Spelade
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To understand the 'how' we must ask, what is the best version of myself. The question is answered from the absolute and the relative standpoint.
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Verses: 110-114
This lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda at Stanford University on September 15, 2019. The lecture was hosted by the Stanford Hindu Students Association.
Vivekachudamani is a prakarna grantha on Advaita Vedanta.
Maya is “anadi” (without a beginning), but not “anantha” (it is not eternal). It is beyond logical comprehension, cannot be explained in words or cognized with the mind, and is a great wonder.
Seven schools of Vedanta are mentioned, and then dualism, qualified non-dualism and non-dualism are discussed. In dualism, ishvara, jeeva and jagat – each have their own independent status. In qualified non-dualism, ishvara is present as antaryami in jeeva and jagat, but is different from them. In non-dualism, Brahman is present in everything in jagat and in each jeeva and is not different from them.
As in the snake/rope analogy, the wrong understanding disappears when we realize our true nature. The wrong notion is based on accumulated memory/impressions and is called Adhyasa.
Adhyasa has three properties: (1) Tamas, which functions as Avarana or concealment (2) Rajas, which functions as Vikshepa or false projection and (3) Sattva, which functions in the form of our natural interest to explore higher truth.
We live within Maya and cannot recognize it when living within it. Just like a dream, we have to come out of it to identify it.
The qualities of tamas are intellectual/physical laziness and ignorance. Rajas is the natural propensity to be active and functional. Rajas is superior to tamas. The natural evolution of human consciousness is from tamas to rajas to sattva.
Vikshepa shakti cause the rotating wheel of karma, vritti, vasana and samskara. The chain reaction of Vikshepa-shakti can be countered by following the seven disciplines. (1) Discrimination between unreal and the Real (2) Renunciation of what is unreal (3) Self-control: shama, dama, uparati, titiksha, shraddha and samadhana (4) Mumukshutam (5) Shravanam (6) Mananam (7) Nidishyasana.
Mind connects with external world through the senses. It can be restrained if we constantly remember the changeable nature of the world and understand avarana/vikshepa shakti.
The properties of Rajas are desire for enjoyment, anger, greed, pride, envy, egotism and jealousy.
What we learn from a teacher is in direct proportion to the shraddha we have. Lord Krishna’s advice at the end of 18th chapter of Gita: “Do not teach this science to anyone who does not have self-discipline, austerities and devotion, humility and willingness to do good to others. This great truth is never to be taught to someone who cavils me".
Avarana shakti is the manifestation of tamas, and is the cause of vikshepa shakti. It triggers a chain reaction by concealing the reality – then the great game starts with Vikshepa’s projection.
Avarana shakti is very powerful. Vedanta gives us all the proof, yet we continue to be deceived by it.
In dream-sleep, vikshepa is active. In dreamless sleep, avarana is active. Rajas to sattva is not a progression in sleep - only conscious actions lead to spiritual evolution.
Samadhi and deep sleep state are not identical. There is full awareness in samadhi, but not in deep sleep state. To transcend duality, one needs awareness. Experience of duality after samadhi is very different from before samadhi. Jeevan mukta lives in the world with zero concerns of what others may think.
Dreams cannot be completely separated from waking state experiences. Animals retain memory as instincts, not as memory that can be analyzed – as such, they don’t dream in their sleep.
Samadhi is the natural state of Jnana-prapti. Advaita is not a concept – it is based on anubhuti (experience). Swami Adbhutananda’s story is discussed – his conviction came from experience.
Mahavakyas, the Upanishadic statements are only approximations of the actual experience of Brahman.
People felt affinity to the opening words of Swami Vivekananda at Chicago – "Sisters and brothers of America". This is because he spoke from having experienced the unity and oneness of humanity. -
Generally, our identities are related to the tasks we perform and the experiences we have. However there is a unique identity that of a Karma Yogi which is not a special type of karma. Instead it encompasses all other identities and has many benefits. What are these?
To read the podcast transcript which is as good as a Vedanta article- https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
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Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and learn Vedanta - www.discoveratma.com
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..is the most common question in Vedanta. The reply lies into questioning the identity of the questioner, who is none other than our dear old experiencer.
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Our January 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/8fa7761180d2/aarsha-vidya-bharati-jan2023
Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and learn Vedanta - www.discoveratma.com
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Emotional and Physical pain is an inevitable part of living. The more we resist, the more it persists (in the form of dvesha) and further aversion to pain.
5 teachings for how we deal with pain, from the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita and our very own lives.
Last call to join Svadharma - Discovering and living our life purpose is a course from January 15th - March 2023 at Hindu University of America. Details - https://www.hua.edu/product/svadharma-discovering-and-living-our-life-purpose/
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Our January 2023 Aarsha Vidya Bharati newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/8fa7761180d2/aarsha-vidya-bharati-jan2023
Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and learn Vedanta - www.discoveratma.com
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10 teachings to learn, savour and assimilate.
Svadharma - Discovering and living our life purpose is a course from January - March 2023 at Hindu University of America. Details - https://www.hua.edu/product/svadharma-discovering-and-living-our-life-purpose/
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
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Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and learn Vedanta - www.discoveratma.com
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Our need to control, master situations and ourselves leads to feeling like we can control life. That very orientation of trying to control does not work in the moksha pursuit? What does letting go in the moksha pursuit involve?
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and enrol in Vedanta courses - www.discoveratma.com
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How do we know what to change and what to accept ? We dwell on this question in the context of our relationship to the past with the help of Pujya Swami Dayananda 's wisdom. These excerpts are from his book titled - Morning Meditation prayers.
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
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Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect - www.discoveratma.com
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The past seems to hover around us because of the way we see it. Tune in to see how can we move past 'the past'.
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In the teaching tradition of Advaita Vedanta, we pray to and seek the grace of Sri Dakshinamurti or Bhagavan as Shiva.
More so on Mahashivaratri, the night dedicated to Shiva as we pray to the guru of gurus. To know more about his formless form sculpted with self-knowledge, do listen.
For #101 - Rescuing God from our ideas - https://anchor.fm/the-river-of-wisdom/episodes/101-Rescuing-God-from-our-ideas-egmoer
The podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Our March newsletter is just out today. For Mahashivaratri, Panchkedar - travel to the land of Shiva and more - https://mailchi.mp/960223169681/aarsha-vidya-bharati-mar2022?e=0e8b0c9cd4
Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect - www.discoveratma.com
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During Deepavali we worship Devi Mahalakshmi as well as Devi Kali in some other parts of the country. But somehow a lot of us are wary of Devi Kali. When one of us encounters Devi Kali, a dialogue that alters the ahankara follows.
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
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Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and enrol in Vedanta courses - www.discoveratma.com
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The vision of Vedanta is that there is only one Atma, without a second. But modern society thrives on individuality, which means that one is separate from the other. How can we reconcile the need to be special in the vision of the oneness?
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Credits for Vande Mataram (flute) - Rajesh Cherthala for ring tone.
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Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect - www.discoveratma.com
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The one trying to raise self esteem and the one whose self esteem requires to be raised is one and the same self, ahankara. And hence self esteem is not sustainable. On the other hand, if one actually sees that the self one refers to is permeated by Bhagavan's presence, one will not struggle with self esteem issues. What is self esteem and how does it acquire a depth through Karma Yoga?
For the podcast transcript - https://discoveratma.com/category/podcast/
Our monthly newsletter will bring to you more happiness, more wisdom and more freedom. To subscribe to Aarsha Vidya Bharati - https://mailchi.mp/cea95b9ad987/aarsha-vidya-bharati
Our August 2022 newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/9455ba7c7af5/aarsha-vidya-bharati-aug2022
Vedanta - the river of wisdom is a weekly podcast by Swamini B (Brahmaprajnananda), a Vedanta teacher, author and Hindu monk.
To connect and enrol in courses - www.discoveratma.com
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The very first episode of The River of Wisdom!
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People like us have been looking for answers to many, many questions about life. This is the invitation to the River of Wisdom podcast by Swamini B, a Hindu monk and a traditional teacher of Vedanta which is a body of self knowledge, and a former psychologist.
It is an invitation to a journey of discovery for those who are seeking meaning to their life and living. Launching on 15th August 2018, Independence day for glorious India and birthday of my guru, Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji.
