The official blog of the Divine Art of Yoga Center ashram - Spiritual discourses from the Mahatmas and writings from the devotees. For people on a spiritual path
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Where Can I Find Happiness?
This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty, it had no meaning.
So, the lady went to visit a counselor to seek out happiness.
The counselor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors.
The counselor then said to the rich lady "I'm going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found happiness. All I want you to do is listen to her."
So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story:
"Well, my husband died of malaria and three months later my only son was killed by a car. I had nobody. I had nothing left. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I never smiled at anyone, I even thought of taking my own life. Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten in. I got some milk, and the kitten licked the plate clean. Then it purred and rubbed against my leg and, for the first time in months, I smiled.
Then I stopped to think, if helping a little kitten could make me smile, maybe doing something for people could make me happy.
So, the next day I baked some biscuits and took them to a neighbor who was sick in bed.
Every day I tried to do something nice for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.
Today, I don't know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do.
I've found happiness, by giving it to others."
When she heard this, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.
The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are; but on how happy others can be because of you...
Happiness is not a destination, it's a journey.
Happiness is not tomorrow, it is now.
Happiness is not dependency, it is a decision.
Happiness is what you are, not what you have.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
An Egg Broken From the Inside is Better
Dr. Ashok Modh was in La Habra for Holi Festival and in his satsang, he discussed how we could do good things in our life. The festival of colors and colored Easter eggs provided a nice metaphor:
"When an egg is broken from the outside, you lose a life.
But the same egg, when it opens from within... a new life begins.
Goodness has to happen within you, not by somebody saying it.
How best to achieve that?
By yoga
Meditation
Bhajan
and satsang.
Bhajan and satsang in particular creates the environment within us to create something good.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
We Can Only Know The Holy Name Through Inner Experience
The baijis teach spirituality, not religious practices. What is the proof of this?
It is in their teaching of the Holy Name. That we should discover it inside ourselves, and always keep it in mind because it brings lasting peace.
But what is the Holy Name?
Is it God? Rama? Spirit? The Universe? Om?
The answer, actually, cannot be spoken in words of English, Hindi, Gujarati, or even Sanskrit.
Nonetheless, it is inside of us.
It's the language of the connection we have with the Infinite. It is most easily realized when we meditate, because we are putting all thoughts aside and communing with the All.
It's a language of sorts, but there are no words. We are like a drop of rainwater that falls into the ocean - there are no words to describe it.
There is only the experience.
Some might say this is a benefit of being separate, that we get to have this uniting experience, this communion.
But no one can tell us how to achieve it. They can't give us a pill, they can't trick us, or force it.
We have to discover it for ourselves.
It may help to know that our individual soul is One with the larger Universal Soul - that the separation is an illusion - then we are simply realizing the connection that is already there, from which our ego normally keeps us separate.
So when we let our mind quiet, the ego fades, and we can have this Self-realization.
When we do this, a miracle happens:
Half an ounce of this kind of meditation reduces a ton of sins to ashes. We can clean all the detritus of the mind in a heartbeat. We can rid ourselves of "the accumulated karma of a thousand actions."
We just have to experience it for ourselves, and keep experiencing it.
That is why the baijis encourage us to concentrate our mind on the Holy Name within: when we work, when we play, when we meditate, and every moment we can remember to.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
How to Live with Virtue: Rammurti Baiji and The Eighteen "Ities"
Rammurti Baiji spoke these words in English:
"Serenity. Regularity. Absence of Vanity. Sincerity. Simplicity. Veracity. Equanimity. Fixity. Non-Irritability. Adaptability. Humility. Tenacity. Integrity. Nobility. Magnanimity. Charity. Generosity. Purity. Immortality."
This is from Sri Swami Sivananda:
"For everyone's success in life and especially for an aspirant's success in spiritual life, it is essential that he should develop certain cardinal virtues. Virtue is strength, power and the key to peace. A virtuous man is ever happy, peaceful and prosperous. People ask me for the specific mention of the virtues that one should develop. The Song of Eighteen "Ities" enumerates the virtues that one should cultivate.
Take up any one virtue and develop it to a very high degree of perfection; eradicate in toto its opposite evil quality even in its most subtle form. Meditate on these virtues, on their benefits and the methods of cultivating them. Here is the Song of Eighteen "Ities":
1. SERENITY
Be tranquil within. Let that inner peace and joy radiate through a serene countenance. A serene countenance is peaceful, smiling and serious and does not betray any violent emotions. It is like the surface of a still lake.
2. REGULARITY
Be regular in your daily habits, and in your work and spiritual practices. Get up at a particular time. Be clock-like in your daily activities. You will be free from worry, fear, anxiety, haphazard and shabby work. You will do the right thing at the right moment.
3. ABSENCE OF VANITY
Do not boast of your birth, position, qualifications and spiritual attainments. Praise others. See good in all. Treat even the lowliest creatures as your equal and with respect.
4. SINCERITY
Let your words agree with the thoughts; let your actions agree with your words. Let there be harmony among your thoughts, words and actions.
5. SIMPLICITY
Be artless. Be simple in your speech. Do not twist words and topics. Be plain; avoid diplomacy, cunningness and crookedness. Be simple in your dress. Be simple in your food.
6. VERACITY
Be truthful. Stick to your promises. Do not exaggerate. Do not twist facts. Think twice before you speak. Speak truthfully. Speak sweetly. Be precise in what you say.
7. EQUANIMITY
Be calm. Bear insult patiently. Bear injury, suffering, failures and disrespect calmly. Do not be elated by praise, pleasure, success and honor. Look upon both with equal vision. Behave alike towards friends and foes. Never let anything disturb your inner peace.
8. FIXITY
Remember that you cannot achieve anything if you are fickle-minded. Choose your goal or ideal and remember it always. Never let it go out of mind even for a moment.
9. NON-IRRITABILITY
Irritability is the precursor of violent outbursts of anger. Watch carefully for the disturbance in the mental equilibrium. Watch for the ripples of anger that might rise in the lake of the mind. Quell them then and there. Do not allow them to assume greater proportions. Then you will attain peace.
10. ADAPTABILITY
Understand well the nature of people with whom you come into contact. Adjust your mode of approach to them. Adjust yourself in such a way as to be pleasing to them. Joyfully bear with the eccentricities of others. Always react in a harmonious manner. Serve all and love all. Have the feeling that the Lord dwells in the hearts of all as the Self of all.
11. HUMILITY
Respect everybody. Bow with folded hands before all. Do not talk in a loud voice before elders and venerable persons. Look at the toes while you walk. See the Lord in all and feel that you are His servant and so the servant of all. Consider none as inferior to you.
12. TENACITY
This is the natural friend of fixity. Once you have fixed your aim and chosen your path, stick to it. Do not waver. Be steadfast. Never compromise on your fundamental principles. Have the attitude: "I may give up my life but I will not swerve from the path; I will not break my vows."
13. INTEGRITY
Develop an integral personality. Tie all the loose ends of your character. Become a man of high moral principles. Lead a life of righteousness. Let righteousness waft its sweet fragrance from you. Everyone will trust you, obey you, respect you and revere you.
14. NOBILITY
Shun mean-mindedness as dung and poison. Never look into the defects of others. Always appreciate the good qualities of everyone. Be dignified in bearing. Never stoop to ignoble thoughts, words and actions.
15. MAGNANIMITY
Take a broad view of things. Ignore the faults of others: Be great and noble-minded in whatever you do. Avoid silly talk and childish prattle. Let not the mind dwell on little things and insignificant things.
16. CHARITY
Give, give and give. This is the secret of abundance. Radiate thoughts of goodness and love. Forgive the faults of others. Bless the man who injures you. Share what you have with others. Disseminate spiritual knowledge to one and all. Use the material wealth, knowledge and spiritual wisdom that you possess as a divine trust.
17. GENEROSITY
In whatever you give be liberal. Have a large heart. Do not be miserly. Take delight in the joy of others, in making them happy. Generosity is a sister-virtue of charity. It is the fulfilment of charity, magnanimity and nobility.
18. PURITY
Be pure at heart. Eradicate lust, anger and greed. Be pure in your thoughts. Think of God always. Think of the well-being of all. Be pure in your words; never utter harsh, unkind words. Be pure in body. Keep it clean and healthy. Let the dress and surroundings be clean. Observe the rules of physical, moral and spiritual hygiene.
These eighteen "Ities" will pave the way for you to march into the kingdom of God. They will open for you the gates of immortality. You will achieve great success in this life itself. A man who possesses these qualities in a very large measure is a saint indeed, who will be respected, adored and worshiped by one and all."
To these, Baiji adds Immortality.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Should I Sacrifice All?
One day a man came to the temple and greeted the Mahatma there.
"Master," he said, "I am ready to ready to renounce the world!"
"What do you mean?" the Mahatma asked.
"Total renunciation! I renounce my house, I renounce my clothes, I renounce my family, everything! I sacrifice it all to come wear the saffron robes and serve you."
The Mahatma shook his head. "This is not the way."
The man was confused. "But the Vedas say we should sacrifice."
"And you've misinterpreted it, like so many people have. Some cultures even thought it meant they should sacrifice animals, which is totally wrong."
"What should I do?" the man asked humbly.
"You want to truly sacrifice? The real renunciation is your ego. Your desire. Your attachments. Your cruelty. Your prejudice. Your pride. Perfection requires purification, which means sacrificing your ego."
"We must sacrifice our selves."
(The photo animation of the satsang was taken in November. I hope it didn't make you dizzy.)
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Do We Assume We Were the Same Nationality in Our Last Life?
Samsara - the repeating cycle of birth, life and death (reincarnation) and consequences in the past, present and future (karma). Hindus believe that the Atman (soul) is intrinsically pure. However, because of the layers of I-ness and My-ness, the Atman goes through transmigration in the cycle of births and deaths. Death destroys the physical body, but not the Atman.
If we suspect we will continue the Samsara life cycle after our physical death and return as a living person (usually?), we might unconsciously think our karma will return us to the same race or culture we're living in now, perhaps using the same language.
But because there are so many different societies on this planet alone, it's likely we will be in a very different situation upon rebirth. Vive la difference!
So when I see all the non-Indians comfortably making the ashram their home - many have already studied the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and more - I sometimes wonder if we were Indian Hindus in our last life.
If so, thank you for welcoming us back home.
In this life we're Argentinian, Colombian, German, Polish, Mexican, Irish, Scandinavian, and more. We're attracted to the Truth because, perhaps, we knew it in the last life. Perhaps we remember the taste of spicy daal and roti. Perhaps we remember the spiritual community an ashram provides.
At the Divine Art of Yoga Center Ashram, our unique perspectives provide a spiritual spark, even as we converge on the same path to attain self-realization. Samadhi. Liberation.
That's a beautiful thing.
Namaste.
Monday, March 14, 2016
Rammurti Baiji's Birthday Satsang
Rammurti Baiji's birthday happened to fall on a Sunday, so Gautum Baiji arranged to have many of the devotees perform in her honor during Satsang.
There was a lot of singing, piano, guitar, and tabla. You could really feel a strong sense of community, and many people expressed how much Rammurti Baiji meant to their lives.
For all the devotees who weren't present at this particular event, know that you were there. You are always a part of the family, as you know. JSCA
More photos to come.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
What is a Well-Rounded Life? - Satsang
From Gautum Baiji's Satsang:
Three people were travelling on a boat. As the trip progressed, they introduced themselves and got to know each other.
They were all quite educated in their particular disciplines, and they enjoyed showing off their knowledge.
Soon the conversation turned to the Vedas, and each seemed to know more than the other. They were more interested in impressing each other than in encouraging each others' spiritual enlightenment.
One of them noticed the boatman was listening to them.
"What's your opinion of the Vedas?" one of them asked.
The boatman shrugged and said, "I have not read them."
The scholars looked at each other with surprise. "Are you serious? The Vedas are crucial to a well-rounded life. Only an idiot would not be familiar with them."
"Your life is practically worthless," one of them said arrogantly about the boatman.
The boatman just listened and continued steering the boat.
The sky darkened just then and a storm descended on them. Low clouds brought heavy rain and wind, and the waves rose menacingly around them. They were violently rocked from side to side.
The passengers grabbed on tight or they'd be thrown into the churning waters.
"What's happening?!" one of them cried.
The boatman looked at them grimly. "The boat is taking on too much water and is going to sink. You all know how to swim, yes?"
The first scholar looked at him frightfully. "I spent all my time at the library studying. I never had time for swimming lessons!"
The boatman looked at the others, whose shared the same expressions of shame.
"Well I hope whatever you read in the Vedas is going to help you now. As for my worthless life, somehow I found time to learn to swim and I will continue to live that life past this challenging day."
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