“However impure the food maybe, when it is offered to God, it gets purified and nourishes us both physically and mentally as it is filled with God’s grace.”
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According to Bhagavad Geetha, the body and life in it are based on food and sustained by food. The food we eat is an
important constituent of the physical body and the mind. Purity of food leads to purity of mind. Our ancient scriptures insist on the intake of Satwic food. Satwic food is that which is wholesome, nutritious, fresh, and essentially vegetarian. Intake of such food promotes purity, serenity and equanimity of mind. The physical body is “The temple of the living God”. We are what we eat. What we feel, think, and express depend on what we eat. The food we eat has to be pure, free from the subtle evils radiated by the persons who collect the materials, who cook the dishes, and who serve them.
Our ancestors recommended offering of food to God before eating. They say however impure the food maybe, when it is offered to God…
You can treat surya namaskara as an expression of your regard for the sun, whether it is the material aspect or that underlying spiritual aspect that the material sun symbolizes. Or, if you are not inclined to worship, then do surya namaskara for the sake of maintaining and inducing good health. This is the stepping stone to spiritual awareness and peace.
Digestive system: The abdominal organs and stomach are alternately stretched and compressed. This imparts a healthy massage to the internal organs and ensures that they function correctly, or if they don’t currently work efficiently, encourages them to do so. Many diseases of the digestive system can be prevented and removed by the regular practice of surya namaskara.
Eliminative system: Rapid elimination of waste materials from the body is essential. Often undigested waste products remain in the intestines and bowels due to constipation, which can result in various other disorders. Surya namaskara stimulates the peristalsis of the intestines helping to remove any tendency toward constipation.
The kidneys are also important eliminative organs. They filter impurities from the blood and eliminate them from the body in the form of urine. Therefore any disorders of inefficiency in the workings of the kidneys will result in impure blood. Surya namaskara gently massages these two organs, increases their supply of blood, as well as speeds up the circulation throughout the body. The result is that the kidneys are encouraged to function properly while at the same time the blood is given an additional flush and filter through the kidneys. For best result one should supplement the daily practice of surya namaskara by drinking plenty of fresh, clean water.
A high proportion of the body’s waste products are eliminated through the skin. This process works particularly well when a person sweats profusely. Often toxins accumulate in the skin, manifesting as boils and pimples. If a good sweat was developed regularly there would be less tendency for this to happen as the toxins would reach the outer surface of the skin and be washed off. Surya namaskara results in increased perspiration and thereby encourages the elimination of toxins from the body, helping to prevent skin ailments. This is an excellent method of acquiring a fresh complexion, especially if one takes a bath after surya namaskara or the yoga practice program.
Circulatory system: Surya namaskara increases the heartbeat and the workings of the whole circulatory system, helping to eliminate waste materials from the body. Areas of sluggish blood are also removed and replaced by purified and oxygenated blood. All the cells of the body receive extra nutrition enabling them to function more efficiently. This leads to better health and increased vitality.
The lymphatic system is most important in protecting the body against infection. It is the body’s auto-therapeutic system and without it the body would quickly succumb to disease. Surya namaskara, by increasing the circulation and removal of poisonous bacteria, directly aids the lymphatic system to work more efficiently in its fight against illness.
Respiratory system: Most people tend to breathe superficially in short and shallow gasps. This starves the body of the oxygen it requires for perfect health. Carbon dioxide also tends to accumulate in the system. Further underutilization of the lung capacity allows a build-up of germs which can lead to various illnesses. Surya namaskara, when done correctly, accentuates the exchange of air to and from the lungs, opens and expands the intricate alveoli, or air sacs, of the lung tissue and exercises the muscles of the surrounding chest region. The lungs are emptied of impurities and stale air and the body and brain are revitalized by the extra supply of oxygen they receive. One can almost feel the extra super-charge of energy.
Endocrinal system: This system plays an important part in determining our well-being and attitude towards life. It consists of a large number of chemicals (hormones) which interact with each other, reinforcing or counteracting each other. Even the slightest imbalance can cause widespread repercussions in the form of disease. A well known example is diabetes. There are many other illnesses which are a direct result of hormonal imbalance. The hormones are the officers of the body, the brain is the commander and the pats of the body are soldiers. It is the hormones that mobilize and coordinate the different functions of the body. Rate of growth, sexual functions, excitability and so on are all controlled by hormones. Surya namaskara harmonizes this system helping to remove any irregularities by directly massaging the relevant glands and improving their blood flow. Imbalance of the endocrinal system is often caused by mental tension. Surya namaskara can help to reduce this deeper cause of hormonal malfunction, especially if it is supplemented by other yoga practices.
Nervous system: The multitudes of nerve connections throughout the body are gently stretched, massaged and stimulated while doing surya namaskara. It is these nerves that connect the different parts and organs of the body with the brain. The nerves are the intermediaries. Even if an organ is in perfect condition it can only function as well as the nerves will allow. If the nerves are unhealthy then the functioning of the associated organs must suffer. If the pipe connecting the water tank to the tap is blocked, then the tap cannot work properly, even though it might be perfectly new. It is the same with the body’s nervous system. The nerve fibres determine how well the organs and muscles of the body function.
Most modern, sedentary people don’t exercise their bodies sufficiently. As a consequence the nerve connections tend to become lazy and atrophy develops. Surya namaskara tones up these nerves and simultaneously awakens the associated brain centres. One feels more alive after a few rounds of this exercise.
Muscles and skeleton: Surya namaskara exercises all the main muscles and joints in the body. The muscles are contracted and extended and any impure, stagnant blood is redirected back to the lungs and kidneys for purification. It is an excellent method of loosening up the body for asana practice.
Subtle influences: Surya namaskara can give many additional and perhaps more important benefits beyond the physical. It depends on your attitude. If you are aware and totally involved with the intonations of the mantras, the breathing and the movements, it will induce peace of mind. It is therefore a very useful exercise in reducing emotional conflict, neurosis and stress, especially when supplemented with other yoga practices. If one is devotionally inclined then the exercise can be done with full knowledge of the significance of worshipping the sun. This will purify the heart and mind. Surya namaskara also helps to bring the flow of pranic or bioplasmic energy into balance and remove blockages in the nadis through which it flows. Surya namaskara is an excellent practice with which to start the day. It helps to prepare you in every way to face the oncoming day with physical and mental strength and confidence.
From A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya, by Swami Satyananda
Is not the realization of one’s absolute being, that is, Brahma-jnana, something quite unattainable for a layman like me?
Ramana Maharshi:
Brahma-jnana is not a knowledge to be acquired, so that acquiring it one may obtain happiness. It is one’s ignorant outlook that one should give up. The Self you seek to know is truly yourself. Your supposed ignorance causes you needless grief like that of the ten foolish men who grieved at the loss of the tenth man who was never lost.
The ten foolish men in the parable forded a stream and on reaching the other shore wanted to make sure that all of them had in fact safely crossed the stream. One of the ten began to count, but while counting the others, left himself out. “I see only nine; sure enough, we have lost one. Who can it be?” he said. “Did you count correctly?” asked another, and did the counting himself. But he too counted only nine. One after the other each of the ten counted only nine, missing himself. “We are only nine”, they all agreed, “but who is the missing one?” they asked themselves. Every effort they made to discover the “missing” individual, failed. “Whoever he is that is drowned”, said the most sentimental of the ten fools, “we have lost him.” So saying he burst into tears, and the others followed suit.
Seeing them weeping on the river bank, a sympathetic wayfarer enquired about the cause. They related what had happened and said that even after counting themselves several times they could find no more than nine. On hearing the story, but seeing all the ten before him, the wayfarer guessed what had happened. In order to make them know for themselves they were really ten, that all of them had survived the crossing, he told them, “Let each of you count for himself but one after the other serially, one, two, three and so on, while I shall give you each a blow so that all of you may be sure of having been included in the count, and included only once. The tenth missing man will then be found.” Hearing this they rejoiced at the prospect of finding their “lost” comrade and accepted the method suggested by the wayfarer.
While the kind wayfarer gave a blow to each of the ten in turn, he that got the blow counted himself aloud. “Ten,” said the last man as he got the last blow in his turn. Bewildered they looked at one another, “We are ten!” they said with one voice and thanked the wayfarer for having removed their grief.
That is the parable. From where was the tenth man brought in? Was he ever lost? By knowing that he had been there all the while, did they learn anything new? The cause of their grief was not the real loss of anyone, it was their own ignorance, or rather, their mere supposition that one of them was lost.
Such is the case with you. Truly there is no cause for you to be miserable and unhappy. You yourself impose limitations on your true nature of infinite being, and then weep that you are but a finite creature. Then you take up this or that spiritual practice to transcend the non-existent limitations. But if your spiritual practice itself assumes the existence of the limitations, how can it help you to transcend them?
Hence I say know that you are really the infinite pure being, the Self. You are always that Self and nothing but that Self. Therefore, you can never be really ignorant of the Self. Your ignorance is merely an imaginary ignorance, like the ignorance of the ten fools about the lost tenth man. It is this ignorance that caused them grief.
Know then that true knowledge does not create a new being for you, it only removes your ignorant ignorance. Bliss is not added to your nature, it is merely revealed as your true natural state, eternal and imperishable. The only way to be rid of your grief is to know and be the Self. How can this be unattainable?
Beautiful ones, do not fear darkness, do not lose energy in fighing darkness, BE THE LIGHT, shine brightly. Then darkness will dissolve itself in LIGHT. Make some time daily, stay in silence and dive deep into your vast sacred sea, your soul which is eternally pure, eternally free and eternally effulgent. It is your true essence. Body and all related feelings and what you see around are just a minute expression of what is within. Treasure is within, dive into it. Be brave to dive into this deep sea. Beware of the steps. Steps are to reach this sacred water within. Do not get attached to steps and spend this precious life in them. Move up from step to step as it appears in front of you. All steps are sacred as they appear to you according to the divine will. Steps are unique. Do not get confused looking at…
Prayer is for the heart to see lord inside and in all around so that we love each other and do no harm. Differences are only in outside, but deep inside, we all are same. It is the same lord who resides in our hearts. When one see Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Guru Nanak and the unending names of divinity in such a way and not in their outward appearance, one can only love each other. Many have mistaken in interpreting their teachings and lead the humanity to misery. Read, hear and most importantly contemplate on any one of their teachings and find the true essence. Their births were to free us and see the divinity in us and all.
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu
May good happen to all in the universe
It is always easy to clear the little dust in one’s eye than to find and get identified with the quantity and quality of dust around because once identified, it may increase the quantity of dust in one’s eye and blurs the vision. Then, lots of energy expenditure happen to clear this up. Shrinking is easy, but expansion once started is more easy. Start slowly and mindfully, never look back or front, look within. Though can’t explain through words, that which inspires to say about it in words is the infinite power present in all and everything. In moving and stationary, in living and nonliving, pure and dirty waters, in chaste and unchaste, in saint and criminal and beyond all discriminations, it is present within. Oh, childish mind, listen to the heart. It will help you experience the eternal joyousness. All the joy and fulfilment and everything one experiences has…
Duality is just a play of mind. It is like I standing in front of a mirror and see me in the mirror to see my external appearance. I am in front of mirror and what is seen in mirror is just a reflection. Similarly, the mind identifying with body and senses stands in front of the mirror called the world and forgets the soul, the one monistic reality. When focused within, the mind and world too dissolves and soul, I only exist. So it is monistic, advaitha only.
One can stand as dwaithi and see lord as separate from the soul in one’s heart and devotedly workship the lord. Or one can stand as a vishishtadvaithi and see one’s soul formed from lord having the qualities of lord, but not lord and workship the lord with deep devotion but separate from one. Then also, with pure devotion, at one…
and then the meditative experience of this wonderful Advaita prayer-poem.
On behalf of all readers: For freely offering such painstaking and valuable translation work of yours, we thank you, our dearest Krishna Priya.
The Lord bless you and keep you all, precious friends.
💜🙏
Leon Hieros
Aum the one with curved trunk and large body, glowing with the light equal to million Suns, Lord, please always make all the works free of obstacles.
Kaayena Vaachaa Manaseindriyairvaa
Budhyaathmanaavaa Prakrtheh Svabhaavaath
Karomi Yadyath Sakalam Parasmai
Srinarayanayethi Samarppayaami
All that which is done through the body, speech, mind, senses, intellect, ego and natural tendencies to others is surrendered to all pervading lord, Narayana.
Harinaamakeerthanam (Devotional recitation of name of Hari) is the notable work by Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan – a very knowledgable poet lived in Kerala around 16th century. Harinaamakeerthanam is a devotional philosophical poem by Ezhuthachan. He is known as the “Father of “Malayalam language” – which consists of 51 letters. Harinaamakeerthanam is historically important in that way too, in which all the 51 letters of Malayalam language is used.
The same lord resides in heart of all beings. With prayers and thinking of lord in any name/form/presence all the time or whenever one can, one can experience wonders for sure. In silence, Lord will communicate from heart to heart beyond intellect and words – Lord even communicates with us through even things which we think as inanimate. The most sacred one, in front of whom we can surrender ourselves is lord only for lord accepts us with all our imperfections gathered in this birth and from earlier births without any judgement. Lord in our heart purifies us and help us realise our pure, spotless, effulgent form which is same as Lord’s nature for we are born from there only.
May the new year remind us more of the Lord in our heart and in hearts of all beings. May the resurrection happen in all beings and all enjoy eternal…
