IS IT WRONG TO EXPECT RESULT FOR EFFORT ?
Dear friends,
I am forwarding a mail written to one of my (young) juniors who had a doubt as to whether one should be contented in life without any desire for success etc., I wonder whether the group considers this too elementary!! Please ignore it if it is so.
regards,
shivashankararao
Dear……
I am happy you asked me this question. Let me clarify. Before that, let us try to understand Krishna’s injunction”KARMANYEVADHIKARASTE MAA PHALESHU KADACHANA” (Seek to perform your duty; but lay not claim to its fruits).
There seems to be an anomaly and defeat of purpose in this direction of the Lord. Not an atom moves without a motive. All of us are busy either to gain some thing or to ward off something unwanted. In the absence of such motive, no action needs to be performed. But the Lord induces Arjuna not to be motivated and at the same time to be intensely active.
Yes, herein lies the turning point of life from PREYAS to SHREYAS. Good accrues from detachment and never from attachment. Karma in itself is not an evil. But it becomes so when mixed with desire. Conquerors of desire are they who care not for the fruits of karma. When duty is discharged untarnished by desire, clarity of understanding comes in. And efficiency increases. Karma therefore has to be performed PERFECTLY unmindful of the fruits thereof.
Now, coming to your particular question, Please understand that contentment in whatever is already achieved negates the urge to reach higher levels- be it material or spiritual. One should always try to reach greater heights, but if there is failure in spite of sincere efforts, then never get desperate. Remember, for any attempt to succeed, human effort has to be combined with the divine will. SHADBHIRMANUSHYA CHINTHANAM SAPTHAMAM DAIVA CHINTHANAM. After we do our part, the result is in His hands. That does not mean that He can do anything without human effort. If that could be so, He would not have motivated Arjuna to fight; He could have destroyed the Kouravas himself!
So, discontentment is the motivating force to reach heights and contentment comes in if we are not totally attached to the result.
I hope I have made myself clear.
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The manifest world comprises of two categories-PURUSHA and PRAKRITHI. (The noumenon and the phenomenon) One becomes weak to the extent one depends on the phenomenon. He becomes manly and courageous to the extent he identifies himself with the noumenon. This identification is known as Atmabodaham. Strength and Atmabodham are identical.
Weakness is condemned by Lord Krishna. NAAYAMAATMA BALAHEENENA LABHYAHA says the Veda. Krishna’s message is based on this fundamental principle. To be firm in Body, mind and character are all born of strength. Both this world and the next are all for the strong alone. Right conduct originates from strength. Straight forwardness comes from it. Enjoyment follows. Yoga can be practiced. Attainment of MOKSHA is also enabled by this. Reaching Godhood is impossible without it. All divine traits originate from it.
In strength lies the key and the clue to all the teachings of the Lord. STRENGTH IS LIFE, WEAKNESS IS DEATH. Sreeramakrishna says, “He who is weak minded is like puffed rice soaked in milk and is good for nothing. He cannot achieve anything great. The strong is the accomplisher of every thing in life.”
-To be continued…
Shivashankararao
Action and its fruit
BHAGAVADGITA 3RD CHAPTER – KARMA YOGA
After goading Arjuna for action, the Lord puts it to him to convert bondage creating karma to bondage breaking karma yoga. He also emphasizes on the supremacy of GNYANA – the spiritual illumination. Both the paths-karma and Guyana-are conducive to the knowledge of the Self. Sree Ramakrishna says that we should make a knot of the fact that the goal of life is to merge in Godhood (in a corner of your angavastra) and then plunge in the discharge of our duties.
The three gunas-satva, raja and tama –are always in a flux. While entangled in prakriti, it is impossible to renounce karma. As long as we are suffering from the disease of ignorance, we cannot go out of the hospital of Prakriti. The treatment is Karma and the moment we are cured with the knowledge of the Self, we are discharged from the hospital of Prakriti.
Karma by itself is neither good nor bad. It is the motive behind it that makes it bad or good. When the ego gets obliterated, the action becomes sacred. Ego can be compared to an onion. If we go on peeling the skin of the onion one by one, nothing is left in the end!! Thoughts, words and deeds have to be directed towards the good of the world and to the glory of the Lord. All creatures are to be respected as various manifestations of the Lord Narayana. When any work is performed with the right frame of mind, it becomes a Yagnya.
Shivashankararao
Raw Carrot-Lentil Salad/Carrot Kosambari
- Grated Carrot - 1 cup
- Channa Dal - 3/4 cup - soaked in water for 2 - 3 hours
- 1 green chilli - chopped
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- Salt as per taste
- 1 tsp oil
Method:
- In a bowl, Mix together grated carrots & Soaked Channa Dal
- Temper with mustard seeds & green chillies
- Add lemon juice & Salt as per taste
- Mix well & Serve
Enjoi !!
Can also be served with roti/chapati. Goes Best with Rice & Rasam/Sambhar as a Side Dish
Off this goes to Anisheetu’s Place for the Event,
SWC-Karnataka
Rough Lemon Rice
Incase you guys are wondering what a Rough Lemon is, This is how it looks
Rough Lemon is known as Jambhiri in Hindi & in Kannada we call it Heralekayi. It belongs to the citrus family. In India, it is usually available in summers & early monsoon. Rough Lemon resembles an orange in apperance & size. The skin is slightly thicker & rough as compared to lemon, Hence the name Rough Lemon, I guess.
My mother makes this amazing rice dish out of rough lemon. We call it Heralekayi Chitranna in Kannada. Even though the taste is tangy, it tastes different from lemon rice.
Here is the recipe:
Preparation Time: 20-25 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Rice - Cooked
- 1 Rough Lemon
- 2 Green Chilles - low/medium spiced - chopped
- A handful of groundnuts
- Channa Dal - 1 tsp
- Urad Dal - 1 tsp
- Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
- A few curry leaves
- Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
- Salt as per taste
Method:
- Heat oil in a heavy bottomes pan & add Mustard seeds.
- Once the seeds pop & splutter, add urad dal, channa dal, Curry leaves & groundnuts
- Add green chillies & a Pinch of turmeric, to add color
- Add cooked rice on top
- Squeeze in rough lemon juice.
- Add salt according to taste & Mix well & Serve
Enjoi !!
I shall be sending this recipe to Anisheetu’s Blog for the event SWC-Karnataka .. Thanks for hosting 
INDIAN FESTIVALS HAVE RATIONAL BASIS
AN ANALYSIS OF THE FESTIVALS OF INDIA
Mark twain said, “In India there are 366 festivals in a year!” Most of us do not know why these festivals are celebrated. However every one enjoys the festivals and the extravagant celebrations. It would be interesting to find out their background from a scientific, logical, historical and pouranic points of view.
As Osho says, our life itself should be like a festival. Enjoying comraderi and religiosity, achieving physical wellbeing and mental peace and tranquility is the objective. So, instead of attaching too much of importance to the external aspects, it is better to concentrate on the meaningful activities expected in each festival. For example, Krishnaashtami and Geethajayanti can be celebrated chanting the Gita, Ramanavami with Ramayana Paarayana, Dussera by chanting the Devi Bhagavatha etc.
Those who first introduced these practices knew the correct reasoning behind the celebrations. The next generations performed them correctly even if they had not understood the background. Nowadays, some of these are being conducted without understanding and in an incorrect way. With this background, modern generation who need explanation for every thing may reject the whole thing. It is therefore necessary to understand correctly and then explain them to our juniors. Let us consider some of the practices as examples.
PANCHAGAVYA
Chaandogya Upanishad (1.10) says,
Gavyam sumadhuram kinchiddoshaghnam krimi kushtanuth
Kandoom cha shamayeth pittham samyagdoshodare hitham
(go moothra is a little sweet, it is anti infectant, it cures leprosy)
American business and patent’s office has issued a patent for preparation of drugs useful for cancer patients and some anti infection drugs using the cow’s urine. The drugs and cosmetics institute at Lucknow under C.S.I.R. is the organization which has secured this patent. The Nagpur institute of research on cow science has partnered with this institute.
Before awarding this patent research has been conducted using cow’s urine with TAXOL, a drug useful to treat breast cancer. Ampicillin tetracycline and refompicin have also been used along with gomootra.
HOMAS
Khushvaaha S L, a teacher in Bhopal conducted homas when the poisonous gas, methyl isocyanate was spreading rapidly there. In about 20 minutes, the gas vanished from the vicinity of his house. (See THE HINDU DATED APRIL 7, 1985). An American professor (psychiatrist) Barry Tathner has conducted research on Agnihotra, which is a small homa done everyday. He says agnihotra is known all over the world.
The research conducted on Rudra Swahaakaara Yajna conducted at Nagpur has been reported in detail in BOUDDHIKA SAMPADA- NOVEMBER 1999. This has been followed up at the conference on cows at Ramachandrapura mutt during 2007 April.
The use of brass, copper vessels, turmeric (arisina, Haldi), neem sticks etc., have also been subjected to tests. BEETA AMELOID, a protein causing the incurable ALZEMEIR disease could be controlled by the use of turmeric- Arisina (Haldi) – see THE HINDU DATED April 20, 2005.
Neem leaves and sticks are being used from times immemorial in our Yugadi festival and we take a little neem with jaggery on that day. The patent office in Munich had given a patent to the American Agriculture department along with one W R Grace company. Since some Indians objected to it, the patent was withdrawn in 2000. But on a representation from the company, it was reconsidered and again rejected in 2005.
There are about 1 crore neem trees in the country and it is possible to earn about 1000 crores from these. At present, we are using only a part of these and earning only about 100 crores. (See THE INDIAN EXPRESS 6-6-2007)
We have to understand that if we do not wake up and take care about protecting our ancient cultural practices, we may have to obtain permission from some multi national company even to perform our festivals!
We offer the best and special dishes to God first and partake them as prasada. Thus, we get the best to eat and since we fast till the pooja is over, it helps in improvement of health too.
The procedure followed in each festival has scientific background. For example, during Ramanavami which falls during summer, we offer Kosumbari which cools the body. Lime juice with sugar, butter milk etc., are also distributed. Deepavali which falls after the harvest season is enjoyed with daughters, sons in law and grand children.
Mahashivaratri is considered as Shiva’s marriage day with Girija or his birthday. The day is ideal for spiritual advancement and so, the day and night is spent praying, worshipping. Rudra destroys sorrow and difficulties. He is called AASHUTHOSHA, one who is pleased easily and grants any thing prayed for. Shiva means auspicious. The ash on his body indicates vairagya. No one can destroy ash ! He lives in the burial ground. The serpent on his neck represents time. Since he controls time he is MAHAAKAALA. His vehicle Nandi symbolizes Dharma. Shakti (energy) is his wife. To indicate that he takes care of even those who are rejected by every one else, he shelters Bhoothagana.
He is Nataraja. Births and deaths, all changes taking place with time are controlled by movements, he is engaged in Thaandava nrithya. His third eye indicates movement upwards.
The three lines of Vibhoothi represent Thriguna, Thriloka. If thapathrayas are overcome, realization of the self is possible. The combination of Shiva and Shakti is indicated with the ardha nareeswara concept. Likewise, the shiva-shakti within us should merge and we should realize the atman. This is the purpose behind the shivaratri celebration.
AKSHAYA thritheeya
(To be continued)
Translator
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