Gyaan~Ganga!

It’s beautiful to note that for many of our volunteers these days, the sun rises with Guruji’s melodious voice echoing through their drawing rooms, and illuminating the darkest corners of their minds, while the sun rays are satisfied with removing darkness from the corners of the house! We have Narad Bhakti Sutras at Shivangi’s house, Ashtavakra at Neha and Jainil’s, and Yoga Sutras at mine!


Knowledge – to me is like a cold dip in the holy Ganges! Every time I hear Him talk, on the secrets of this creation, I feel so grateful to be on this path! Sometimes there are goose-bumps, and sometimes a smile. Many times a loud laughter when He cracks one of his unique jokes in a south Indian accent! What better than the Master himself explaining how his own creation works! So patiently, so affectionately and with so much love!


It is said, “Rishinaam yatha chittanaam vaacham arthanu dhavate “ meaning, “When a Rishi speaks, experience runs along with his words”! This is the reason why it so powerful to hear/watch these knowledge sutras from Guruji’s! Its not the words, it who says it! Some things we hear Guruji talk about in these tapes are same as what our elders have told us a million times before, but when Guruji says it, the ‘AAHA’ happens! Bole to -- Chamakta hain!


We have been watching Patanjali Yoga Sutras at my house, which is my Favorite set of knowledge tapes!


Maharishi Patanjali


Here are some nuggets of wisdom from PYS:

Today Guruji spoke about Tapas:
What is Tapas? Willing accepting an uncomfortable situation, for some long term gain, is tapas! Yes, 5th Sem. Engineering Mathematics qualifies as Tapas! And there are 3 types of tapas:
1. Tapas of the Body: This means maintaining the physical hygiene of the body, and having a say over the senses! So you decide “I will not eat today” and that’s it, you don’t eat. Fasting is a part of this.


2. Tapas of Speech: This means watching what you speak. When you talk, what is happening to the listener? Are you creating disturbance in his mind, or are you creating peace and silence? The purpose of words is to create silence! And now that you are on this path, your words carry a lot of power! So if you curse someone, it actually might come true!

Speak truth – but pleasant truth. There is a way to say the truth! Some people have a habit of saying the truth in a very harsh way! Like, you can call a blind man “Oh Blind Man” – it’s the truth, but it might hurt him. Alternatively, you can call him “Oh Pragya-Chakshu” – which means the one who sees with his consciousness – whose eyes are his consciousness!! Now you only tell me – which is better??


3. Tapas of the Mind:
There are 4 things here:
• Maintaining a pleasant state of mind – its quite a tapas!
• Being calm and composed – Often when we are pleasant and happy, we get very excited and loose our center and become insensitive! But maintaining calm composed centered and yet a pleasant state of mind is a tapas.
• Silence – Keeping the mind silent, not distracted with the noise all over the place – is a tapas.
• Taking the mind inwards – Generally the mind is outward, with all the activity – and bringing it back to the self, inwards, skillfully – is a tapas!
Guruji also explained that tapas does not mean torturing the body! All these people who walk on fire, and sleep on nails, and stand on one foot etc have misunderstood Tapas! Saves me – I was planning to renounce everything and stand on one leg right outside VM starting Jan 1st ;) !!


The beauty about this knowledge is that it comes handy just when you need it. I am sure this would have been your experience too. Please be in a habit of listening to knowledge, and discussing it. Next time you are sitting with other volunteers, instead of discussing mundane bits, and gossiping etc, do take up some sutra and discuss it!


You have no idea how fortunate you are to hear these words at this age!!
Please leave comments with your own ‘Knowledge Nuggets’ from whatever you remember of any of the knowledge you have heard on the path!!


Jai Gurudev!
Virat