Jai Sri Ramakrishna Jai Sri Ramakrishna Jai Sri Ramakrishna Jai Sri Ramakrishna Jai Sri Ramakrishna
Sadar Pranams Pujya Swamiji 🙏🙏🙏🌹
I got the answer at the proper time, for what I was confused right now.
Thank you 🙏☺️
Best way to pray is the pure love for God which eternally established in the hearts when the heart is purified by chant mantra of praying the living entity naturally awakens
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Joy guru joy guru joy guru joy guru joy guru
Guybhyo namah
WAH wah AHA wonderful thanks gretitude Dhanyabad Dhanyabad Dhanyabad ❤❤😅 thanks 🙏
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Pronam Mohàrajji ❤️🙏❤️ with Regards and Respect.
@Vedanta Newyork,
Thumbnail looks really Elegant . But, may I please request you to increase the Size of Swamiji's Image. It's getting cornered and invisible.
Thank you.
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God please stop the next war from starting.
Okay i asked. Good luck.
Very interesting and valuable explanation ..Pranam Maharaj.
My one question , how I can keep consiatency over Mind during Jap Dhyan .🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Try transcendental meditation, it works effortlessly because you don't need to put efforts.
Five pillars of vedanta is Parathma, Jeevathma, Eswara (God), karma, maya. jeeva strive realize parathma with ocean of karma and Maya with mercy of Eswara.
‘ Sufferings continues’…. But Thakur says their degree can be lowered if one has faith. Am I right? Will be very grateful Swamiji if you expound on this.
Pronams 🙏
Swamiji can you go to sandeep maheswari show?
I want to meet Swamiji, at least once in my life. Pls tell me when he is coming to Belur Math?
Me too. Dont know if possible in life time
Mee too
You can write to him. I heard that he replies.
@@Chatterbong-travel where can I write? Any e-mail/ WhatsApp?
Kindly give me his communication details..pls. It would be very helpful.
@@debayanmanna5477vedanta society Newyork Website
But many people's questions already pending on th3 e mail
What about Ramana Maharshi who said if a desire wouldn’t increase other desires? It’s good🤔
Whoever has created this universe, is responsible for all the miseries and sufferings of the world.
That thou art
Why are there so many ads ?
God's will 😂
Pranaam🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I wonder whether our Ego prevents us from accepting that its God at work,not anything else.I would try accepting God theory and waiting for things to happen (l call them minor miracles)
“Love was wider than the universe. The whole world could take refuge in her single heart” . What the western world does not know is the great force which ended WWII. Who is it ? It is our Mahashakti , our Divine Mother with her almighty grace power. There is also Krishna and Shiva. Pray to them all. And do your prayers in a voice volume which one can hear. This is an occult secret. There is a huge difference between a silent prayer and a prayer with a voice one can hear. The first hasn’t got 1% effect of the second prayer version.
And from whom are the first two sentences ?
So basically don't pray for yourself, praying for others is fine. The only personal thing you can pray for, is for the love of god and becoming closer?
Is it wrong to pray for good health of near and dear ones?
Of course not. That can never be wrong. In my opinion, pray for anything, as long as you're not praying for harm to be brought upon another, and as long as your prayers are sincere. In my opinion, I don't see why one can't pray for better financial circumstances. I'm a bit puzzled by the answer in this video... Is it just me?
@@Savoeraofcourse you are right. He is talking from Vedanta school which practice Advaita philosophy. Non dualistic way
@@sundarnarayanan3511 thank you! 😊
@@Savoera Paramathma, Jeevathma, Karma, Eswara (god), Maya are Anadhi meaning eternal. Jeeva strives to reach paramathma by removing Maya through Karma and can only be possible with mercy of god. 😊😊
Should we be vaccinated in order to pray? Swami Sarvapriyananda requires the Covid vaccine to attend his spiritual lectures. So I would guess that applies to prayer as well?
Vaccination for Prayer is mainly purification of Mind .
That's why in scriptures Yama & Niyama is prescribed as a first step & That's the Vaccination for spirituality!!
How I got fragmented from the supreme
Let me open it up now
Thank you Swamiji ❤
Pranam Gurudev 🙏
Pranam Swami ji 🙏🏻
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