Fear of Death or taking life

 

“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.”
― Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

It is said that Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems.

Suicide is an act of taking own’s life. It is estimated that around 0.8 million people commit suicide every year worldwide.

Post Second World War due to industrial revolution and mechanization human being has gone through a major transformation in term of mentally and physically.

Pre-industrial revolution era most of the work was done manually and physically and there was low mental pressure.

However, currently, all works are being done by machine and we are more mentally stressed and very less physically active.

Rapid urbanization making cities overcrowded and people are very ambitious, competitive, and running a rat race of survival of the fittest.

Celebrities and Suicide

Young and talented Indian Bollywood Susant Singh Rajput also committed suicide in India.

Now the word of war is going on that causing of Susant untimely death is nepotism. Bollywood is divided between two groups one opposing and the other is supporting nepotism.

However, we have to understand that modern civilization is driven by capitalism and the fittest & strongest would survive and win the race in the longer-term.

It’s been over four months out-breaking of COVID-19. The shooting and post-production have been totally halted for movies and TV-shows.

Therefore, it has really been hard for new and lower class artists and actors to meet their day-to-day expenses without getting regular pay.

The financial upheaval also putting a lot of celebrities in distress and depress situations, as their current expenses and future projects are being severely affected due to COVID-19 spread worldwide.

It’s has been uncovered that Sushant Singh Rajput has lost his six big upcoming projects and gone into a deep depression.

Reason for Suicide

Mental illness is one of the major causes of suicide worldwide.

There is a number of reason for taking own life like psycho-social factors depression, stress, setbacks in life, thoughts suppression, poor coping skills, social isolation, social support Poverty, introversion.

Needless to say that in last 40 years world population is almost doubled and the competition in all sectors has been increased dramatically. In the modern era, you really need to work hard to get your desired goals and you have to compete with over 7 billion people on this earth to get survived which is also keep increasing

As a result, in this fast-paced world and in a never-ending rat race the situation putting some people into depression and sadness which is causing suicidal tendencies.

Everybody wants to win in this modern rat-race, so losers and defeaters are going into depression due to low self-esteem or social stigma.

Substance misuse 

Countries that have higher rates of alcohol use and a greater density of bars generally also have higher rates of suicide.

Working in a highly stressed environment leading some people to take drugs and alcohol to mitigate the impact of stress.

However excess use of substances making them mentally weak and they are prone to suicidal tendencies.

Medical conditions fatal and deadly disease Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia are risk factors for depression and suicide. 

Due to the hustle & bustle of urban life and excess using of electronic gadgets some people are sleep deprived which causing mental illness and suicidal tendencies. 

Suicide methods 

Leading methods of suicide are handing, pesticide poisoning, firearms, falls, cutting and drowning.

Suicide prevention

It is believed that suicide is often an impulsive decision, with up to 70% of near-fatal suicide attempts made after less than one hour of deliberation.

It can be prevented through getting connecting to friends and family members by social connection. Social connection is an experience of feeling closed and connected to others. It involved feeling loved, cared and valued.

Sometimes you are so repressed or oppressed by negative thinking or thoughts that expressing problems to friends or family member give a high relieve from stress and distress and feeling of calm and relaxation attained.  

Following measures also help to prevent negative thoughts and suicidal tendency 

• Don’t try hard to be a perfectionist no one is a perfectionist in this world so accept and love yourself, as you are the unique creation of almighty God always remember that nobody is like you on this earth.

• Don’t compare yourself to social media or cinematic life as there is a lot of difference between reel and real life, put away yourself from body-shaming you are the best creature in this world. You and your body are created and given by almighty God so never underestimate the gift of God by neglecting, comparing, or judging it to others.

• Keep always in mind that people don’t disclose their dark side of life on social media and needless to say that everyone goes through an odd circumstance in their life, so don’t think that all are happy on social media except you may be they are bottling up their emotions so don’t judge people by their social media status. Be realistic and face the challenges audaciously.

• Being spiritual really helps to keep your mind out of negative and overthinking. Take out a little time in this fast-paced world to do yoga, meditation, and other religious rituals which keep connected you to the almighty God.

• Engage in sports activities. Sporting is the best method to convert your negative energy into a positive one and also keep your body fit and fine.

• Read motivational books, listen to motivational podcasts or stories, and keep yourself away from the dark web, horror movies, and fake and radicalized news.

• Ask for help there are a lot of people suffering from depression and suicidal tendency so go visit doctors and psychologists and share your pain with them, surely they are highly trained and skilled to help you come out of negativity.

You can also call or visit on following contact details if feeling helpless or want help to get out of suicidal thoughts. Keep remembering this a normal situation that can be cured or treated and this is no longer a social taboo so don’t feel ashamed and talk to your family, friend and doctor before it is too late. 

https://lbb.in/delhi/suicide-helplines-india/ 

iCall is an email and telephone-based counseling service run by Tata Institute of Social Sciences and they offer free services with the help of a team of qualified and trained mental health professionals. They are available Monday to Saturday between 8 am and 10 pm. 

Helpline Number: +91 22 2552111 and +91 91529 87821

Kabir Poetry Fish Is thirty

 

Miracle of the inner world

Kabir Das was a very famous and supreme spiritual sage of his time.

He removed the darkness of ignorance from the life of the people and brought a spiritual revolution in the life of all the devotees.

He equally attacked the hypocrisy and evils of all religions and made people aware that God is seated inside in the heart of all persons and in all human beings beyond conventional methods or religious preaching.

God is equal for all and can be easily found through spiritual mentor teaching and guidance and through meditation techniques taught by Guru.

He wrote a very good hymn in which he showed the path of spiritual attainment of Guru and God and attacked superstition and religious radicalization prevailing the common society in his simple words.

Pani Me Meen Pyasi Mohe Sun-Sun Ave Hasi

Despite water all around and everywhere, the fish is still thirsty in the water and I am laughing at this.

The Supreme God is within all of us and we are still entangled in the outside hypocrisy and searching for God in the outer world.

Gyan Bina Nar Sovhi Aise, Kya Mathura Kya Kashi

Mirg Nabhi Me Hai Kasturi, Ban Ban Phirat Udashi

If a man does not have true knowledge of God, then no matter if he goes to Mathura or Kashi or any other holy places to visit the religious shrine.

But he will not get peace, he will continue to wander needlessly.

As the musk is inside the musk-dear, but he inadvertently searches it in the forests and feels upset.

When does not know the source of fragrance while the source is inside and very near to him.. There is a God inside a human being as well and in the shelter of a truly great man or a spiritual mentor, he can know it easily.

Vidhi Hari Har Joko Dhayan Kart hai, Muni Jan Sahas Athasi

Soi Hans Tere Ghat Mahi, Alakh Purush Avinashi

Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and millions of deities and sadhus and saints meditate day and night of supreme God

That Supreme God is inside all of us, there is no need to search for him outside.

Hai Ghat Me Par Dur Batave, Dur Ki Baat Nirashi

Kahat Kabir Suno Bhi Sadho, Guru Bin Baram Na Jasi

Kabir says that the Supreme God is seated inside all of us, but some ignorant people show him in outer rituals or in worshiping and in the outer world

which is very disappointing and misleading. Until we find a true, simple, knowledgeable spiritual mentor Satguru, we will keep wandering in the outer world and our illusions will not disappear.

Therefore, we should go to the shelter of a true Satguru or a master for getting real spiritual knowledge.

By God's grace he will remove all doubt regarding that supreme almighty God and that supreme God will be felt in our heart.

Breathing Bliss

 

World’s biggest miracle has been occurring under our nose which is coming and going of this breath effortlessly.

Unfortunately in today’s world, we are so mind-driven towards outer life that most of the time we forget the value of this breath. 

People forget to focus on breath or on meditation and they pray to God to give me a good day, make my day successful. 

We are so busy with our mind and outer world that hardly we think for a minute and feel the flood of this breath coming into us effortlessly.

I think these floods of breaths are the greatest gift for mankind by God.

Due to this breath, we are in existence.

We are alive and we can talk, we can eat, we can sleep, we can think and do all the outer world activities because of coming and going of this breath effortlessly in our body.

What is present is our breath, but we try to imagine the future or remember the past, but we cannot exist for even a second in the future or in the past.

Therefore, experience peace and joy is only possible at the moment called now.

Unfortunately, in this fast life, we forget our true nature. We accept the nature of those around us.

However, if we look into the mirror within us we can feel the inner peace that is something in us since we were a child and it will be there till our very last breath.

Most of the people in this world think that we are born to be fulfilled outer desires and so they are the slave of the mind.

In this fast life hardly we devote our precious time to meditate or to understand our inner world realm or real objective of life.

The mind keeps creating desire and traps us forever.

However, it was no mistake that Socrates said. 'Know thyself.' Know who you are. Understand your true nature. 

Understand that if you do not feel peace, you may not be able to give it to anyone. If you want to quench the thirst, the least you need is water.

The water of peace that flows within you. The serenity of understanding flows through you.

Therefore, one side is our mind which is restless always wants new things and doesn’t satisfy easily.

Another side is our heart which is standstill and only wants inner peace and inner satisfaction without any bias. 

The mind doesn’t understand inner peace, heart, soul, and meditation.  Osho said all that mind cannot be in the meditation.

It is something beyond the mind. The mind is absolutely helpless there. The mind cannot penetrate meditation.

Where mind ends meditation begins. Therefore, if we’re looking for peace, it is within us. If we’re looking for joy, it’s not far from us.

If we’re looking for that friend, it always has been and will be inside. If we’re looking for a place that does not change, that place is inside.

The heart is that cry, that call, that says, "Be fulfilled. Quench this thirst. Live this life consciously. 

Extract everything that this breath has brought, as much as you can. Be alive & exist in a true way.

Life is not just about getting in the morning and thinking about our worries and problems.

We get this beautiful mortal body but we can feel immoral through this body by turning ourselves inward, by doing meditation, and focusing our attention on the breath. 

The outer world changes very fast sometimes back scientists discovered that the atom is unbreakable they researched for almost 50 years but then suddenly a group of new scientists has proved that the atom is breakable.

Therefore, the outer world is changeable nothing is permanent in the outer world or in the realm of mind.

However, our soul and inner world are standstills that world is not changed for centuries and if we want to get real peace we need to focus inwards.

Mind realm believes in God-fearing and explains that God sends you on this earth to suffer because of your past bad karma.

The mind creates doubt and says indulge in all the rituals please God by outer ways and your life will be like a haven, else you’ll go to hell for suffering. 

However, the soul or inner realm believes in feeling & knowing in God-loving and says that as long as you are alive and you are breathing God is within you.

And by focusing inward you can feel haven and enjoy each and every breath that is coming and going effortlessly and the greatest gift of God for all mankind without any bias.

Mind says in outer world once by mistake or intentionally if you do bad karmas. You have to suffer and you can’t get peace until you do lots of rituals or regret much for your bad karma.

However, the heart is always welcome you and doesn’t create any discrimination among human being.

In Indian history lots of King like Ashoka, Ajatshatru & Chandragupta Maurya. 

While ruling their kingdom they had been killed many innocent people just to get more name & fame and to extend their kingdom.

However, later on, they realized that inner peace is the best thing in this world to get permanent ecstasy. 

At last, they turned themselves into a spiritual realm and felt real inner peace in their life.

Despite their immense cruelty to mankind heart accepted them as a human being, that’s the beauty of the heart, unlike the mind.

Non-dualism (darkness to light )

 

Unprecedented inner transformation by Master Grace

There is a lot of praise for the spiritual master in India. 

Guru means to take us away from darkness to light. Our mind is very fickle and keeps wandering here and there. 

In our life, we are most attracted to external things and live like animals.

Our nine senses constantly make us extroverted. TV, cinema, and the work of the outer world entertain our mind and we get so immersed in the desires and dreams of our mind that we do not realize our inner and soulful life.

Then suddenly a spiritual mentor comes into our life and his holy words turn us inwards in the spiritual realm.

we realize that there is some other purpose in our life too. 

Impressed by our true spiritual curiosity, they give us the knowledge to connect with the inner world.

When we meditate and get connected to the inner world, our external ignorance disappears and we become united with the monotheistic God or non-dual existence of God which is equal for all human beings.  

After joining with the God of the non-dual, the mind is in of the divine form and all evil things are destroyed.

And we go beyond duality like form-non-form of god, saguna-nirgun, murti-amurti, Hindu-Muslim, poor-rich, Brahmin-dalit, black-blonde, yog-tantra, vaishnava-shaivana, Shia- Sunni, rising above the divine form of light and darkness, god-demon.

We sees and feel God in all things and beings. Our ego is destroyed.

The restlessness of our mind is over and we experience ecstasy. Some words are presented in the form of hymns to put the mind at the feet of the Guru.

मन मेरे बता तू क्यों भटक रहा चरणों में गुरु के क्यों न लग रहा

तेरी कामना तेरी वासना,जल जायेगी मिट जायेगी

दर गुरु का तू क्या न चुन रहा

 अनगिनत जनम तूने जो भी है किया

हासिल तुझे क्या हिरदै में हुआ

मनका दास तू दर दर भटक रहा 

प्रेम को बुला राग को मिटा

तू परकाश को हरदे में बसा

सेवा सत्संग भजन में तू डूब जा

 मन मेरे बता तू क्यों भटक रहा

चरणों में गुरु के क्यों न लग रहा

Mind tell me why are you wandering 

Why don't you stay at the feet of the spiritual master  

Your desire, your lust, will be destroyed

Why are you not choosing the company of spiritual master

You have taken countless births

What did you achieve by all materialistic things

Mind's servant, you are wandering here and there aimlessly  

Express love and destroy the lust and greed

Lit a light in your soul

Drown deeply in the meditation and serve master unconditionally

Mind Tell me why are you wandering

Why don't you stay at the feet of the spiritual master

 

 

Importance of Shivratri

 

Shivratri, or the Night of Lord Shiva, is a highly significant Hindu festival that is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm every year. The festival is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of the Hindu pantheon, and is observed on the fourteenth night of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February/March) according to the Hindu calendar.

The word "Shivratri" is a Sanskrit term that means "night of Shiva". The festival is celebrated by millions of devotees across India and Nepal, who participate in various rituals and traditions to pay their respects to Lord Shiva. It is believed that on this night, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, a divine dance that is said to represent the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe.

The significance of Shivratri lies in the fact that it is considered to be one of the most auspicious days of the year for worshiping Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is the creator and destroyer of the universe, and his grace is essential for maintaining the balance of the cosmos. By worshiping Lord Shiva on Shivratri, devotees seek his blessings and protection from negative influences.

The festival is observed in different ways across India and Nepal, but the underlying essence remains the same. On this day, devotees wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath to purify themselves. They then wear new clothes and visit temples to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The most important ritual of the day is the abhishekam, or the ceremonial bath of the Shiva Lingam, which is an iconic representation of Lord Shiva.

The Shiva Lingam is bathed in milk, honey, water, and other holy substances, and is then adorned with flowers and other offerings. Devotees also offer bael leaves, fruits, and other items to Lord Shiva, and recite his mantras and hymns. Some devotees also observe a strict fast on Shivratri, abstaining from food and drink for the entire day and night.

In addition to these traditional rituals, Shivratri is also a time for spiritual reflection and contemplation. Many devotees spend the night in meditation and prayer, seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva and contemplating the deeper meanings of his teachings. It is a time to let go of negativity and embrace positivity, to forgive and seek forgiveness, and to express gratitude for the many blessings of life.

Shivratri is also a time for community celebrations, where people come together to share food, music, and other festivities. Many cities in India and Nepal organize processions and cultural events, with devotees singing and dancing in praise of Lord Shiva. The festival is a time of joy and celebration, as people come together to celebrate the divine power of Lord Shiva and the eternal cycle of life and death.

Shivratri is a festival that holds great significance for Hindus around the world. It is a time to honor and worship Lord Shiva, seek his blessings, and connect with the divine essence of the universe. Through traditional rituals, spiritual practices, and community celebrations, devotees come together to celebrate the power and grace of Lord Shiva, and to embrace the deeper meanings of life and existence. Shivratri is a reminder that, no matter what challenges we face, we can always find solace in the divine power of Lord Shiva, and in the eternal cycle of life and death that he represents.

Get to Know Karma Yoga from Panic to Peace

 

KARMA YOGA

Half-hearted service is no service at all. Give your whole heart, mind and soul when you serve. This is very important when you practise Karma Yoga.

Some people have their body in one place, mind in another place, and soul in another place.

This is the reason why they do not realise any substantial progress in the path. Forget not the goal of life amidst selfish activities.

The goal of life is Self-realisation. Are you attempting to reach the end and aim of life? Are you doing Japa, Pranayama and Meditation?

Have you kept up the ideal before the mind’s eye? That day in which you do not practise any spiritual Sadhana is wasted.

Give the mind to God and the hand to work. You will have to analyse and scrutinise your motives. It is the selfish motive and not the work itself that binds a man to Samsara.

Prepare the mind for Karma Yoga. Mere selfish work cannot be taken as Yogic activity. The mind is so framed that it always expects something for a small piece of work.

When you smile you expect a return of smile from your friend. When you raise your hand in salutation, you expect a salute from other people. Even when you give a cup of water to another man, you expect him to be grateful to you. When such is the case how can you perform Nishkama Karma Yoga?

Life is very precious. Live in the spirit of the Gita’s teaching and work without expectation of fruits and egoism. Think you are Nimitta in the hands of Lord Narayana. If you work with this mental attitude you will become a Yogi soon. Work never degrades a man.

Unselfish work is Puja of Narayana. Work is worship. All works are sacred. There is no menial work from the highest view point, from the view point of the absolute, from the view point of Karma Yoga.

Even scavenging when done with the right spirit and mental attitude is Yogic action. Even a scavenger can realise God in his own station of life by service.

The famous butcher Dharma Vyadha of Mahabharata realised God in his meat shop (through serving his parents). You all have got inside all materials for wisdom. There is a vast magazine of power and knowledge within you. It wants kindling. Now wake up, Oh Saumya!

When you work disinterestedly without any agency and when you surrender the works and fruits as Ishvararpana, all Karmas are transformed into Yogic Kriyas.

Walking, eating, sleeping, answering the calls of nature, talking, etc., become offering unto the Lord. Every bit of work is Yoga for you. Think that Lord Siva is working through your hands, and is eating through your mouth.

Think that your hands are the hands of Lord Siva. In the beginning some of your actions may be selfish and some may be unselfish. In the long run you can do all actions in an unselfish manner.

Scrutinise your motives always. This is the keynote for Nishkamya Karma Yoga. Every act can be spiritualised when the motive becomes pure. Work is meditation. Serve everyone with intense love without any idea of agency without expectation of fruits or reward.

If you adopt the path of Jnana, feel you are a silent Sakshi and the Prakriti does everything.

It is selfishness that has deplorably contracted your heart. Selfishness is the bane of society. Selfishness clouds understanding. Selfishness is petty-mindedness.

Bhoga increases selfishness and selfish Pravritti. It is the root cause for human sufferings. Real spiritual progress starts in
selfless service.

Serve the Sadhus, Sannyasins, Bhaktas and poor, sick persons with Bhava, Prema and Bhakti. The Lord is seated in the hearts of all.

The spirit of service must deeply enter into your very bones, cells, tissues, nerves, etc. The reward is invaluable. Practise and feel the cosmic expansion and infinite Ananda. Tall talk and idle gossiping will not do, my dear friends! Evince intense zeal and enthusiasm in work.

Be fiery in the spirit of service. Have Nishta with God and Cheshta with hands like the Bahurupi who has the Nishta of a male and the Cheshta of a female.

You will be able to do two things at a time by practice. The manual work will become automatic, mechanical or intuitive.

You will have two minds. A portion of the mind will be at work; three quarters of the mind will be in the service of the Lord, in meditation, in Japa. Karma Yoga is generally combined with Bhakti Yoga.

A Karma Yogin offers to the Lord as an oblation whatever he does through the Karma Indriyas. This is Ishvara Pranidhana.

Training For Karma Yoga

A raw untrained aspirant feels, “My preceptor is treating me like a servant or a peon. He is using me for petty jobs.” He who has understood the right significance of Karma Yoga will take every work as Yogic activity or worship of the Lord. There is no menial work in his vision. Every work is Puja of Narayana.

In the light of Karma Yoga all actions are sacred. That aspirant who always takes immense delight in doing works which are considered by the worldly man as menial services, and who always does willingly such acts only will become a dynamic Yogi. He will be absolutely free from conceit and egoism.

He will have no downfall. The canker of pride cannot touch him.
Study the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhiji.

He never makes any difference between menial service and dignified work. Scavenging and cleaning of the latrine is the highest Yoga for him. This is the highest Puja for him. He himself has done cleaning of latrines.

He has annihilated this illusory little ‘I’ through service of various sorts. Many highly educated persons joined his Ashram for learning Yoga under him. They thought that Gandhiji would teach them Yoga in some mysterious manner in a private room and would give lessons on Pranayama, meditation, abstraction, awakening Kundalini, etc.

They were disappointed when they were asked to clean the latrine at first. They left the Ashram immediately. Gandhiji himself does repairing of his shoes.

He himself used to grind flour and take upon his shoulders the work of others also when they were unable to do their allotted portion of work for the day in the Ashram.

When an educated person, a new Ashramite, felt shy to do grinding work, Gandhiji himself would do his work in front of him and then the man would do the work himself from the next day willingly. In the West cobblers and peasants have risen to a very great position in society.

Every work is a respectable work for them. A boy applies polish to the boots in the streets of London for a penny, carries newspapers and journals in the afternoon for sale and works as an apprentice under a journalist during his leisure hours at night.

He studies books, works hard, never wastes a minute and in a few years becomes a journalist of great repute and international fame.

In Punjab some graduates have taken to hair-dressing work. They have understood the dignity of labour.

A real Yogi does not make any difference between menial and respectable work. It is only an ignorant man who makes such a difference. Some aspirants are humble in the beginning of their spiritual career.

When they get some name and fame, some followers, admirers, devotees and disciples, they become victims to pride. They cannot do any service. They cannot carry anything on their heads or hands.

That Yogi who carries the trunk on his head without the slightest feeling in the railway platform amidst a multitude of his admirers, disciples and devotees, without making any outward show of humility must be adored. Sage Jada Bharata carried the palanquin of King Rahugana on his shoulders without murmuring.

Lord Krishna shampooed the legs of a Raja when his barber devotee was on
leave. Sri Rama carried a pot of water for the ablution of one of his devotees.

Sri Krishna took the form of a menial servant as Vithoo and paid the money to the Nawab on behalf of his devotee, Dhamaji. If you really want to grow in the spiritual path you must do all sorts of service daily till the end of life. Then only you are safe.

Do not stop doing service when you have become a famous Yogi. The spirit of service must enter every nerve, cell, tissue and bone of your body. It must be ingrained in you. Then only you will become a real, full-blown practical Vedantin.

Is there any greater Vedantin or Karma Yogin than Lord Buddha? He still lives in our hearts, because the spirit of service was ingrained in him and he spent his whole life in serving others in various ways.

You can also become a Buddha if you apply yourself diligently to selfless service with the right mental attitude. Attain Nirlipta State Lord Krishna says in His Gita: “Tasmat sarveshu kaleshu mam anusmara yudhyacha—Therefore, at all times think of Me and fight.” Give the mind to God and the hand to work.

The typist works at the machine and talks with his friends. The player on the harmonium plays on the organ and talks and jokes with his friends; the lady knits and talks with her comrades.

The mind of the girl who has a water pot on her head is on the water pot, though she is talking and joking with her companions while she is walking on the road.

A nurse while she is nursing the baby of another lady has her mind rivetted on her own baby. A cowherd while he is looking after the cows of other people has his mind fixed on his own cow.

Even so, have your mind fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord, while you are doing your household duties and office work. You will realise Self-consciousness quickly.

Just as the water remains unaffected in the lotus leaf, just as the oil floats upon the surface of the water without being affected in any way, so also you should remain in the world amidst pleasures and difficulties.

Just as the tongue is not affected by taking ghee, so also you should remain unaffected even amidst worldly activities and troubles. You must keep up the Nirlipta state. This is Jnana.

This is balance (Samata). You may fail to keep the balance and Nirlipta state a thousand and one times. But in the long run you are bound to succeed if you persist in your practice and if you discipline the mind properly. Every failure is a pillar for future success. Remember this point well.

A Karma Yogin should not expect even return of love, appreciation, gratitude, admiration from the people whom he is serving.

Only he who has reduced his wants and controlled the Indriyas can do Karma Yoga. How can a luxurious man with revolting Indriyas serve others?

He wants everything for himself and wants to exploit and domineer others. Another qualification is that you must be balanced in success or failure, gain or loss, victory or defeat. You must be free from Raga and Dvesha. “An action which is ordained, done by one undesirous of fruit, devoid of attachment, without love or hate, that is called pure.”

Karma means work or action. According to Jaimini, rituals like Agnihotra, Yajnas, etc., are termed Karmas.

There is a hidden power in Karma termed Adrishta which brings in fruits of Karmas for the individual. Karma is all for Jaimini. Karma is everything for a student of Mimamsic school of thought. Jaimini is the founder of Purva Mimamsa.

He was student of Maharishi Vyasa, the founder of Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta. The Mimamsa school deny the existence of Ishvara who awards the fruits of works. According to the Gita, any action is Karma. Charity, sacrifice, Tapas are all Karmas.

In a philosophical sense, breathing, seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling, walking, talking, etc., are all Karma. Thinking is the real Karma. Raga-Dvesha constitute the real Karma.

How To Find Right Or Wrong Action

Have right thinking. Use your reason and commonsense. Follow the injunctions of the Sashtras. Consult the code of Manu or Yajnavalkya Smriti whenever you have doubts. You will be able to find out whether you are doing right or wrong action. If you say, “Sastras are countless.

They are like the ocean. I can hardly understand the truths that are inculcated. I cannot fathom and gauge their depths.

There are contradictions. I am puzzled and bewildered.” Then strictly follow the words of a Guru on whom you have absolute faith and confidence.

The third way is: Have fear in God. Consult your conscience. The shrill, inner voice will guide you.

As soon as you hear the voice, do not delay even a moment. Start the action diligently without consulting anybody. Practise to hear the inner voice in the morning at 4 a.m.

If there is fear, shame, or pricking of conscience, know that you are doing a wrong action. If there is joy, exhilaration or satisfaction understand that you are doing right action.

Inner Voice When the diverse, confining sheaths of Atman have been dissolved by Sadhana, when the different Vrittis of the mind have been controlled by mental drill or gymnastics, when the conscious mind is not active, you enter the realm of spirit life, the superconscious mind where Buddhi and pure reason and intuition, the faculty of direct cognition of Truth manifest.

You pass into the kingdom of peace where there is none to speak, you will hear the voice of God which is very clear and pure and has an upward tendency. Listen to the voice with attention and interest. It will guide you. It is the voice of God.

THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himalayas, India.

http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/