Sunday, January 25, 2015

SADHAN(A) PAD SUTRA -1

                  TAPAH  SWADHYAYA  ISHWAR  PRANIDHANANI  KRIYA  YOGAH

  DOING TAPAH,(AUSTERITY),STUDY (OF SCRIPTURES),AND OFFERING(EVERYTHING)

  TO THE GOD, MEANS KRIYA YOGA

In the previous chapter and in different sutras, we have been told about these means in achieving the goal. In this chapter we will be discussing the YAMA and NIYAMA, the so called Does and Don'ts of the behavior to help meditate and get better in getting to the goal.So in this Sutra we are told that 3 main things that constitutes the KRIYA YOGA.
    The first of these is the Tapah. This is called Austerity.When we talk about the Austerity, we tend to think about the great Austerity that was done by the great sages , like VISHWAMITRA, or  by rakshasas like RAWANA. but here we are talking about the change in our behavior by ordinary person, who is  'living' in this society with all it's attractions and temptations. So when we talk about the austerity we need to think in terms of 3 things.We need to think in terms of PHYSICAL austerity, MENTAL austerity, and by way of speech. We may think right , but may not act right , or we may act right but may not say right. A simple way of stating would be that we need to think positive about our self and OTHERS, we need to speak respectfully and in a insulting way to others and we need to physically act in a helpful way.We may be helping him but at the same time saying or thinking bad thing. If some one comes to me or calls me at 10 pm , I may talk to him and may give him right advice or call right medication to his pharmacy , all the while cursing him (in  mind ) as to why he had to call so late on the Sunday.So my action is right , but my thoughts are not right.The chanting and practice of meditation is also part of it.
     The study of scriptures is the next one . We all tend to have time for watching TV and it's sitcoms , we do not have time to read our scriptures. The reading without understanding is not the Swadhyay. The study means understanding the meaning of the scriptures and then thinking about them and then acting upon them , this is real STUDY.
      The last one that is mentioned is the one of the most important and least practiced and most difficult thing . We do offer several things to the GOD . We offer flowers and incense,and food and sweets and many other things. When we offer, we know that the GOD is not going to take it , he is not going to eat . So we are safe  and we offer .But if we offer and then he takes it from us or eats the PRASAD , do you think we would be that generous?If one thinks about this, he will realize that what we offer is actually NOT ours. Every thing has it's origin in the God and so it actually belongs to the God . So when we offer it  to him , we are essentially taking it from HIM and offering it to HIM!So if we develop this thought process and act in that way that is real offering to the God. We should offer every thing to him every minute, every day and night. So when we cook, eat, or do any work or make money or are involved in the actual process of the doing POOJA , then we should OFFER him.If we truly believe in this process we are not likely to do bad things . We would not offer bad food to the God , we would not offer money that we made by cheating some one.So having this thought precess ,will help us in improve our day to day behavior.
     

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