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Desire is the biggest enemy of yoga

Once there was a young yogi who lived by the river. There he spent most of his time practicing yoga and meditating. His life was simple and worry free. For not having other responsibilities, the yogi could spend long time sitting, contemplating with closed eyes the beautiful transcendental form of the Lord that is in our hearts. This was his daily routine and meditation.

One day, while on the banks of the river, the yogi washed his only clothing and only possession, the rag he used to cover his intimate parts. In India when it was so hot, little more was necessary. Even so while the yogi washed and dried the rag, I had to be naked and wait for it to dry. One day while waiting for his rag to dry he thought:
′′ If I had another rag I wouldn’t waste my time waiting for this rag to be dry I could get dressed right after my bath.”

Just at that moment a wise man was passing through there. A wise man with power to read the thought. He stood and headed to the yogi and said:
′′Dear son, I know what you have in mind. You want to buy time. But listen to me when I tell you that better than acquiring more possessions is better to settle for what one has. It’s better this way.”

Then the wise man offered the young man his blessings and went on his way.

The young yogi meditated deeply on what that wise man had said to him but in the end he thought that with one more rag, nothing would happen, it wasn’t too much to wish. So he went to the market and bought a dress rag.

The next day he bathed in the river as usual, did his clothes and lay it on a rock to dry. Then she dressed her new clothes and went to meditate. Later, the yogi went back to the rock to pick up his dry rag.

As he picked it up from the rock, the yogi realized that the rag was full of little holes, bites from a hungry mouse. Yogi was upset but thought:′′ I know, I’ll buy a cat to chase mice away while my clothes dry.” And so the young yogi went back to the market to buy a cat.

The next day the yogi spent the day happily meditating until the night fell. At this time the cat started meowing, bothering the yogi:′′ Oh, the cat wants milk, ′′ sighed the yogi.

So this time he went to the market and came back with a cow. Everything was going quietly until night fell again and the cow started mugging: ′′ I’m not going to milk the cow every day!”, he thought. ′′ It takes forever.”

So he went back to town and there he asked a young girl to be his wife. She could milk the cow and give it to the cat, who would keep the mouse away from the young yogi’s rag. And so the yogi was happy for a while.

Then the babies came… Until one day his wife said to him:′′ We need a house.” So the yogi built a house.
While time went by, yogi was meditating less and less and more and more. He was constantly busy taking care of his home, his growing family, and his animals. Sometimes when he had a moment of peace, he used to remember those times when he had no worries and his only possession was just a rag.

Then one day, remembering those times of peace, again the old sadhu passing by showed up. The sadhu smiled and said:
′′ I see you’re thoughtful, so I’ll tell you once again that it’s better to be content with what one has Because when it comes to wanting or wanting things, there is no end.”

With acceptance and detachment nothing you lose because you want nothing.

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Gurukul – The Ancient Place for learning yoga and other universal truths

Gurukul is the world’s first system of education in the world. It is important to know what was taught in the Gurukuls.

  1. अग्नि विद्या ( metallergy )
    2 वायु विद्या ( flight )
    3 जल विद्या ( navigation )
    4 अंतरिक्ष विद्या ( space scienc)
    5 पृथ्वी विद्या ( environment )
    6 सूर्य विद्या ( solar study )
    7 चन्द्र व लोक विद्या ( lunar study )
    8 मेघ विद्या ( weather forecast )
    9 पदार्थ विद्युत विद्या ( battery )
    10 सौर ऊर्जा विद्या ( solar energy )
    11 दिन रात्रि विद्या
    12 सृष्टि विद्या ( space research )
    13 खगोल विद्या ( astronomy)
    14 भूगोल विद्या (geography )
    15 काल विद्या ( time )
    16 भूगर्भ विद्या (geology and mining )
    17 रत्न व धातु विद्या ( gems and metals )
    18 आकर्षण विद्या ( gravity )
    19 प्रकाश विद्या ( solar energy )
    20 तार विद्या ( communication )
    21 विमान विद्या ( plane )
    22 जलयान विद्या ( water vessels )
    23 अग्नेय अस्त्र विद्या ( arms and amunition )
    24 जीव जंतु विज्ञान विद्या ( zoology botany )
    25 यज्ञ विद्या ( material Sc)

Vedic Science

वाणिज्य ( commerce )
कृषि (Agriculture )
पशुपालन ( animal husbandry )
पक्षिपलन ( bird keeping )
पशु प्रशिक्षण ( animal training )
यान यन्त्रकार ( mechanics)
रथकार ( vehicle designing )
रतन्कार ( gems )
सुवर्णकार ( jewellery designing )
वस्त्रकार ( textile)
कुम्भकार ( pottery)
लोहकार (metallergy)
तक्षक (guarding)
रंगसाज (dying)
आयुर्वेद (Ayurveda)
रज्जुकर (logistics)
वास्तुकार ( architect)
पाकविद्या (cooking)
सारथ्य (driving)
नदी प्रबन्धक (water management)
सुचिकार (data entry)
गोशाला प्रबन्धक (animal husbandry)
उद्यान पाल (horticulture)
वन पाल (horticulture)
नापित (paramedical)

These types of teachings were given in the Gurukulas. But with time the Gurukulas disappeared and with them these teachings also disappeared. Re-establishment of Gurukuls is very important for Vedic science and education.

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Spiritual Hierarchy in Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism)

The Vedic Hierarchy of Divine Beings and Holy Persons which each Hindu, and even anybody intrigued by Hinduism, ought to know not themselves from a considerable measure of disarray…

1. Sat/Brahman (lit. Presence/Mightiest) – Omnipresent Pure Consciousness. The One preeminent embodiment, substratum and wellspring of everything that was, is and will be. The Vedas call it “Sat” (Pure Existence/the Presence). The Upanishads call it “Brahman” (the Mightiest, the Supreme). The Vedantic conventions allude to it as “Saccidananda” (Pure Existence, Pure Consciousness and Pure Bliss). Can’t be worshiped unbiasedly (see Sama Veda Kena Upanishad 1.4-8), however must be knowledgeable about the most profound phases of contemplation and illumination as one’s incomparable embodiment and the deepest center of one’s being. This is basically an enchanted idea and subsequently can be discovered likewise in the lessons of different spiritualists of world conventions. Christian spiritualists, for example, Pseudo-Dionysius, John the Scot and Meister Eckhart alluded to it as “Godhead” (=Godhood, the substance of God), Sufi spiritualists, for example, Mansoor-al-Hallaj and Ibn Arabi called it “haqq” (the Truth) and “ahad” (the uncovered one) separately, and the Jewish experts called it “Elohim” and Jewish Kabbalistic spiritualists alluded to it as “Ein Sof” (the limitless total).

2. Ishvara (lit. the ruler/the master/the expert) – Omnipresent Consciousness as the maker, coordinator and destroyer of everything. GOD = Generator, Organizer and Destroyer. Must be One as indicated by each Hindu convention, however is communicated through the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the innovative, arranging and dangerous standards. The Five Hindu Agama customs allude to it through five particular names: Shaivism calls It “Sada Shiva” (not to be mistaken for Shiva the damaging guideline), Vaishnavism calls It “Maha Vishnu” (not to be mistaken for Vishnu the innovative rule) and Shaktism “Adya Shakti.” The two obsolete Hindu Agama conventions, the Suaras and the Ganapatyas, called it separately “Maha Surya” and “Maha Ganapati.” Therefore, all Agama revere conventions, which shape the premise of every single Hindu sanctuary and the Hindu ceremonies rehearsed in them, are coordinated towards any of these five basic types of Ishvara – Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Surya or Ganapati. Each type of God worshiped in Hinduism is some way or another identified with one of these 5 shapes. Notwithstanding, entirely most conventions consider God undefined fundamentally, additionally acknowledge that it can be revered in introductory phases of our otherworldly voyage through any of these various structures to encourage the human mind which is exceptionally molded by name and frame. The favored structure (ishta-devata) is picked by inclinations and connection with a specific convention through one’s lord. In similar investigations of religion, the Hindu philosophical comprehension of Ishvara can be thought to be what might as well be called the possibility of God in Christianity, Allah of Islam and Adonai of Judaism. Nonetheless, it must be noticed that three among the six Vedic philosophical frameworks don’t affirm of the possibility of God, since they consider the possibility of a maker rule logically not required. However, the Vedantic arrangement of reasoning, which in its different structures is at present the most predominant philosophical arrangement of Hinduism, completely acknowledges the thought of God. As indicated by the Advaita Vedanta convention (non-dualistic Vedanta) the last call of the Vedas is to rise above the God of religions and experience the Supreme Godhead of a spiritualist as one’s incomparable substance and the main genuine extreme reality in this universe, the solidarity in assorted qualities, communicated in the Yajur Veda through the quintessential sentence “Aham Brahmasmi” (I’m immaculate cognizance).

3. Devas (lit. brilliant creatures) – physical and mental strengths to which mankind owes its presence. These are strengths working in the universe around us and are considered indications of the One Supreme Force. They are 33 in numbers as indicated by the Vedas, which as per Maharshi Yajnavalkya are (see Shukla Yajur Veda Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.9.2-6) – fire, earth, wind, space, sun, daylight, moon, stars, the 10 detects, the brain, the 12 types of the Sun in a year’s 12 months, Indra (thunderbolt), Prajapati (the master of offspring which incorporates creatures). Since every one of these can have unending signs, the Vedic sacred texts talk about 33 Koti Devas (Koti implies millions, additionally remains for vastness). As indicated by Maharshi Yaska, the considerable creator of the Vedic Nirukta, the 33 Devas are signs of the 3 central Vedic Devas – Agni (fire, light on earth), Indra (thunderbolt, light in the middle of the road area) and Aditya (sun, light in the most noteworthy district). These three thusly are considered appearances of the One Supreme Light called Prana by Maharshi Yajnvalakya (Supreme Life-power) and Atman (Self, Pure Consciousness) by Maharshi Nirukta. Every single Vedic Ritual are coordinated towards the Devas, i.e. they are ceremonies in which light is revered in its different signs as an image of the Supreme Inner Light of Consciousness. The Devas can be contrasted with the blessed messengers of the Semitic religions.

4. Avataras (incarnations, lit. a slid guideline) – Vishnu, the supporting rule of Ishvara, occasionally slips upon earth to take care of particular issues as obviously communicated in Gita 4.7-8. Such incarnations are interminable in number, yet, the official tally of the Puranas is 22 (see Bhagavata Purana 1.3.6-25): the Kumaras, Varaha (hog), Narada, Nara-Narayana (who contemplated in Badarinath), Kapila (the expert of the Samkhya arrangement of logic), Dattatreya, Yajna, Rishabha (additionally adored by Jainism as their first ace), Prithu (the main incredible King), Matsya (fish), Kacchapa (turtle), Dhanvantari (the benefactor God of Ayurveda), Mohini, Nrisimha (lion headed human structure, likewise worshiped in old Roman Mithraic puzzles), Vamana, Parashurama, Veda Vyasa (the creator of the Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Gita), Lord Rama, Lord Bala Rama, Lord Krishna, the Buddha (likewise the organizer of Buddhism), Kalki (the last one yet to come)… As one can obviously see, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna and the Buddha fall into this class. “Bhagavan” is essentially used to people falling into this class. In any case, it is additionally connected to the types of God falling into the second class above, despite the fact that entirely those different types of God ought to be alluded to as the Devas correspondingly to the ones falling into the third classification. Bhagavan = enriched with the six incredible qualities, to be specific: preeminent, incomparable exemplary nature, most elevated acclaim, preeminent riches (both: perfect and human), most astounding level of separation and complete opportunity or liberation. In everyday Sanskrit “Bhagavan” is frequently utilized as a deferential pronoun when tending to one’s living bosses, for example, when posing a question. (frame more data on the Avataras:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar)

5. Rishis and Rishikas (Vedic Seers, lit. shrewd men and ladies) – These are the human fathers of the Vedic conventions and are additionally viewed as the natural progenitors of mankind, particularly after the immense downpour. The Vedic shrewdness was uncovered into their cleaned hearts by the Omnipresent Life Force (Hiranyagarbha Prana). The assignment is entirely connected ONLY to a Vedic expert who is the Seer of one of the Vedic mantras (verses). The rundown of the Seers of the Rig Veda alone, which is the most antiquated and most hallowed sacred text of Hinduism, incorporates 377 names of Rishis and 25 names of Rishikas.

6. Muni/Siddha/Shishta (scholars/achieved ones/shrewd men) – All antiquated insightful men other than the Rishis fall into this classification. Most Hindu sacrosanct sacred texts (which are sorted under ‘smriti’), other than the Vedas (which are arranged under ‘shruti’), are credited to one of these. For instance, Sage Patanjali, the creator of the Yoga Sutras and along these lines considered by numerous as the father of yoga, is alluded to as Maha-Muni (the immense Muni). Entirely, in this way, alluding to present day experts, for example, Swami Dayananda, Ramana Maharshi, Aurobindo and Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, as “Maharshi” (the colossal Rishi) is customarily shameful.

7. Acharyas (the immense experts) – These are incredible chronicled aces, rationalists, masterminds and pundits who have roused or thoughtfully sorted out, surrounded and introduced one of the different conventions of Hinduism. Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya were most likely the most powerful ones among all the Acharyas. Four bosses bearing the surname of Shankaracharya have been formally viewed as the overseers of the Four Vedas, and accordingly the preeminent dominant presences in all religious and profound matters, at any rate throughout the previous 1200 years. The old place where there is India, isolated into 4 a balance of, was viewed as their area of power. Other extraordinary Acharyas include: Ramanujacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya and Madhvacharya and so forth. Acharya implies somebody who teaches mankind into acara (appropriate behavior).

8. Sant (holy people) – extraordinary individuals who were profoundly committed towards or had obtained the astuteness and familiarity with the Supreme Divinity in their lives. Hindus worship them and even love some of them in their different sanctuaries. They differ from state to state and have been profoundly powerful on the grass root level in light of the fact that these were the ones who brought the most profound exclusive lessons of the Vedic way to the regular man. Their lessons are regularly by and large alluded to as “Sant Mat” which depends on the lessons of the Vedas, the Munis and the Acharyas. The current religion of Sikhism was propelled by the 10 Gurus who have a place with this class of sacred people

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Sadhu – Who are they

Sadhu – Who are they

We all know India is the land of sadhus, or what are commonly known as sages or mendicants. In Hinduism, a sādhu (Sanskrit sādhu, “holy man”) is a religious ascetic or holy person. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa (liberation), the fourth and final aśrama (stage of life), through meditation and contemplation of Brahman. The sadhu way of life can take a variety of forms. Sadhus may live together in monasteries or isolate themselves in small huts or caves, but many wander throughout the country alone or in small groups. Sadhus, the dreadlocked holy men usually seen lurking around Hindu temples, are essentially an Indian phenomenon. However, Nepal is also one of their favourite stomping grounds. Sadhus are especially common at Pashupatinath temple which is rated as one of the subcontinent’s four most important Shaiva pilgrimage sites. During the festival of ShivaRatri, Pashupatinath hosts a full-scale sadhu convention, with the government laying on free firewood for the festival.

In India, Sadhus generally congregate on important religious occasions, such as lunar eclipses or melas (fairs), and are found in large numbers in sacred cities such as Varanasi (Benares) and Haridwar, India. Their dress and ornaments differ according to their sect but they usually wear yellow/orange robes. They allow their hair to lie matted on their shoulders, or twist it in a knot on top of their heads. Shaiva sadhus follow Shiva in one of his best-loved and most enigmatic guises: the wild, dishevelled yogi, the master of yoga, who sits motionless atop a Himalayan peak for aeons at a time and whose hair is the source of the mighty Ganga river.

Traditionally, sadhus live solitary lives. They smear themselves with ashes, symbolising Shiva’s role as the destroyer, who reduces all things to ash so that creation can begin anew. Their foreheads are usually painted and they employ scores of tikka patterns. Sadhus generally take vows of poverty and celibacy and depend on the charity of householders for their food. Sadhus usually have only the possessions they carry with them: a danda, a waterpot (kamandalu), an alms bowl, a rosary, and perhaps an extra cloth or a fire tong. However modern Sadhus often travel, mix with all kinds of people and sometimes they act like they are the king of all reality. Modern sadhu keeps handy a phone, flashlights, shoes, wallet and sometimes even a laptop or iPad…

Courtesy : ૐ The Shiva Tribe ૐ