Everyday Geeta

March 21, 2012 I finally got round to updating the shloka references in this blog post. For a detailed set of links, click on this link . I will endeavor to keep this index updated after every post. Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

March 17, 2012 Recently, I came across this wiki page on something called "Glory" . The picture (sourced from here ) refers to a fascinating optical phenomenon. The phenomenon is considered interesting enough to attract scientific research and that leads to this Scientific American article "The Science of The Glory" Readers of this blog should be familiar with my interest in the Lord's Vibhooti Yoga . I love it that there is now a science that can only be translated as विभूति विज्ञान (Science of Glory). Of course, it is no surprise that this science explores only a tiny aspect of all of the glory that Śrī Kṛṣṇa declares is sustained by एकांशेन स्थितो जगत् (१०-४२) (ekaa.nshena sthito jagat.h 10-42) translated as "all this is sustained by a tiny part of Myself." Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

March 15, 2011 Pujya Swami Abhedanandaji had a very nice way of describing the act of daily worship or उपासन: "Consciousness is reflected off everything but the brilliance of the reflection depends on one's upaasana." Pujya Swamiji then briefly referred to the story of Kaag Bhusundi (aka Kak Bhusundi) from the Ramayana. Despite his birth in Ayodhya, he was cursed by Lord Shiva to become a python because he showed disrespect to his Guru. His compassionate Guru intervened and Lord Shiva said that Kaag Bhusundi would gain liberation through his devotion to Śrī Rāma. In time, Kaag Bhusundi becomes a disciple of the great sage Lomasa. This time, due to the disciples impatience with the sage's insistence on the formless Lord, the sage curses the disciple to become a crow. Even though the crow is considered to be an unclean bird, yet Kaag Bhusundi's unbroken devotion to Śrī Rāma brings him the honor of being one of the narrators of the Ramayana on the shores of the ho...

March 5, 2012 Swamini Vimalanandaji of the Chinmaya Mission has been giving talks on "Sure Mantras of Success (SMS) from the Bhagavad Gita". I was listening to one of them on DVD and saw a very neat distinction drawn between tapas (तपस austerity) and titikshA (तितिक्षा forbearance). Swaminiji was discussing Śrī Kṛṣṇa's instruction in 2-14: तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत । taa.nstitikShasva bhaarata | "Endure them bravely, O descendant of Bharata." Swaminiji says that tapas is what one voluntarily undertakes while titikshA is accepting what comes to you. As I thought about this, it made sense. Fasting is austerity, we do it voluntarily. So is maunam (मौनम़ - vow of silence). Accepting the ups and downs of the weather is titikshA. Undertaking voluntary activity or seva is tapas, acceptance of the quirks of one's spouse or child is titikshA. In the case of titikshA, we may wish things were different but cheerfully accept what life has to offer. Stretching oneself in or...

March 1, 2012 Sometime recently, I came across this interesting blog post on "Happiness Round the World" by Sam Mcnerney. Besides reference to a fascinating initiative to measure the "Happy Planet Index", the post quotes Tocqueville : In America, I have seen the freest and best educated of men in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world; yet it seemed to me that a cloud habitually hung on their brow, and they seemed serious and almost sad even in their pleasure. The chief reason for this is that… [they] never stop thinking of the good things they have not got. The blogger, after reminding us helpfully that Tocqueville wrote this back in 1835, goes on to state: " To be sure, improving the well-being of the citizens of the United States and of the world is much more than the tweaking of a few economic plans or paying more attention to positive psychology. We also need to shift our attitude and realize that happiness is not an expectation. "(unde...