December 19, 2010
As seekers, we're constantly faced with a plethora of options for our sadhana or spiritual practices. Nowadays, it is not unusual for the main stream media itself refers to discuss the benefits of yoga and meditation. We may have friends who follow a particular Swami or themselves observe certain practices. These friends are articulate about the efficacy of their sadhana.
Apart from these everyday challenges on the spiritual path, when our own seeking takes us to listen to a teacher or read different texts, we're again faced with apparent choices. We wonder whether the the sadhana being discussed would give better results for us. Krishna appears to further confuse matters in the Bhagavad Gita. In Chapter 4, starting with the 26th verse (daivameva....), Krishna describes several practices (referred to as yagna, also translated as sacrifice) including praanayaama (regulation / control of breath) and pratyaahaara (disciplined consumption of food, avoiding excesses).
In Guruji's talk on Chapter 4, in Trinidad in August, Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayanandaji used an interesting analogy to address this very question. The following is paraphrased from my recollection of what he said.
To have a bath, we need soap. There are many varieties of soap available in the shops. Do I need to use every soap in order to be clean? No, just one will do. Likewise, with the different spiritual practices (yagnas) mentioned in Chapter 4, I need to only the one practice that is right for me. That practice I have to observe diligently. That itself will enable my spiritual growth and take me to the ultimate goal.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
As seekers, we're constantly faced with a plethora of options for our sadhana or spiritual practices. Nowadays, it is not unusual for the main stream media itself refers to discuss the benefits of yoga and meditation. We may have friends who follow a particular Swami or themselves observe certain practices. These friends are articulate about the efficacy of their sadhana.
Apart from these everyday challenges on the spiritual path, when our own seeking takes us to listen to a teacher or read different texts, we're again faced with apparent choices. We wonder whether the the sadhana being discussed would give better results for us. Krishna appears to further confuse matters in the Bhagavad Gita. In Chapter 4, starting with the 26th verse (daivameva....), Krishna describes several practices (referred to as yagna, also translated as sacrifice) including praanayaama (regulation / control of breath) and pratyaahaara (disciplined consumption of food, avoiding excesses).
Shri Krishna himself says:
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञाः वितता ब्रह्मणोमुखे ।
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ।। ४-३२
evaM bahuvidhaa yaGYaa vitataa brahmaNo mukhe .
karmajaanviddhi taansarvaanevaM GYaatvaa vimokShyase .. 4\-32..
The innumerable practices are described in the Veda. Know them all as born of action, and thus knowing, you shall be liberated.
In Guruji's talk on Chapter 4, in Trinidad in August, Pujya Guruji, Swami Tejomayanandaji used an interesting analogy to address this very question. The following is paraphrased from my recollection of what he said.
To have a bath, we need soap. There are many varieties of soap available in the shops. Do I need to use every soap in order to be clean? No, just one will do. Likewise, with the different spiritual practices (yagnas) mentioned in Chapter 4, I need to only the one practice that is right for me. That practice I have to observe diligently. That itself will enable my spiritual growth and take me to the ultimate goal.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
Wonderfully done ...
ReplyDeleteYou may want to post the song 'Dekhe ye deewAno ..' from Hare Rama Hare Krishna that beautifully pictures the message of Gita.