What is Divine Grace !!

Divine Grace is a manifestation of the cosmic free will in operation. It can alter the course of events in a mysterious manner through its own unknown laws, which are superior to all natural laws, and can modify the latter by interaction. It is the most powerful force in the universe. It descends and acts only when it is invoked by total self- surrender. It acts from within, because God resides in the Heart of all beings. Its whisper can be heard only in a mind purified by self-surrender and prayer.

Rationalists laugh at it, and atheists scorn it, but it exists. It is a descent of God into the soul's zone of awareness. It is a visitation of force unexpected and unpredictable. It is a voice spoken out of cosmic silence - It is `Cosmic Will which can perform authentic miracles under its own laws'. In truth, God and the Guru are not different. Just as the prey which has fallen into the jaws of a tiger has no escape, so those who have come within the ambit of the Guru's gracious look will be saved by the Guru and will not get lost; yet, each one should by his own effort pursue the path shown by God or Guru and gain release.

By Sri Ramana Maharshi

Satsangh..

Satsangh means association with Sat or Reality. One who knows or has realized Sat is also regarded as Sat. Such association is absolutely necessary for all. Sankara has said, "In all the three worlds there is no boat like satsangh to carry one safely across the ocean of births and deaths."

Guru or Master not being physical, His contact will continue after His form vanishes. If one Master exists in the world, His influence will be felt by or benefit all people in the world, and not simply His immediate disciples. As described in Vedanta Chudamani, all the people in the world can be put under four categories: The Guru's disciples, bhaktas, those who are indifferent to Him and those who are hostile to Him. All these will be benefited by the existence of the Master — each in his own way and to various degrees.

Is a "living" Guru/Master necessary?

Sri Ramana Maharshi:
I have not said that a Guru/Master is not necessary. But a Guru/Master need not always be in human form. First a person thinks that he is inferior and that there is a superior, all-knowing, all powerful God who controls his own and the world's destiny and worships him or does bhakti. When he reaches a certain stage and becomes fit for enlightenment, the same God whom he was worshipping comes as Guru and leads him onward. That Guru comes only to tell him, `That God is within yourself. Dive within and realize'. God, Guru and the Self are the same.
Realization is the result of the Master's (Guru's) grace, more than teachings, lectures, meditations, etc. They are only secondary aids, whereas the former is the primary and essential cause.
Guru's grace is always there. You imagine it to be something somewhere high up in the sky, far away and which has to descend. It is really inside you in your Heart, and the moment, by any of the methods, you effect subsidence or merger of the mind into its source, the grace rushes forth, spouting as from a spring from within you.
Contact with Master is good. They will work through silence. A Guru is not the physical form. Hence His contact remains even after the physical form of the Guru vanishes.
After your bhakti to God has matured you, God comes in the shape of a Guru and from outside pushes your mind inside, while being inside as Self He draws you there from within. Such a Guru is needed generally, though not for very rare and advanced souls.
One can go to another Guru after one's Guru passes away.
But after all, Gurus are one, as none of them are the form. Mental contact is always the best.

The Role of a Guru or Master !!

The Guru/Master Gita (verse 17) aptly describes the Guru/master as “dispeller of darkness” (from gu, “darkness” and ru, “that which dispels”). A true, God-illumined guru is one who, in his attainment of self-mastery, has realized his identity with the omnipresent Spirit. Such a one is uniquely qualified to lead the seeker on his or her inward journey toward perfection.

“The blind cannot lead the blind,” said Paramahansaji. “Only a master, one who knows God and is one with God, may rightly teach others about Him. To regain one’s divinity one must have such a master or guru. He who faithfully follows a true guru becomes like him, for the guru helps to elevate the disciple to his own level of realization.”

The guru-disciple relationship is the highest expression of friendship, for it is based on unconditional divine love and wisdom. It is the loftiest and most sacred of all relationships. Christ and his disciples were all one in spirit, as are my master [Swami Sri Yukteswar] and I and those who are in tune with me, because of the common bond of God’s divine love....One who partakes of this relationship is on the way to wisdom and freedom.

By Paramahansa Yogananda

 

Samskara or Impressions !!

"Samskara" can be translated very nearly by inherent tendency. Using the simile of a lake for the mind, every ripple, every wave that rises in the mind, when it subsides, does not die out entirely, but leaves a mark and a future possibility of that wave coming out again. This mark, with the possibility of the wave reappearing, is what is called Samskara. Every work that we do, every movement of the body, every thought that we think, leaves such an impression on the mind-stuff, and even when such impressions are not obvious on the surface they are sufficiently strong to work beneath the surface, subconsciously.

What we are every moment is determined by the sum-total of these impressions on the mind. What I am just at this moment is the effect of the sum-total of all the impressions of my past life. This is really what is meant by character; each man's character is determined by the sum-total of these impressions. If good impressions prevail, the character becomes good; if bad, it becomes bad. If a man continuously hears bad words, thinks bad thoughts, does bad actions, his mind will be full of bad impressions; and they will influence his thought and work without his being conscious of the fact. In fact, these bad impressions are always working, and their resultant must be evil; and that man will be a bad man; he cannot help it; the sum-total of these impressions in him will create the strong motive power for doing bad actions; he will be like a machine in the hands of his impressions, and they will force him to do evil. Similarly, if a man thinks good thoughts and does good works, the sum-total of these impressions will be good; and they, in a similar manner, will force him to do good even in spite of himself.

When a man has done so much good work and thought so many good thoughts that there is an irresistible tendency in him to do good, in spite of himself and even if he wishes to do evil, his mind, as the sum-total of his tendencies,will not allow him to do so; the tendencies will turn him back; he is completely under the influence of the good tendencies. When such is the case, a man's good character is said to be established.

Source: Teachings of Great Masters

Spiritual knowledge, Intellectual help & Physical help..

Spiritual knowledge is the only thing that can destroy our miseries for ever; any other knowledge satisfies wants only for a time. It is only With the knowledge of the spirit that the faculty of want is annihilated for ever; so helping man spiritually is the highest help that can be given to him; he who gives man spiritual knowledge is the greatest benefactor of mankind, and as such we always find that those were the most powerful of men who helped man in his spiritual needs; because spirituality is the true basis of all our activities in life. A spiritually strong and sound man will be strong in every other respect, if he so wishes; until there is spiritual strength in man even physical needs cannot be well satisfied.

Next to spiritual comes intellectual help; the gift of knowledge is a far higher gift than that of food and clothes; it is even higher than giving life to a man, because the real life of man consists of knowledge; ignorance is death, knowledge is life. Life is of very little value, if it is a life in the dark, groping through ignorance and misery.

Next in order comes, of course, helping a man physically. Therefore, in considering the question of helping others. We must always strive not to commit the mistake of thinking that physical help is the only help that can be given,it is not only the last but the least, because it cannot bring about permanent satisfaction. The misery that I feel when I am hungry is satisfied by eating, but hunger returns; my misery can cease only when I am satisfied beyond all want. Then hunger will not make me miserable; no distress, no sorrow will be able to move me. So that help which tends to make us strong spiritually is the highest, next to it comes intellectual help, and after that physical help.

 

Source: By Great Masters

Purpose of Meditation..

`Supreme Being (GOD) is the seer, the thinker, the all-pervading Self’. And, since the beginning of creation, He has distributed Himself in all objects according to their own nature while remaining attribute less. The Supreme Being has divided himself over the years into all the attributes seen in the world before us. By itself being without any movement, it has distributed itself to this variegated world. Therefore, to get back to It, one must turn away from this differentiation and get back into the Unity. Differentiation has taken place – now to get back into Unity is the purpose of Meditation.

`The Supreme Being is absolutely clear, still, silent, peaceful and all-pervading’. But we see only differences. We see only strife and chaos. Great Saints teach us to come out of this differentiation, back to the essential Unity. That is the purpose of the teaching and that is the purpose of meditation.

Source: Wisdom Of Rishis , by Sri M

Mind Gives Birth to Ego & Pride !!

When a description of the Supreme Being is given and when it is said that one’s essential identity is not different from that Supreme Being, The saint who moves closer and closer to That Supreme Being begins to have these attributes little by little. So the person established in the stability of the Supreme Self also `cannot be injured’. Of course, if he stands in the middle of the road and gets hit, he will be injured; but we don’t mean that! Psychologically, one cannot injure him, because he has not made an image for himself. There is nothing that one can break; because only if one has an image can it be broken! Here, images have all been discarded and there is only stillness. One should remember as long as there is movement, (movement in Mind which gives birth to Ego & Pride) there is an image.

 

Here Knowledge = Divine Knowledge or Knowledge about one self !!

Reference: Upanishads , by Master Sri M.

Jealousy !!

They say there is no cure for baldness-but there is something that is worse – jealousy. When one sees somebody prospering, one is consumed with jealousy instead of feeling happy! Why is this? This is because one sees two people here- I am different, and you are different. But that person, who sees the essential oneness of everything, enjoys another person having something. He says to himself, ‘whether I have it or that person has it, it is the same thing.’ Of course, this is very easy to say but very difficult to actually feel. It needs lot of practice and while practicing one has to first firmly believe that the essential Self is not different in you and me.

When, one first firmly believe that the essential Self is not different in you and in me- `then there is no delusion, then there is no sorrow’- because when the world enjoys, it is my enjoyment! In the same way, therefore, such a person also must necessarily have compassion, because when somebody else suffers, it becomes his own suffering.

The `oneness of the Self’, where he is `alone’ but knows that `all is One’. Somebody once said that `alone’ really means `all One’, although we think that `alone’ means `separate’.

Mind is the Eye of the Eye !!

The mind is the eye of the eye. Even if the eye is open and all the images that are in front of me are falling on my retinal screen, if my mind is not concentrated, I do not see anything. I might be thinking of something else and therefore `seeing’ something else. Therefore, ` the eye of this eye’ is the mind- because it is the one that sees; it observes, it decides, it chooses. The `eye’ of the physical eye is `the mind’. Suppose I find out that `I’ am the `eye’ of the mind- how wonderful it is! `I’ am the `eye’ of the mind, which is the eye of the eye. So, being that `eye’ of the eye-being the essence of Consciousness, all that we see, hear, operate – everything works because of this, which is the true `I’, which is the SOUL!

Even though the eye sees everything it is not able to see itself. Yet it does not rule out the existence of the eye! So too, it is because of the `I’, the consciousness, that the whole world is going on. That consciousness is absolutely stillness, without any movement at all. Therefore, the closer the mind goes to this state of stillness, the more it is able to comprehend what the great Saints are talking about.

-By Wisdom of Rishis..
Inner Consciousness...

The Cosmic Laws !!

1. The Law of Divine Oneness:

The Law of Divine Oneness helps us to understand that we live in a world where everything is connected to everything else. Everything we do, say, think and believe affects others and the universe around us.


2. The Law of Vibration:

This Universal Law states that everything in the Universe moves, vibrates, and travels in circular patterns. The same principles of vibration in the physical world apply to our thoughts, feelings, desires, and wills in the Etheric world. Each sound, thing, and even thought has its own vibrational frequency, unique unto itself.


3. The Law of Action:

The Law of Action must be applied in order for us to manifest things on earth. Therefore, we must engage in actions that support our thoughts, dreams, emotions and words.


4. The Law of Correspondence:

This Universal Law states that the principles or laws of physics that explain the physical world – energy, Light, vibration, and motion – have their corresponding principles in the etheric or universe. “As above, so below.”


5. The Law of Cause and Effect:

This Universal Law states that nothing happens by chance or outside the Universal Laws. Every action has a reaction or consequence and we “reap what we have sown.”


6. The Law of Compensation:

This Universal Law is the Law of Cause and Effect applied to blessings and abundance that are provided for us. The visible effects of our deeds are given to us in gifts, money, inheritances, friendships, and blessings.

7. The Law of Attraction:

This Universal Law demonstrates how we create the things, events, and people that come into our lives. Our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions produce energies which, in turn, attract like energies. Negative energies attract negative energies and positive energies attract positive energies.


8. The Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy:

This Universal Law states that all persons have within them the power to change the conditions in their lives. Higher vibrations consume and transform lower ones; thus, each of us can change the energies in our lives by understanding the Universal Laws and applying the principles in such a way as to effect change.


9. The Law of Relativity:

This Universal Law states that each person will receive a series of problems (Tests of Initiation) for the purpose of strengthening the Light within. We must consider each of these tests to be a challenge and remain connected to our hearts when proceeding to solve the problems. This law also teaches us to compare our problems to others’ problems and put everything into its proper perspective. No matter how bad we perceive our situation to be, there is always someone who is in a worse position. It is all relative.


10. The Law of Polarity:

This Universal Law states that everything is on a continuum and has an opposite. We can suppress and transform undesirable thoughts by concentrating on the opposite pole. It is the law of mental vibrations.



11. The Law of Rhythm:

This Universal Law states that everything vibrates and moves to certain rhythms. These rhythms establish seasons, cycles, stages of development, and patterns. Each cycle reflects the regularity of God’s universe. Masters know how to rise above negative parts of a cycle by never getting too excited or allowing negative things to penetrate their consciousness.



12. The Law of Gender:

This Universal Law states that everything has its masculine (yang) and feminine (yin) principles, and that these are the basis for all creation. The spiritual Initiate must balance the masculine and feminine energies within herself or himself to become a Master and a true co-creator with God.


Sub-laws

In addition to the 12 Universal Laws, Drs. Milanovich and McCune (1998) state there are 21 sub-laws of the Universe that are governed by the Higher Self. Using Milanovich and McCune’s stellar work, Dr. Bailey works with her clients to understand and apply these laws to their lives by first differentiating between the voice of the ego and that of the Higher Self, and then by practicing techniques designed to align one’s self with her or his Higher Self.

 

Reflection of Oneself !!

"Why We Shout In Anger"

"Why We Shout In Anger"

A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled 'n asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained, .

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper 'n they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other 'n that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

Understanding & Love..

Even in our ordinary human life, when we start loving someone, then we are able to understand the person. But if you want to understand everything about the person, why he or she lives in the way she lives, and then we want to love, it fails. That is, to put it in one sentence, love makes all understanding possible, but understanding does not create love. Similarly, spiritual growth makes physical life understandable, intellectual necessities understandable, but not the other way.

Understanding Love
Daily Reflections

Raja Yoga

Râja-Yoga is divided into eight steps. The first is Yama — non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receiving of any gifts. Next is Niyama — cleanliness, contentment, austerity, study, and self-surrender to God. Then comes Âsana, or posture; Prânâyâma, or control of Prâna; Pratyâhâra, or restraint of the senses from their objects; Dhâranâ, or fixing the mind on a spot; Dhyâna, or meditation; and Samâdhi, or superconsciousness. The Yama and Niyama, as we see, are moral trainings; without these as the basis no practice of Yoga will succeed. As these two become established, the Yogi will begin to realise the fruits of his practice; without these it will never bear fruit. A Yogi must not think of injuring anyone, by thought, word, or deed. Mercy shall not be for men alone, but shall go beyond, and embrace the whole world.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

"Can you weep for Him with intense longing of heart? Men shed a jugful of tears for the sake of their children, for their wives, or for money. But who weeps for God? So long as the child remains engrossed with its toys, the mother looks after her cooking and other household duties. But when the child no longer relishes the toys, it throws them aside and yells for its mother. Then the mother takes the rice-pot down from the hearth, runs in haste, and takes the child in her arms."

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
(Dakshineshwar 1884)

From Differentiation to Unity !!

`Supreme Being (GOD) is the seer, the thinker, the all-pervading Self’. And, since the beginning of creation, He has distributed Himself in all objects according to their own nature while remaining attributeless. The Supreme Being has divided himself over the years into all the attributes seen in the world before us. By itself being without any movement, it has distributed itself to this variegated world. Therefore, to get back to It, one must turn away from this differentiation and get back into the Unity. Differentiation has taken place – now to get back into Unity is the purpose of Meditation.

`The Supreme Being is absolutely clear, still, silent, peaceful and all-pervading’. But we see only differences. We see only strife and chaos. Great Saints teach  us to come out of this differentiation, back to the essential Unity. That is the purpose of the teaching and that is the purpose of meditation.

Self Image: Ego, pride, Anger, Lust & ????

When a description of the Supreme Being is given and when it is said that one’s essential identity is not different from that Supreme Being, The saint who moves closer and closer to That Supreme Being begins to have these attributes little by little. So the person established in the stability of the Supreme Self also `cannot be injured’. Of course, if he stands in the middle of the road and gets hit, he will be injured; but we don’t mean that! Psychologically, one cannot injure him, because he has not made an image for himself. There is nothing that one can break; because only if one has an image can it be broken! Here, images have all been discarded and there is only stillness. One should remember as long as there is movement, (movement in Mind which gives birth to Ego & Pride) there is an image.