3 GUNAS AND FORMATION OF KARMENDRIYAS AND DNYANENDRIYAS

   When we talk about the organs of ACTION which are called KARMENDRIYAS as we do KARMA with them and organs of perception or DNYANENDRIYAS as we get KNOWLEDGE o of the out world with them. There is a concept as to how these are formed and how the 3 Gunas are used in the formation. There is a combination of 5 Great elements or PANCH MAHABHUTAS and the Gunas in the formation of the senses. With RAJASIC GUNA combining with 5 Great elements , we get organs of Action or KARMENDRIYAS The organs of action or organs that do the KARMA are 5 ,namely HANDS, LEGS, PROCREATION, EXCRETION AND SPEECH. It is interesting to note that speech is organ of action as what we say is an ACTION or Karma. The Karma happens when one does any action knowingly and also has DOERSHIP with it -I DID IT type of thinking. The activity of liver or kidney or any other organ does not have DOERSHIP and it is on autopilot. So though stomach digests food and liver is involved in metabolism , it is not considered as KARMA. The speech on the other hand is done intentionally and so it has Dooership-'I' DID. and so it is a Karma. The SATVIC GUNA combines with PANCH MAHABHUTAS or 5 great elements and forms the organs of PERCEPTION or DNYANEDRIYAS. the organs which give us the knowledge of the outer world. These are EYES,SMELL(NOSE),HEARING(EARS) TOUCH(SKIN) and TASTE(TONHUE). The TAMASIC GUNA  is involved in the formation of substrate for the organs of PERCEPTION or SENSES -DNYANENDRIYAS.These are -ROOP-shapes and forms for EYES,GANDH or smell for the NOSE, SHBAD or Sound -words for Ears to hear, SPARSH - TOUCH for skin to perceive and last one RAS or Taste for Tongue. We get attracted to the taste of food, pleasure of listening of music , visions of attractive things ,pleasant touch and aroma or fragrant of things. So that attachment is due to TAMASIC GUNA.  

PANCHIKARAN OF GREAT ELEMENTS

     In Hindu religion, we have a concept of the 3 stages of the universe namely the CAUSAL-KARAN , ASTRAL OR SUBTLE -SUKSHM AND GROSS OR PHYSICAL -STHUL. Everyone knows the physical body and also the Subtle body. The mind , intellect and ego are part of the Subtle body. But we also have concept of GREAT ELEMENTS called PANCH-meaning 5 and MAHABHULAS means elements. But the Great Elements are changed when we talk about PHYSICAL Universe. These are EARTH-PRUTHVI ,WATER -AAP,ENERGY-TEJA,WINDOR AIR-VAAU,SPACE OR ETHER -AAKASH. But the great elements in Subtle forms are changed when it comes to these in physical universe. This was explained originally by Adi Shnakarachary in book PANCHIKARANAM and then his disciple did additional work in explaining that.

   So, for the Great Elements or called MAHABHUTA in subtle forms to become Pancha-Mahabhuta in Physical forms. But that transformation is called PANCHIKARAN. In this process the subtle form of each of these great elements splits in 2 halves and then one of the half splits in 4 parts .So each part is 1/8th of the original Element. Then 1/8th of 4 elements come together with 1/2 of one element and then the PHYSICALE Element is formed . This process is called PANCHIKARAN. So the example will be the water of the liquid state that we SEE in physical form has 1/2 of Subtle element water -AAP and 1/8 of space - ether or AAKASH,1/8th of air or VAAU , plus 1/8th of energy or TEJA, plus 1/8th of earth or PRUTHVI. As one can see each gross element has qualities of all 5 Great elements or Panach-Mahabhutas. 

DNYAN AND VIDNYAN--ज्ञान -विज्ञान

       DNYAN AND VIDVYAN OR VI- DNYAN or in Sanskrit ,it is called  ज्ञान -विज्ञान are often used in discussion of HINDU religion. And I have found some confusion and one is confused with other. The prefix VI  -वि sometimes means SPECIAL  So now let see if I can explain which one is SPECIAL n which one is nor SPECIAL 

   As we have talked about PURUSH and PRAKRUTI or SPIRIT AND NATURE are 2 separate entity for the understanding though in ADWAITYA OR or NONDULE - NOT TWO, the both are same . But for the practical understandings we separate 2 . The Spirit has ENERGY and no desires as it lacks any GUNAS or qualities . The nature on the other hand has all Qualities or GUNAS.  The Spirit is also referred  as consciousness . The consciousness has no limitations of DESH - KAAL VASTU or Location - time or identity. We have what would be called REFLECTED consciousness or ABHAS CHITANYA . So we as individuals try to focus on supreme Consciousness ,and perceive it, then we have the EXPERIENCE which is our KNOWLEDGE of the supreme and that is called DNYAN or knowledge. But we have to come out of the SAMADHI or mediation and then we are in THIS WORLD which is nothing but creation of  NATURE and it has reflected consciousness. But with our EXPERIENCE  we have the DNYAN or Knowledge and then we realize that the nature is different and is always CHANGEING and also has RELATIVITY. The knowledge of NATURE it's creation is SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE and so it is  called VIDNYAN -SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. So roughly speaking Knowledge is DYAN and knowledge of nature and the it's creation which is this universe or VIDNYAN..Sometimes people have knowledge of the universe  including chemistry and medicine and things that are related to the nature's creation is also called VIDNYAN. When we say Lord GANESH you are ज्ञान -विज्ञान   we are saying that you are both the spirit and nature .  

CAN ONE DESTROY EFFECTS OF KARMA?

   This has been a question by many including me . If we believe in Law of Karma -and if you want to know more about that please see my book on Amazon under Shirish Kirtane as author, then one realizes that we collect millions of karmic effects and it feels that that pot will never be empty. So then there is no MUKTI OR end of cycle of Life and death. If all karmas will have effect and we have to  face that, then how can small number of lives will be enough? It bothered me and had lot of questions , when I did YouTube video on Mysticism of Mahabharata and stated that DRONA is past karma SAUNSKAR. He was killed by DRUSHTDHUMNA son of DRUPADA. DRUSHTADHUMNA came out of fire when DRUPADA  was insulted by Drona and he started doing penance. So the question is can one destroy Karmaic effects with penance? I think the answer is in understanding the 2 types of karma. 

    One continues to do action or karma ALL THE TIME. One cannot stop that. But if one looks at that carefully one will realize that there are 2 kinds of karmas. When I love / eat / drink- food -alcohol-i GET ATTACHED TO to that . Let us say if we enjoy alcohol The impression from the taste of alcohol or effects of the alcohol, and that leads to my attachment and then i have more intense desire to do action of drinking more alcohol and that leads to more effects .So in my next life I will be born with DESIRE to drink alcohol. But I CAN RESIST THAT and not drink . So I can destroy that effect. These type of karmic effects can be destroyed by meditation and penance. But then there are other types of karmas that the effects may not be easily destroyed or may be never destroyed and one will have to face that. If I kill or beat someone or hurt someone then that karma has effects on SOMEONE ELSE and not on MY MIND. So I don't have that effects on myself and so I cannot DESTROY that only person who can destroy that is if the victim forgives me or I will have someway of repaying that. This type of karma will HAVE TO REPAID and cannot be destroyed by simple meditation or penance etc.

  This is my answer .If you have not watched my YOU TUBE videos , please watch on JUST A TALK@justatalk2648. 

ISHVARA

    IN our day to day conversations, we often use words like Ishavara's desire , wish or blessing. So what is Ishvara? The spirit of the universal consciousness differentiates as Ishvara and Pradnya , which govern the causal macrocosm and microcosm So the Ishvara is the cause of everything that we see and experience. We often talk of SAGOON ISHVARA and NIRGOON ISHVARA. The SAGOON means -one which has qualities or GUNAS and NIRGOON means one which has no Qualities or Goonas . We also talk about the SAKAAR ISHVARA AND NIRAKAR ISHVARA. The Sakaar  means one which has AKAAR or form AND NIRAKAAR means one which does not have form or AKAAR. As one may recollect that the ultimate consciousness or the spirit has no limitations by DESH - KAAL- VASTU -means Location-time - identity. But when the supreme consciousness becomes Ishvara , it has a form and and qualities and also identity. Is it limited by these - the answer is YES and NO. For us with devotion it has qualities and form . But in reality it is not limited . 

   So we have SAGOON SAKKAR-Ishvara - like Lord Ganesh or Lord Krishna or any of the forms that devotee conceives. This form is kind and merciful and forgiving and blesses us. We can VISUALISE the form and worship it and also ask for favors and blessing. So it is SAGOON AND SAKAAR. But then we have Ishvara that is in spiritual practice -has no qualities and no form nd so that is NIRGOON - NIRAKAAR. We have one more type of Ishvara - SAGOON - NIRAKAAR. When we say things like 'Ishvara will take care of that , or Ishvara is behind us or will support right cause or our efforts ', we are talking about the spirit or God with qualities of helping devotees or blessing them etc. But that Ishvara has no form - we are not talking about Lord Shankar or Lord Ganesh or Lord Krishna. So in our mind that Ishvara has qualities but no form . So that is SAGOON -NIRAKAAR ISHVARA.

SPEECH 4 TYPES IN VEDIC RELIGION

     The concept of speech is not new and we see many languages in the world. I am not talking in this blog about the various spoken languages like English , French , German or Indian languages , bur talking about the origin of the spoken words. We Human being have a language and that has been associated with some genetic mutation that has happened  thousands of years ag. Certainly we conclude that the animals do not have speech. But may WE don't understand it. The gene that is responsible for the language or speech is FOXP2 gene. The mutation in this gene is cause of speech problem . So the science deals with SPEECH and Language , but not how the FINAL SPEECH happens. In Vedic religion we talk of 4 levels of speech . The speech that we deal in medicine is the final level of speech and there are 4 levels of speech that are described .  

     The 4 different levels of speech described are PARA,PASHYANTI , MADHYAMA  AND VAIKGARI .The spoke speech is the final version or final product of the speech . 

The origin of spoken words starts with a wave in mind or a thought. It originates in much deeper level that the physical brain. It is said to be in Awareness . But I feel that it starts with CAUSAL body or KARAN SHARIR where the memories in abstract forms are stored . So if we have tasted Pizza and have likes it ,then the memory of taste of Pizza and it's impression is stored in Causal body or KARAN SHARIR. The name Causal or Karan means it is the cause of everything. So when we are hungry, we have a wave of thought as to what we want to eat. And from previous impressions of eating Pizza , we have a thought arises. This is called PARA VANI or PARA language. The thought of Pizza leads to our eyes seeing Pizza . Again this seeing is not with Physical eyes , but with inner eyes that we can see Pizza. So the picture of Pizza is seen. This is in mind but the picture is seen by our eyes . Once the picture is seen, it leads to a thought of eating Pizza . This thought is in mind and that is transferred to ACTUAL SPEECH . The this middle part of language which transfers - is called MADHYAMA  or middle or middle agent. Then we speak - I want to eat Pizza. This speech or the language is called VAIKHARI which is coming with help of Physical body parts -the tonguage , teeth , lips and larynx etc. Some feel that the MADHYMA happens through nose and breath. It may be that nose and breath are started before the throat-tongue-lips and larynx come in picture. 

  So there are 4 levels of speech -a wave from previous impressions that leads a picture formation that leads to a thought and transfer to actual speech .One could have problem at any level of these 4 levels of language. There is a condition called EXPRESSIVE APHASIA . In this form patient cannot speak but UNDERSTAND everything and can act on it He can write or show by pointing but the actual words are not produced . This happens when a stroke affects certain areas in brain . Recently some people have done Functional PET scan or MRI and found that some of the patients that medicine thought was brain dead , actually lighted up certain areas in brain on scans when they were given instruction like playing golf etc. Again that shows that the physical brain is needed for physical action  and same is true for physical speech. But we can have MIND level speech and that can be heard if one has antenna for that - so called telepathy. 

VARIOUS PATHS IN VEDIC RELIGION- KARMA YOGA

     In Vedic religion, we have freedom of thought and behavior. We are not asked to do things only one way. Not like my way or highway. The various paths to reach Nirvana or Mukti are described  and our religious behavior falls under one or another category. We can follow any path and that will lead to success. Again some believe that ultimately the KNOWLEDGE or DNYAN will lead to freedom from ignorance  and the ignorance is the root cause of out problems an unhappiness. The Paths are 

1 DNYAN TOGA or path of Knowledge 

2, KARMA YOGA or Path of Action 

3 BHKTI YOGA or path of devotion. 

some add to that PREM YOGA or Love for god path. 

The Patanajali sutra Yoga is RAJA yoga Sutra  and is actually Path of Knowledge or DNTAN YOGA.

  I thought of talking about path of KARMA or Action. In Bhagwat Geeta, Lord Krishan states that no one can avoid Karma or action. The Karma is being done every minute ,every second even when we are not physically active. Some Karma have long lasting Impressions and cause what we call as SAUNSKARA . For any action to be included in term Karma there must be certain conditions met. It must be done with DOORSHIP - I did it component. It must be done with intension and it could be mental or physical or both .Those  of you who are interested in knowing more about this can check my book -Law of Karma , reincarnation and genetics , on Amazon, under my name. But here I want to talk about it as it pertains to achieving MUKTI or freedom from the cycle of life and birth. When we do karma - good or bad , we have reaction. Karma leads to impression and impression leads to desire  and desire leads to action and then the circle continues. The good karma leads to good impressions and bad karma leads to bad impression and fruits. But as Vivekananda stated at one time , All karma lead to BONDAGE .These are chains  and the chain may be golden or silver of iron , but it is still a chain. As long as we have chains , we are not free. The chain could be that have our love for out spouse or kids or neighbors etc. but that will cause us to have desires  and that leads to new birth. Only way to get rid of that is to stop having attachment with out Karma .

  Sometimes we talk of DUTY or KARTAVYA. We have duty to our family , our neighbors, our nation and so on. Doing theses duties, we create attachments . and then we are not free . So we need to do Karma for fulfilling our duties , but not have any attachments. Then we will be free. 

  So the KRAMA YOGA is to do action with no attachments or expectation and that will lead to reduction n the Karmas that have impressions  and then we will exhaust the karmas and their fruits and then we will get MUKTI - NIRVANA. 

WHAT DETERMINES THE PRESENT LIFE

      I have come across lives of many people and have often wondered as to what determines the Present Life . Again this question presumes that one believes in multiple lives or reincarnation. If one feels that this is the only life that we have then this blog would be different. So the question is what determines the present life . What determines what kind of cards we  are dwelt with?

   The answer is simple though at times not very satisfactory. The 3 things that determines the present life. is our present circumstances . This is acceptable to all. The 2 other factors that are not known to other religions is the impressions that we carry from last lives - not just last life. The 3 things that dtermine are 

1 PRARABDHA

2 GENETICS 

3 ENVIORNMENT THAT WE ARE EXPOSED TO WHEN WE ARE BORNE. 

   We all know Genetics and how that determines what kind of health or diseases we will get - hypertension, diabetes or even cancer and coronary artery disease . This comes from our parents and as most believe that we DO NOT SELECT our parents. So in that same way of thinking we cannot SELECT our environment either. So if one does not believe in reincarnation, then NOTHING is in our hands and we are presented with situation that we have no control over. 

   I am going to try to connect all 3 together  and show that they are interrelated. Let me start by saying that when we do any ACTION or Karma , we  have impression of that Karma  and there is Reaction to our Action. It either comes to fruition in this life or is stored in Abstract form to come out in our future life. No action is without reaction or impression. So when we are born we come with seeds of  certain impressions that are likely to sprout in the present life. So that FORCE of our desires that come from previous life - karma - will determine how we act or what we get  to some extent. These desires will make us drink excess alcohol or love and learn or pursue arts - music etc. So they could be a force for good or bad actions in this life. So when we are borne to a set of parents, WE SELECT the parents. This is done so we can SATISFY our last life's desires . . The selection is also done so we can repay or satisfy our interpersonal relationship from previous lives .

  So, when we talk about genetics and environment - they are actually related to the PRARABDHA , The effects of the Karna that we have done in past lives and the impressions that we are carrying in this life - and not all the impressions are carried in this life , and so our environment is selected by these Karmic seeds. The genetics is a conduit through which some of the effects will be manifested or facilitated and the the environment will also help for these Karmic seed to come to fruition. If one thinks about breast cancer or Diabetes , it becomes clear . If one is to get cancer or diabetes , then the behavior must be such and genetics must also support it . So smoking or family history of breast cancer or diabetes will be there. 

  Now you see how are these 3 things interrelated ..

HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AT ASTRAL OR SUBTLE PLAIN

    The other day i  was asked a question by someone as to how do we recognize  someone at Astral or subtle plain. As one may recall, we have 3 bodies or plains . They are physical body or Gross body also called STHUL SHARIR , Astral body or subtle body also called SUKSHMA SHARIR, and lastly causal body or KARAN SHARIR. When we die , the physical body loses it's connection to other 2 bodies  and that leads to death of Physical body , as it cannot sustain without the other 2 bodies and may be the energy or reflection of the God or ABHAS CHAITANYA .The 2 remaining bodies namely the subtle body and causal body are carried from one life to other. The subtle body is nothing more than mind ,intellects, emotions ,ego etc. We recognize each other by PHYSICAL BODY . We do not see subtle body or causal body or the Soul or the reflected consciousness , also called ABHAS CHAITANYA . In absence of physical body , how do we or how can we recognize each other. 

    We have heard that when death is imminent, people SEE the dead relatives. We have also heard that when one dies , at astral plain , your relatives who have dies in past ahead of you welcome you. So how do we recognize each other if we have no physical body. The mind , intellect and ego are part of SUKSHMA SHARIR or subtle body as we can not see. So what happens ,so we can recognize each other?

   I do not have clear cut answer.

    But based on what we have heard , or read, we KNOW that we DO SEE ghosts and ghosts are nothing more that departed souls, who have no physical body. So in spite  of losing physical body, we still retain the outline of the physical body and the subtle body MUST RETAIL our senses , the seeing, and hearing etc. am not sure we can have or retain sense of TOUCH or TASTE. AGAIN THIS IS MY OWN THOUGHT and I am not sure if anyone has ever tried to address this question.

   When we start talking about death and reincarnation, then the additional questions also pop up like HOW LONG , we have theses MEMORIES to recognize out relatives or friends ,when do we lose that memory. If anyone who reads this blog has any idea please comment. I will try to comment on these questions next time . 

   

MIND ,THOUGHT AND KARMA

    We often talk about the Karma or CTION which is done by the body and then there are obvious effects . I touch hot pot. I will get burns I hit some one he hits me back  and so on. So, we all know the karma done by physical body especially done with intension, that has the effects and there is reaction. But do thoughts of mind WITHOUT physical action , have effect ? If I hit someone , I will get the effect, but if I just THINK OF HITTING someone and actually do an action , did I do karma and more that that do I get effect from my thought only?  This question has been dwelt with by many.

   In y personal opinion, the thoughts are action at times and at times not . One may say this is not an answer. But the let us take an example. I am walking on the road and see a child being hit by parent or someone mistreating a servant. I strongly feel emotions of going there and respond in physical or at least verbal manner . But I don't and I walk away. Did I do any Karma ?Since I did not respond physically. the answer will be NO , I did not do any karma that will have effect on my future Karma -life etc. But now take and another example. I deal with my boss daily. We have some arguments and I feel he mistreats me and I HATE him. I wish bad things for him from simple transfer to other office or getting a sickness and not come back for work or worst get in an accident and die. Is this a Karma? I have not done any physical action then by true definition ,it is not Karma. But if I continue to think negatively about him daily , that THOUGHT without an action will create an IMPRESSION of hatred and that becomes deeper and deeper  and that will be stored in my CAUSAL BODY - KARAN SHARIR and that will carry it to my next life and it will come to fruition . Again this is my own thinking . I do not have any proof for that .But we all have experienced  that when we meet someone for the first time , we suddenly love him / her or hate him/ her. And that is without any previous experience with that person . We don't know why , but we do FEEL that emotion .I feel that is related to our PREVIOUS LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THOUGHTS OF LOVE OR HATRED . 

IS MIND AN ENERGY?

   This is little unusual question. The Hindu religion mentis various SHAKTIS or POWERS and certainly Mind is one of them. But can mind be considered as energy, is difficult for science to ascertain. We all know what is mind ,but can a thought change 'physical' thing ? Many of us who have known quantum particle behavior, have known the 2 slit experiment. But I will describe that and then se where and how mind comes in pictures.

   For many years there has been a debate as to if light is a particle or is it a wave. It seems that the light can behave as particle at times and as wave  other times .Many years ago and experiment was preformed. There was a photon gun and there were 2 slits  and then behind the slits there was screen to record the hitting of the light particles If the gun was fired randomly with NO ONE WATCHING the light acted as wave and so ,the pattern was that of peak and tough . When the 2 waves meet and had peak then there is brighter recording and when 2 waves cancelled each other there was trough and a lighter pattern . But as soon as there was a device to see which slit the photon went in, the pattern changed as if some one had thrown stones through a wall with 2 openings - like that of 2 heaps of stones rather than the dark and lighter lines. So the light changes based on observer. How does the photon particle or the light wave 'KNOW' that someone is watching ? Now instead of some device watching they had human volunteers concentrating on one or other slit . So no  one was touching or near the slit and there was no mechanical device but they were concentrating MENTALLY. Several times this experiment was done and the pattern did change as if a device was watching . This was not 100%. 

   So, the mind concentrating did change the pattern. Is this due to mind being an energy ? I don't know . But it certainly acted as Physical Thing . 

   There  are others who do not believe in mystery of the 2 slit experiment and feel they can explain that by certain equations related to quantum theory. David Bohm has equation and then they feel that each particle has a fix path and when we disturb that the pattern changes . But I am not sure how THINKING about it can change the path . Unfortunately the mediation does not change it 100 %

 

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN RAMAYAN AND MAHABHARAT

    The story of Mahabharat is so large that it is largest poetry in any language. So does it have any connection with each other . There are many characters  in both Ramayana and also in Mahabharat. The concept of DASHAWATAR or 10 AWATARAS or reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, have take place in different YUGAS .So is there any character that crosses different Yugas ? The Varman Avatar took place in SATYA YUGA . The Rama was in TRETA YUGA and the KRISHNA was in DWAPAR YUGA . We have known Hanuman who was with Rama also has stories meeting BHIMA and ARJUNA . I have written about that ,but is there someone who was in all 3 Yugas . The answer is yes . JAMBUWANT was there in all 3 Yugas. 

  Jambuvant was born from yawning of Brahmadeo and he was ? BEAR/MONKEY . He was very powerful  and he was present when Vamana went to King Bali. As one may recollect , Vamana asked for 3 and half  steps size of land . When King Bali gave him that he started becoming huge . and with each foot worth he occupied earth , heaven and  the one step for atmosphere. and then he asked as to where to put his foot for half the step  and Bali pointed to his head . When Vaman who was dwarf , started getting bigger Jambuvant did 3 circles around him - 3 PRADAKSHINAS  and so he got tremendous strength He  was one of the 3 who went to look for SEETA  and when they knew that she was in Lanka , they - HANUMAN, ANGAD AND JAMBUVANT were to decide who can jump over the ocean and reach Lanka Jamabuvant suggested Hanuman should do it as he knew that is what Lord Rama wanted . 

  He had a fight with Lord Krishna in  DWAPAR YUGA. Hanuman was very mischievous when he was growing up and so he was cursed that he will forget about his strength and he will be reminded by someone about his strength, he will regain the strength .Jambuvant did that and then Hanuman jumped the ocean.

BRAIN CHEMICALS AND MEDITATION

  The PATNAJALI Sutra Yoga is also called Raj Yoga Sutra  and has instruction for mediation and what happens when you have achieved highest levels of concentration or Samadhi. But modern day science has done some investigation on the meditation and try to find it's effects on mind and body. There are many chemicals that are involved in brain function or the response of the brain to certain situations. It is well known that the mediation causes mind to be calmer and the blood pressure  and heart rate are down  and there are certain health benefits of the meditation. So, I thought of talking about the science of these chemicals . 

  There are many chemicals in brain , but some important ones are DOPAMIN which has function of pleasure , SEROTOTINE which has function in happiness  and then there is GABA which is related to Calmness of the mind . The NOR-EPINEPHRIN is a chemical which is related to physical or mental agitation and it is increased in conditions like Anxiety disorder or PTSD. So the studies have been done on these chemicals and it was noted that those who did the mediations for longer time years etc. had higher levels of Serotonin and that was detected before mediation and it increased after meditation. The urinary excretion was increased . As mentioned above serotonin is related to HAPPINESS. The good chemicals Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA - all were increased and when functional MRI was done then  it showed certain areas of the brain light up showing increased blood flow and then secretions of these chemicals . So the effect on Body and Mind was that of lower blood pressure , heart rate  and calmness of the mind . The blood sugar was also lower as cortisol levels were also reduced . The cortisol is a stress hormone as we need higher blood pressure and heart rate  and sugar to fight physical stress .  

    So the chemicals that make us agitated are reduced and chemicals that make us calmer are increased. But the areas of brain are involved in decision making, are also improved. So the mediation has value in our modern day stressful life to handle mental and physical stress. 

SOME SYMBOLISM IN RAMAYAN

   Lot has ben talked about the Symbolism in Mahabharata .and not much in Ramayana and many of us have several questions about the the  things that has happened in Ramayana. Again I have tried to find out the reasoning  and some answers to the questions about the behavior of Lord Rama towards Seeta.I have not come to 100 % explanation. But some things we can agree and some may sound like good explanation. The 4 brothers Rama, Lakshmana , Bharat and Shatrughna  represent 4 PURUSHARTH. But that maybe for some other time . Today I will talk about Ravana. The Ravana's father was sage Vishrava and his father was one of the sons of Brahma - MANAS PUTRA -born of mind . He is also one of the 7 starts or Rushi in SAPTARUSHI . He was married to a Rakshasa princes named KAIKASHI. They had 4 main or commonly known children.(There are more ) I thinks these represent mixture of 3 Gunas. The father was sage  and mi=other was daughter of a Rakshsha King  and so we may have mixture of Satvic and Tamasic Gunas As all of us have all 3 Gunas all the time with predominance of one at a given time. So the children born of these  had the same . The Bibhishan was more Satvic . The Kumbhakarn was more Tamasic . The Ravan was mixture of Rajasic and Tamasic. and Shurpankha was same combination but more Tamasik than Rajasic.

     The 4 sons of Dasharatha represent 4 Purusharth ,namely DHARM,ARTH ,KAMA AND MOKSHA. Lord Rama represent DHARMA righteous action. The Lakshmana represents KAMA or attachment ,the Bharata represents MOKSHA and Shatrugnha represents ARTH. All the behavior good or bad has some desires behind it and so Rama and Lakshman were together . Moksha is devotion for the Lord and so Bharata  did not rule or had any earthly pleasures but was working as King with Rama's PADUKA on the throne. 

  The 3wifes or the queens represent 3 GUNAS The Lord Rama's mothe KAUSALYA represents Satvic Guna. The KAIKAI represents Tamasic Guna and SUMITRA the mother of twins Lakshmana and Shatrugnha represent Rajasic Guna. (her sons had KAMA and ARTH as Purusharth) Why was Kaikai's son was Bharata who wants MOKSHA , I do not have answer.

  I may do little deatil on this some other time .