Namaste, Sunil Rao here.
Namaste, Welcome to SAM-VAD (Together In Conversation), as we begin today ‘let us remember this about ‘Attention’. Our life experience would ultimately amount to whatever we had paid attention to. Attention: is important and most of the times we are so indifferent to it. It is as fundamental as food; and we go blundering about, seeking ways to assuage the craving, instead of learning how to provide ourselves with what we need, sensibly and calmly. We feed the hunger blindly. Once the mechanism is brought to our attention and we begin to study it, it is as if a veil has been stripped off ordinary life, and we become freer in our action and choices.
Today I will share some more excerpts from Srimad Bhagavatam , this is a summarized version of the Mahapurana with a concise translation in english by Srimati Kamala Subramaniam , first published in 1979 with successive reprints and is now available as an ebook and can be downloaded on your kindle
Srimati Kamala Subramaniam, decided to take up one of the 10 sections: Ishakatha, touching on the others here and there.
Shri Ghanshyamdas Birla in his foreword to this translation say’s, While studying the Kathas – the stories of the great personalities and of the avataras and the parables – the reader as he reads the passages should amply digest them to know the true purport of the suggestions, the lessons and the indications behind them. These are not just embellishments. They have a deep meaning under the surface.
The Haunts of Kali (Kali-Yuga)
Man is lost in the enjoyment of worldly pleasures. If he is a success in life he ascribes it all to himself and not to his good fortune. Never, however, if and when trouble comes, when man is in distress, then the mind becomes pliable. Suffering melts the hardened core of the ego. When something is achieved the ego comes forward and takes the credit. But when there is failure the ego must necessarily be pushed to the background and humility makes its appearance. The ego surrenders itself completely admitting defeat and the Lord who is present in the heart always, but has been hidden by Avarana, shines resplendent. It is when one is in trouble that thoughts of the Lord come to the mind and Kali meant this, perhaps, when he said that there is a purpose behind his creation. People will walk in evil paths and forget the Lord completely and kali helps them in this. But the backsliding is really to save the soul. When they are hurt and sorely tired men will turn their minds towards the Lord and be saved. This is what Kali means when he says: “Evil is but the shadow of Good.”
Excerpt from Srimad Bhagvatam – The Haunts of Kali( Chapter 16)
Dharana
“Steady the mind with help of Pranayama. Repeat the mystic word A U M. When the mind is controlled by you it should then be made steadfast. The intellect should be the charioteer which should hold the reins and steer the mind towards contemplation on the Lord. The mind should not be allowed to stray towards the objects of the senses. The Ashtanga Yoga is the preliminary yoga for concentrating on the form of the Lord. This yoga is made up of eight qualities which should be part of you: Ahimsa, not hurting anyone or anything; Satyam, Truthfulness; Astheyam, not stealing what belongs to another; Brahmacharya, withdrawal of the senses; Aparigraham, not receiving gifts from anyone; Shaucham, inner and outer cleanliness; Tapas, Penance; and Svadhyaya, study of the scriptures, understanding all that you have learnt. These eight are the requisites for the next step. This is called Dharana, which leads to Dhyana.
Excerpt from Srimad Bhagvatam – Chapter 19
Diti, Daksha’s Daughter
A Wife is the raft with which man crosses the ocean by name life. She is the one who stays with him during his happy days and during his days of pain. She walks in the path of dharma with him. She is his sahadharmachari and she is his very life. When she is married a woman is called jaya because she is born again in the heart of her husband where she is given a place of honour.
Excerpt from Srimad Bhagvatam – chapter 23
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