Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. ARISE! AWAKE!

The day was the 12th of February 1963. Vishwanath Dutta and Bhubaneswari Devi welcomed into the world their son Narendranath Dutta, who would grow up to become Swami Vivekananda, one of the finest modern teachers of the Vedanta philosophy.

Vedanta literally means the end of or the highest stage of the Vedas. Swami Vivekananda was aware of the degradation of the Vedantic philosophy which had led to differences among people, causing countless sects among those who did not convert to foreign predatory religions but remained in the Dharmic fold. The contribution of Swami Vivekananda to enlighten people about the philosophy of Vedanta in his rather short span of life is simply incomparable.

How many of the so-called ‘pious ‘hindus” of today have even read the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, at least some of the prime Upanishads, or the Brahma Sutras? Social media is full of strangely dressed people with painted faces, those who are only further strengthening the feeling of duality in the minds of the masses. Each one starts his or her own ashram, cult, or whatever and breaks society into fragments with followers who haven’t the slightest clue of the essence of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, known as the nectar of all the Upanishads. There are also those who have read the Srimad Bhagavad Gita but have somehow conveniently either overlooked or misinterpreted certain parts of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which explicitly and directly destroy all kinds of rites and rituals done with the aim of receiving something in return.

Below are some such Shlokas, which, if you happen to be a person with an open mind, can at least set you thinking.

ARISE! AWAKE!

SBG 2:46-42 Unintelligent people, who have minds full of desires, are attracted by the flowery statements in the Vedas, and they consider heaven as their highest goal. For them, there is nothing else higher than it. They speak about the rites as prescribed in the Vedas which get them good birth, power and enjoyment. They think that there is nothing beyond pleasure and wealthy life. People who are attached to such gratifications and power are carried away by these words, and they are not able to attain total determination to concentrate on the Supreme Bhagavan or Divinity.

SBG 7:19 Therefore, after innumerable births, the one who has perfected his or her wisdom, understanding fully My universal reality, surrenders to Me and such a soul is very rare.

SBG 7:24 Foolish people who do not know My formless, exalted, imperishable, and supreme nature think I assume a manifest human form.

SBG 9:23 Those who worship other deities with faith are also worshiping Me, but they are doing it without true understanding.

SBG 9:25 Those who worship Deities, go to them; those who worship ancestors, go to their ancestors; people who worship ghosts and spirits, go to them; and those who worship Me, will surely come unto Me.

SBG 10:20 I am the Self, O Gudakesha (Arjuna), situated within all living entities. I am the origin, the middle and also the end of all beings.

SBG 13:02 (13:05 in some editions)You should know that the Kshetrajna or the embodied Self in all bodies or Kshetras is Me, O Arjuna. Knowing about the Kshetra and the Kshetrajnas is called knowledge.

SBG 18:66 Giving up all your ideas of righteousness or religion, take complete refuge in Me. I will liberate you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
 

Some famous quotes by Swami Vivekananda

“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care of what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.”

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, and none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”

“All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.”

“The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him – that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.”

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”

“Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin; to say that you are weak, or others are weak.”

“All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.”

“The will is not free – it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect – but there is something behind the will which is free.”

“The Vedanta recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, says the Vedanta, is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature, and that you have no power, and you cannot do this and that.”

“If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.”

Speech by Swami Vivekananda in Chicago – September 1893

The curse of duality

Please watch the complete video ‘ What is Moksha,’ given at the bottom of this page.

Think about it, what is that causes ‘religious wars’? They usually stem from beliefs such as, ‘My god is better than your god’, or ‘My religion is the true religion.’

इन्द्रं॑ मि॒त्रं वरु॑णम॒ग्निमा॑हु॒रथो॑ दि॒व्यः स सु॑प॒र्णो ग॒रुत्मा॑न् ।
एकं॒ सद्विप्रा॑ बहु॒धा व॑दन्त्य॒ग्निं य॒मं मा॑त॒रिश्वा॑नमाहुः ॥
indram mitram varuNam agnim aahur atho divyah sa suparNo garutmaan |
ekam sad vipraa bahudhaa vadanti-agnim yamam maatarishvaanam aahuh ||

‘Ekam sadvipra bahudha vadanti’ is a line extracted from the above Shloka 1.164.46 of the Rig Veda.

In Shloka SBG 9:23, Krishna says: Those who worship other deities with faith are also worshipping Me, but they are doing it without true understanding.

It means that Krishna, the personification of the WHOLE, and not some personal ‘god’ called Krishna, is the ultimate All-pervading Truth. Still, different religions and sects objectify the All-pervading Divine principle and end up breaking society into fragments that are in constant battle with each other.

It is nothing but ignorance of the highest science of Vedanta that makes people so highly vulnerable to ‘religious predators’ with vested interests.

The ‘Introduction to Vedanta’ course should help clear major fundamental misunderstandings about the Vedas, Upanishads, ‘gods’, ‘deities’, and other such factors.

The eve of a new Gregorian year

2022 > 2023

Would it be possible to put your finger in the air and ‘mark’ a spot in the empty, never-ending space? Similarly, would it be really possible to ‘mark a point in time’?

Duration can be specified as the perceived time span between two successive events, and time, as we know, is the common system for measuring the time interval between events. Since every moment follows its preceding moment and precedes the moment that follows it, it would help in reflecting on the moments that have passed. This is in order to have better and more useful as well as pleasurable moments in the future, considering the fact that the present is the result of the past. Learning from the past can greatly help in learning to be wiser and succeed in making the best of the moments that are yet to come. Reflecting on the past truly makes people wise and responsible, in that they understand that just as their present moment is a product of their past thoughts, words, and deeds, their future will be a product of their present thoughts, words, and deeds.

Taking responsibility for everything that happens in your life and not blaming others or other factors for them needs to be your fundamental attitude towards life. As opposed to most religious beliefs, I would say organised religion is one of the main causes of major conflict and hatred among people because religious people always have a ‘god’ whose ‘mysterious ways’ could be blamed for all undesirable things that happen in one’s life.

One of the main qualities in me that helps keep my life exciting and enriching all the time is my inherent nature to stay open and free all the time. No dogma, no religions, no cults, no babas, no swamies, no ‘ammas’, no deities, no ‘gods’, or nothing of that sort bothers me, influences me or enslaves me. My main driving force is to be able to experience every moment of my life to the fullest and acquire KNOWLEDGE.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति || ४ ३८ ||
na hi gnyaanena sadrisham
pavitra-miha vidhyathe
tath-svayam yoga-samsiddhah
kaalenaath-mani vindati (SBG 4:38)

There is certainly nothing more purifying than knowledge. He who is perfect in Yoga finds it in the Self in due course of time.

As against people who wish others a prosperous new year, lots of happiness and other such things, what I sincerely wish everyone is MORE KNOWLEDGE. One of the most dangerous factors that can hinder the acquiring of knowledge is organised religion, being a part of a cult, or blindly following or glorifying any individual, which in fact, is the first step towards building a cult. The moment you believe in some ‘god’, deity, baba, or religion, you will see all others to be in conflict with you. This is the typical ‘I am holier than thou’ mindset.

Below is a video that can serve as a quick checklist and help you ensure that you are free from any kind of dogma, cult or cultist attitude or inclination.

I wish you a wonderful, peaceful and enriching final day of the Gregorian year 2022. Reflect well, and chart your course for the new Gregorian year 2023.

Do you remember one of Krishna’s final pieces of advice to Arjuna, which is Shloka SBG 18:63?

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया |
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु || १८ ६३ ||
iti te jnaana-maakhyaatam
guhyaad-guhyataram mayaa
vim-rushyaita-dashesheNa
yathe-cchasi tathaa kuru
(SBG 18:63)

I have taught you the secret wisdom which is deeper than all that is confidential and profound. REFLECT FULLY on what I have declared to you, and do what you wish to do.

Don’t just blindly obey someone or believe something! Ask questions! Use common sense, reason and logic. REFLECT.

Post: Are you in a cult?

What is Atma?

Watch the video and find out for yourself what Atma truly is and understand the way in which most people are fooled and menaced using the threat of a horrible ‘afterlife’, of being troubled by ‘spirits and ghosts’, of ‘unsatisfied ancestors’ causing challenges in the lives of living people, and the thoroughly abused idea of ‘Janma and Punarjanma’ or birth and rebirth.

Before you watch the video, just ask yourself: How would it be possible to tell one ‘soul’ from another when both of them have neither their respective bodies, faces, nor DNA?

Understand what is meant by Atma and free yourselves from all unwanted webs of irrational beliefs and fears that will mercilessly destroy your life by ruining your peace of mind. All that has been said in this presentation has been substantiated by relevant Shlokas from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures.

A Run-Through of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a small, although crucial, part of the Mahabharata. It is a conversation between the warrior prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna. In the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Krishna advises Arjuna on the proper way to live and act, particularly in times of crisis and moral dilemmas. The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is known as the nectar of all the Upanishads

The key theme of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the concept of Dharma, which refers to the moral and ethical principles that guide human behaviour. Dharma is the foundation of a virtuous and fulfilling life, and it is only through the practice of dharma that one can achieve success and happiness.

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is about the two opposing forces in your mind that are constantly at war with each other that render you indecisive most of the time. It is only through INTELLECT and disciplined use of the SENSES by the mind that the positive forces in an individual can attain sustainable success. Krishna teaches that doing so helps a person overcome the duality of the mind and align himself or herself with the ‘Higher Self’ which is the All-pervading Divine Principle, Brahman, Paramartha Tattvam, or Krishna, and attain Self-Realisation which is the highest goal in the path of spiritual evolution.

In the second Shloka of the Gita Dyanam by Madhusudana Sarasvati, Sage Veda Vyasa is revered as one with immensely great intellect.

नमोऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे
फुल्लारविन्दायातपत्रनेत्रे
येन त्वया भारततैलपूर्णः
प्रज्वलितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः
namo’stu te vyaasa vishaala-buddhe
phullaaravindaa-yaatapatranetre
yena tvayaa bhaaratatailapuurṇaḥ
prajvalito jnaanamayaḥ pradiipaḥ
My salutations to Vyasa, the one with immensely great intellect, and whose eyes are like lotus petals.
It was by you that the lamp of knowledge of the Mahabharata was lit.

Sage Veda Vyasa was a genius, who, in a period as early as thousands of years ago, was, in fact, more rational, logical, intellectual, and scientific as compared to most fake religious teachers in the modern period of the 21st century, who peddle dualistic ideas, superstition, rites and rituals, and build religions and cults.

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is no religion with a belief system, with commandments, rites and rituals, or things such as heaven and hell. The scripture is 100% allegorical and approaching the chapters in such a manner would be the best thing to do in order to study it and gain knowledge that can be truly useful in turning one’s life into a healthy, peaceful, prosperous, enriching, and fulfilling one.

Every moment of life can be considered a new life or Janma simply because anything could happen to anyone at any time. Your present is a result of your thoughts, words, and deeds in the past and your future will depend on your current thoughts, words, and deeds. Therefore, be RESPONSIBLE at all times.

The Chariot: Shareeram – The body
Arjuna:Jiva – The master of the chariot
Krishna:Sarathy – the Charioteer – Buddhi – The intellect
The Reins:The mind that controls the senses, represented by the horses
The Horses:The Indriyas – The senses that tend to pull in different directions unless controlled by the charioteer using the reins
The Path:The path or the field n which the chariot travels – the physical and material world in which the body lives.

The FIRE of KNOWLEDGE

 न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति || ४ ३८ ||
na hi gnyaanena sadrisham
pavitra-miha vidhyathe
tath-svayam yoga-samsiddhah
kaalenaath-mani vindati (SBG 4:38)
 There is certainly nothing more purifying than knowledge. He who is perfect in Yoga finds it in the Self in due course of time.

Ignorance, ‘maya’ or illusion, and delusion, are some of the main factors behind most of the sufferings that people undergo. These factors prevent people from perceiving reality in a rational manner. That is how and why people fall victim to bizarre religions and cults, godmen and god women, take strange and painful wows, and do almost everything possible that in no way agrees with common sense.

At the core of such ignorance lies ‘Duality’. In simple words, it is the belief ingrained in people since their childhood that there is a separate entity called ‘god’ and that pleasing such an entity would change their lives for the better by showering upon them, wealth, property, worldly goodies, progeny, or even a life partner.

Such a belief leaves a gaping hole in the psyche of an ignorant person, through which, ‘soul-traders’ enter and take over their souls forever.

Our ancestors have left behind tremendous treasures in the form of Vedic scriptures of which, the highest stage is the Upanishads; and the supreme gift of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. However, people somehow neither find the inclination nor the time to read the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, which could, in fact, turn their whole life around. Their innate nature to find ‘quick solutions’ leads them to charlatans, frauds, and other fake religious people, and people end up being dejected, frustrated, angry, or chronically depressed.

Knowing this problem of people, in the year 2014, I created a website to help people read the complete Srimad Bhagavad Gita with ease. I use large fonts on my site that makes reading easier, and less strenuous or boring to read. I then came out with a Run-Through of the SBG, Audiobooks, E-books, paperbacks, and Udemy courses. My latest publication is called, ‘Capture the Essence – Srimad Bhagavad Gita,’ which is available on Amazon for a price that is next to nothing.

But even after all my endeavours to explain to people that Vedic astrology is only a tool used to acquire a general idea about the patterns in a person’s life and that Mantras are amazing tools in one’s efforts to master their own mind, I see that even now, a lot of visitors who come to this site, read the same astrology related pages, again and again, every day, expecting ‘planets to shower them with blessings of special favours!’

This page is another attempt of mine to gently lead people towards Vedanta away from all irrational beliefs and practices.

This page would be useful to anyone, even to those who are in a mental state of dejection, paranoia, fear, pain, and all other debilitating emotions.

When you face serious issues, don’t you go to speak to some elderly person or with someone who cares for you? Why do you do that? It is because speaking with them makes you FEEL BETTER, and not that they could solve your problems straight away. What does it mean? It means that talking to someone, helps you look at your challenge pragmatically, rather than emotionally, and this helps you think more intelligently, which can cause new ideas in your mind to help you get out of your predicament.

Even after one read of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, your ‘default state of mind’ turns absolutely pragmatical and rational, and the knowledge you acquire, guides you, protects you and, shows you the way to a healthy, wonderful, peaceful, prosperous, content, enriching, fulfilling, and blessed life ahead. If reading the SBG merely once could do this, just think what studying the Srimad Bhagavad Gita well could do.

This page is my gift to you. Taking it or leaving it is a choice you will need to make.

Just watch the videos below. There is no more reading to be done on this page.

Stay Blessed.

Please bookmark this page, visit it every day, and watch the videos in the order given one by one.

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Jai Shri Krishna

Why Study VEDANTA?

The question is, in fact, a straight and fair one. Why should anyone study Vedanta at all?

Vedanta is the ultimate goal, peak, or ‘end’ of the Vedas. The Vedas are a steady process of attaining Supreme Knowledge. The Upanishads, the highest and final sections of the Vedas, deal in pure knowledge of the All-pervading and eternal ‘THAT’, which you and all beings are.

Once you complete the above video, please take this free crash course: ‘Introduction to Vedanta – A Crash Course’

The MOST THANKLESS PEOPLE

Yep. If you are one of them, you would obviously know it, wouldn’t you?

I call GRATITUDE the noblest of all virtues because it encompasses all other virtues. Carrying this highest virtue all the time can act as a ring of protection around you. People might have helped you, monetarily, in finding a job, a life partner, or something else you wished for, but the one who has given you their time, has given you what is most precious to them – a part, however small or big, of their own life. Remember this always.