Word Of The Week Index

These are past words of the week.

Ahankara : the sense of I-ness, which creates a sense of separateness from others. It creates the sense of “me” and “mine.” (cont) Dharma : derived from the Sanskrit root dhri meaning to hold up, to carry, to bear, to sustain. (cont) Purushartha: That which is pursued for the sake of the spirit or the immortal soul. (cont) Shruti : Hinduism, the Sanatana Dharma is considered to have existed for all eternity. (cont) Mrityu Meaning: Death Shanti Meaning: Peace, Contentment, Calmness, Tranquility, Serenity, Stillness Hinduism MAYA Etymology: 1.) Linked to the root MA: To measure, form, build or plan. 2.) YA: That which) = that which is not MA: is not ) There are two aspects of MAYA. One is associated with Avarana roughly translated as concealment. Other words in this group include illusion, appearance, web of seeming. In the Advaita Vedanta, maya is the veil which hides the transcendent truth of Brahman. It is piercing this veil of ignorance (avidya) and becoming one with Brahman that we can achieve moksha. The second aspect of Maya is associated with vikshepa rougly translated as projection. Included in this group are cosmic power, divine art, universal unfolding. This word we live in has emanated from Ishwara and it is his Lila that i continues. (Svetsara Upanishad) Maya is also considered to be part of God's feminie aspect (Devi) and has been called shakti or energy. The feminine aspect of maya has been personified as Mahamaya, the Great Goddess responsible for the creation of the physical world as we know it. In the Rig Veda Varuna used maya to construct the earth and give it order (crita.) Maya also was the father-in-law of Ravana and built palaces. He was the arch enemy of Visvakarmana who was the architect for the Gods. Maya has its origin in Brahman who is the Mayin. Maya is beginningless (anadi) because time arises only within it. Maya is unthinkable (achintya) because all language results from it. Maya indeed is most strange. In the end Sri Adi Sankara summarized it. Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah (God is truth / real, the world is unreal, the individual soul and God are the same.) Word of the Week written by Dr. Kishore Sehgal. References: 1.) The Principal Upanidshads by Dr. S. Radhakrishna 2.) Handbook of Hindu Mythology by George Mason Williams 3.) The Hindu Mind by Bansi Pandit Internet Resources: http://www.geocities.com/athens/olympus/5208/jnanayoga/illusion.html http://www.hinduwebsite.com/maya.asp http://www.hinduwebsite.com/beliefinmaya.asp http://srec.gurmat.info/srecarticles/thegreatillusionmaya.html Hinduism: Definition: The religious beliefs and social observances of Hindus. Hindu: Persian equivalent of the Sanskrit SINDHU ( river, as in SAPTASINDHU; also meaning great water, sea, ocean). It was used in Persia to devote the land and people living beyond the great expanse of water, the river SINDHU. Their pronunciation became HINDU, and then Latinized to the river INDUS. I have struggled at times to explain my Hindu religion or more accurately SANATANA DHARMA to my children. I have explained it as a religion or a way of life in which the VEDAS are of paramount importance, belief in reincarnation, the law of KARMA were integral parts of our belief system, which are all true. We were fortunate enough to have a visit from SWAMI DIVYANANDA TEERTH JI MAHARAJ, the SANKARACHARYA from Jyotirmath to our Mandir. He gave a pravachan for about an hour on the Art of Living in which he enunciated his views on Hinduism and they have helped me greatly, and I firmly believe that Hinduism is not only ETERNAL but also UNIVERSAL. HIS DEFINITION OF HINDUISM IS: The principles that make me the best I can be is Hinduism. PURPOSE OF LIFE: To move from individual Reality of your body, your life to a Transcendental Reality of ATMAN / BRAHMAN. PATHS FOR THAT are many and include ACTION, DEVOTION, KNOWLEDGE, and in most cases a synthesis of all three. Life requires ACTION and that success in ACTION requires THREE PRINCIPLES: 1. SINCERITY to the task you are doing. 2. SELFLESSNESS in that task. 3. To do the task to THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. Endeavor / strive to become the best. If you are a father become the best father. If you are a son be the best son. But do it with sincerity and selflessness. The hard part is to put these principles into practice on a daily basis, so that they become a natural part of us. This is where coming to the Mandir and being involved in Satsang can be most helpful. I invite you to come to your Mandir regularly and bring your family and friends. Word of the week written by Dr.Kishore Sehgal. References: 1. A Popular Dictionary of Hinduism; Karel Werner 2. Hindu World Volume 1; Benjamin Walker Hindusim   By acknowledging material reality all Jivas are drawn into the web of esistence. Inside the Samsara things are in flux. All that comes into being must cease to be BRAHMA, the creator, thus also created MRITYU,the goddess of death. As the story goes "Brahma's children multiplied but did not die.The cosomos became burdened with this overflowing population,which alarmed Brahma" . He then crerated MRITYU the Goddess of death. She then had her purpose to relieve the earth of the burden of the evergrowing population. When she heard this ,she ran away she relented only when Brahma told her that she would kill only the material hence the mortal component of a JIVA when and that all those she killed would be reborn. As in the Bhagawada Gita,Lord Krishna says NA JAYKE MRIYATE VA KADAAN NA YAM BHUTVA BHAVITA VA NA BHUYAN AJO NITYAN SASVATO YAM PURANO NA HA NYAIE HANYAMANE SAIRE This soul is never born, nor does it die at any time. Now having come into existence will it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, costant and pimeval. It is not slain when the body is slain.(ch2 verse 20). biological ImoeL SeTH IA X connected with life from the moment one is born i.e.the act of living is at the same time the act of dying. Yudhishtra asks in the DRONA PRAVA of the Mahabharata after seeing the destruction all around him. Who dies? What causes death? Why does death come to the living? He was not seeking the biological factors that being a life to its end,but the psychological death that occurs in life on a daily basis.The Mahabharata teaches that biolgical death alone is not death. Greed is death. Hatred is death. Violence to another in speech thought or in act is death. Untruth is death. How can we then free ourselves from the fear of death? In the SHANTI PARVA there us a dialogue between a Brahman and his son. He says "doing no violence to another . I will seek truth. Removing from my mind and from my hearts desire and anger, and perceiving pleasur and pain to be quote the same .I will there by free myself from death". (SANTI PARVA 175.31) It is only through truth (satya) that one conquers death.And it is not only in knowing alone but in living well. Death is asking us "Why don't you learn to live?" Word of the week written by Dr.Kishore Sehgal. Refrences ; The Mahabharata- Chaturvedi Badrinath The Bhagavath Gita -Dr. S. Radha Krishna Srimad Bhagavad Gita -A guide to Daily livinng Daana: The traditional Hindu form of charity Daana is voluntary in character and is looked upon as an act of piety. Giving Daana results in punya (God's blessings.) It is considered one of the three cardinal virtues in the Brinadaranyka Upanishad 5.2 and Manu Smriti III 15-19. These are: (Da, Da, Da) Dama - restraint Daana - charity Dayaa - compassion These are the basic qualities for which a man is revered and respected. Interestingly the Mahabharata gives five motives behind daana 1) To give because of dharma 2) To give because one is flattered 3) To give out of fear 4) To give so as to fufill some other desire 5) To give out of simple kindness It also states: "But no matter what the motive be, one should always give and share according to ones capacity. For one earns merit and a good name thereby." The Bhagavad Gita (XVII - 20) describes the "good" daana daatavyam iti yad daanam diyate 'nupakaarine dese kaale ca paatre ca tad daanam sattvikam smrtam That gift, which is made to one from whom no return is expected, with the feeling that it is one's duty to give and which is given in proper place and time and to worthy person; that gift is held to be "good." References: The Mahabharata, Chaturvedi Badrinath The Bhagavad Gita, S. Radhakrishnan The Principal Upanishads edited by S. Radhakrishnan Ten Upanishads of Four Vedas, Ram K. Piparaiya Word of the Week article written by Dr. Kishore Sehgal ____________________________________________________________________ SATYA: MEANING: 1) Truth. 2) Philosophically, it means unchangeable, That which has no distortion. SATYA is one of the virtues of Hindu ethics and the chief pillar of Hindu Dharma. It is inclusive of all other virtues and represents good in its entirety. From the Mandukya Upanishad the saying “Satyam eva Jayati” which means “Truth indeed triumphs” Dharma is often portrayed as an Ox. “Vrisho Hi Bhagavan Dharmah” It has four feet , Tapas - Austerity Saucha – Chasting Daya – Charity Satya – Truth / Honesty According to Manusmriti Book 4.138 “One must speak the truth (Satya) and speak it agreeably; must not speak the truth in an unpleasant manner nor must he speak falsehood because it is pleasing; this is the eternal Dharma. Dharma follows from Satya. Question: What is truth and what are its predicates. Answer: The Mahabharata mentions thirteen attributes of truth. Including truth itself as a predicate, they are: Equality – Samataa Self control – Dama Absence of envy – Amaatsarya Forgiveness – Kshmaa Modesty – Hri Endurance – Titikshaa Not to find fault with others – Anasuyaa Renunciation – Tyaaga Concentration – Dhyaana Nobility of conduct – Aaryata Forbearance – Dhriti Non Violence – Ahimsaa These thirteen attributes are only apparently distinct from one another, but have one and the same form; namely Satya. These attributes are purely moral in nature. There is no religion higher than the truth. There is no principle better than the truth. Truth is Brhaman; it is the universal law. Only that is truth which is beneficial to all creatures. Hence it is truth which obtains peace and harmony both within the community and within oneself. Word of the week written by Dr. Kishore Sehgal. Sources: 1. Hindu World – Benjamin Walker 2. The Mahabarata – Chaturvedi Badrinath 3. Hindu Spirituality – Mariasusai Dharamony ____________________________________________________________________ SHANTI: Word of the Week –Shanti From the verb root Sham = “to be at peace.” Meaning: There are several English words that can describe various aspects. They include: Peace, Contentment, Calmness, Tranquility, Serenity, Stillness. Every Upanishad begins with a Peace Invocation, “Shanti Path,” to create a proper atmostphere of serenity and purity. The invocation ends with the word Shanti repeated three times. The reason for these 3 repetitions is to ward off three types of obstacles. In Sanskrit these three disturbances are ADHI - DAIVIKAM – “disturbances that come from God” i.e. things utterly beyond our control like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes etc. So the first Shanti we are praying, “O God may we be protected from these obstacles beyond our control.” ADHI – BHAUTIKAM “disturbances that come from the world around us” like mosquitoes, noisy neighbors, family arguments. We have some control over this category. So this “Shanti” means “O God, may we be protected from the people and surroundings.” ADHYATMIKAM – “disturbances arising from the self.”The third disturbance is the most powerful and the only one over which we have total control. The ego, with which one is still identified, the people, places, things of this world stimulate anger, sorrow, hatred, destroy our peace. The third Shanti is then one of the most important ones, because even if we are free from outside stresses / disturbances, if the inner realm is not calm we will never know peace, conversely once we have found inner peace no external force can ever disturb us. So the third Shanti is praying to God to please remove all inner obstacles. There is one more element to the three fold chanting of “Shanti” and that is the silence that follows each repetition. The silence is representative of true peace. In the Bhagwad Gita there are many types of peace described. e.g. – -STHIRATA SHANTI – mental balance -SANTOSH SHANTI- satisfaction based on the fufillment received due to devoted work -SANTULAN SHANTI- balance of everything -PHALANISPRUHA SHANTI- working without aspiring to the fruits/results of labor There is a verse that summarizes how to achieve Shanti: It means if one can leave anger, hate and materialistic mind one can get ultimate peace. He who loves others and has control over his sense organs can acieve knowledge and ultimately peace of mind. There are 6 peace invocations – Shanti Path – in the 10 Upanishads. Some invocations are common to more than one Upanishad. http://www.celextel.org There was a learned lady who visited our temple, Bakti Didi, and I posed the question to her about peace / Shanti. She encapsulated as follows: “I want peace I = Ego Want = Desire Get rid of your ego and desire and you will be at peace.” As I get older it is clearer to me that no amount of money, power, and things that we surround ourselves with can be of any value if we are not at peace. I wish you and your family PEACE OM SHANTI…SHANTI…SHANTI. Word of the Week written by Dr. Kishore Sehgal References: Sacred Sanskrit Words Lowitz & Datta Ten Upanishads of Four Vedas Edited by Ram K Piparaiya Les Categories Semantiques du Sanskrit Sanghamitra Mohanty Amritpouri .org Bharat Samskreli Srimad Bhagvad Gita Dr. S. Radhakrishna ____________________________________________________________________   SANTOSH: Santosh is a Hindi word of Sanskrit origin that means contentment, fufillment, happiness. Santosh is the supreme virtue - the soil in which all other virtues flourish. As Sant Kabir said: "Jab awe santosh dhan sab dhan dhuri samaan." All worldly riches are mere dust compared to contentment of mind. Gandhiji was once asked by a western journalist who challenged him to reveal the secret of happiness in just three words. He took from the first verse of the Isha Upanishad - "Renounce and enjoy." . _ .. "tend tyaktena bhunjitah" In Yoga Vashistha there are four sentinels guiding the gate to moksha: * Peace * Discrimination * Contentment * Company of sages A sadhak is to cultivate these traits to prevent the mind from being distracted to achieve moksha. In the Padma Purana Santosh is the son of Dharma and Tushti (satisfaction.) As Bhisma Pitama said in the Shant Parva of the Mahabharata "Since everybody can see that there is no end to desire, and on its fufillment leads to a new one and thus leading to a perpetual sense of want which causes pain. What is needed is inner contentment, Santosh." For the mathematically inclined: H = R H = Happiness N R = Resources at your command N = Needs If one can bring "N" down to zero, "H" reaches infinity. But the practical aspect may be bring your needs down to become more happy. In conclusion, God's blessings come to us in three forms. * PLEASURE -- Satisfying our physical senses * JOY -- Association with others (satsanga.) * HAPPINESS -- Fufilling relationship with God   SVARTHA SVA: Self ARTHA: Goal/ Interest In the Srimad Bhagvatam Prahlad Maharaj Says: Na Te Viduh Svartha Gatim Hi Visnum Durasaya Ye Bahir-artha-maninah Andha Yathandhair Upaniyamanas Te Pisa-tantryam Uru-damni Baddhah (7.5.31) Everyone is an expert to see his personal interest first which is called Svartha-gatim. That is natural. But unfortunately these materialistic persons do not know what is his real interest. The real interest is Visnu, and how to serve Visnu/God. The Mahabharata takes Svartha head on. Bhishma Pitamah says to Yudhishthira “Man is the slave to self interest (svartha). Self interest is no one’s slave. That is the truth. I am tied to the Kauravas with the bond of self-interest.” Shanti Parava 109.6 Self interest is a moving force behind most actions. If we try to understand Svartha seriously these verses from the Mahabharata would be a good starting point. 1. Let on understand one’s self through one’s body and the mind. One’s self is one’s friend and one’s self is one’s enemy. Karna-Parva 69.47 2. Whoever has conquered his self, has his self as his friend. Conquered, the self is a friend; left unconquered, and enemy. Shanti –Parva 109.15 Sva-Artha( self-interest) has a higher form in SVA-HITA (for one’s good). And one’s good consist in securing PARA-HITA(the good of the other). In the ADI-PARVA there is a description of the Pandavas living incognito with the family of a Brahmana. The town is under control of a Rakshasa named BAKA who demands regular human sacrifice. This time it was the turn of the Brahmana to offer one of his family for that purpose. Kunti Devi sends Bhima to fight and he kills Baka. The Brahmana keeping Bhima’s identity secret said to the townsfolk “That a Brahmana, having the power of a MANTRA has delivered us from our pain and misery”. The Mahabharata tells us of that MANTRA and its power. “In the good of others ( PARA-HITA) lies one’s own good(SVA-HITA) It is thus the harmony between SVA-ARTHA, SVA-HITA and PARA-HITA that allows DHARMA to be established and to be the source of all achievements. Word of the week written by Dr. Kishore Sehgal. References: 1. Mahabharata, Chatervedi Badrinath. 2. Lecture at Harvard University 1969, Swami Prabhupada. 3. The Mahabharata, Vol. VIII, Santi Parva, Pratap Chandra Roy. MAYA Etymology: 1.) Linked to the root MA: To measure, form, build or plan. 2.) YA: That which) = that which is not MA: is not ) There are two aspects of MAYA. One is associated with Avarana roughly translated as concealment. Other words in this group include illusion, appearance, web of seeming. In the Advaita Vedanta, maya is the veil which hides the transcendent truth of Brahman. It is piercing this veil of ignorance (avidya) and becoming one with Brahman that we can achieve moksha. The second aspect of Maya is associated with vikshepa rougly translated as projection. Included in this group are cosmic power, divine art, universal unfolding. This word we live in has emanated from Ishwara and it is his Lila that i continues. (Svetsara Upanishad) Maya is also considered to be part of God's feminie aspect (Devi) and has been called shakti or energy. The feminine aspect of maya has been personified as Mahamaya, the Great Goddess responsible for the creation of the physical world as we know it. In the Rig Veda Varuna used maya to construct the earth and give it order (crita.) Maya also was the father-in-law of Ravana and built palaces. He was the arch enemy of Visvakarmana who was the architect for the Gods. Maya has its origin in Brahman who is the Mayin. Maya is beginningless (anadi) because time arises only within it. Maya is unthinkable (achintya) because all language results from it. Maya indeed is most strange. In the end Sri Adi Sankara summarized it. Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah (God is truth / real, the world is unreal, the individual soul and God are the same.)   ____________________________________________________________________