ಕುದಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆವೆಗಟಹುದು; ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರೆ ಹಸಿನಾತ |
ಕದಡಲೊಡೆವುದು ಹಾಲು; ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವದರಹದ ||
ಅದವೊಲೆ ಮನದ ಹದ, ಅದನೆಚ್ಚರದಿ ನೋಡು |
ಬದುಕು ಸೊಗಹದರಿಂದ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
High heat can burn it, low heat can leave it uncooked; such is the sensitivity of milk; so is the mind, give it the right heat, watch it carefully; so it is for a blissful life.
What a beautiful comparison. For the unintiated and those from the take-the-milk-from-the-fridge-cold generation, it is a common practice among Indians to boil the milk before consumption. The boiling of milk has great significance in "Hindu" mindset. Milk is considered the essence of life, a life sustaining entity, symbolizing prosperity (sree) and clarity.
Here one's life is likened to milk; healthy, pure, and something with which one can make innumerable dishes. One needs to boil the milk to mould it into numerous dishes; without the boiling its use is limited. Here boiling of milk can be seen as maturing of mind. When the mind matures (i.e. understands the true/spiritual nature of existence), options open-up. Without boiling it is hard to ascertain the nature of milk. But, if the milk is burnt (over boiled) it creates a bad smell which spoils the fun. On the contrary, incompletely cooked milk can also result in preparations that last very short shelf life (temporary sense gratifications?). So, it is the balance that one should strive to achieve.
Moreover, milk is extremely sensitive. It can easily spoil if neglected; for instance, a drop of lime can change its characteristics. The lime drop can be words of others that agitate and disturb us. Agitated mind (burnt milk; or even broken milk) can spoil dishes. But at the same time, a lack of internal churning can be destructive too; agitation (boiling) is of mind is the reason for all creation and innovation, as long as it is controlled agitation.
In summary, one needs to develop (mature) one's mind and strive for a sensitive balance between being undercooked and burnt.
Mind is the reason for success. Mind is the reason for failure.
Shri KrishNarpaNam.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Dirty Waters
ಕೊಳದ ಜಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ; ಲೋಗರದರೊಳಗಿಳಿಯೆ |
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Your mind is like the (stagnant) waters of a pond, which is easily disturbed by external objects. When worldly objects get into it, all the dirt from within surface up; the dirt from within comes up and creates a murkiness. But, if we let it alone and not disturb it, it will gradually settle down to its peaceful, clear state.
DVG ki Jai :) Mind is compared to stagnant waters - stereotyped, limited, dirty at times, helpless, easily disturbed by even a small stone, but quick to settle down. When we step into it we can see the dirt come up easily. This is why DVG tactfully compares mind to a pond, not a river which flows. The trick is to keep it still or keep it flowing like a river and not letting the internal dust corrupt our nature of peace.
There is lot of dirt within in the form of kaama (lust, desires), krodha (anger), lObha (greed), mOha (illusion), mada (pride), and maatsarya (jealousy). We have no control on any of these arishadvargas, six categories of 'enemies' that can drag us out from the path of righteousness. We are the nicest people until others step into our "possessions". When a neighbor gets a car or a colleague gets a promotion or when a friend gets a better mark the dirt within surfaces. When external things disturb us, these negative elements surface out and show our "true colors", or most often the "wrong colors". What should one do when disturbed? Keep calm and let things settle down. Do not do anything in the "heat of the moment" as people say.
Our mind learns from us, and it learns to simply react depending on situation, which gradually become habits. So it would be what we train it to be. And, intelligence is the tool to train the mind. Many people use intelligence and knowledge interchangably, which is incorrect. Every human is equipped with intelligence, the ability to differentiate of the right from the wrong, the good from the bad, the infinite from the infinitesimal. Knowledge is accumulated learing from the past and can infact be a by-product of intelligence. Intelligence can help acquire knowledge, but aggregating knowledge need not translate to intelligence. Knowledge is abstract, and intelligence is the application of it. So, knowledge is below intelligence. Anyway. The ability to access that intelligence depends on the level of consciousness of an individual, which is tuned by samskaara and karma.
Why all these??? They make sense to understand that there are several levels for one to train the mind. The most intelligent ones know to control their mind and have the ability to live a simple life. Living a simple life is the most complicated aspect of life, because the mind would not let you, unless you train it to. So, it is the intelligent who can see the real purpose of life and tune his desires to match the ultimate goal of life. Anyway.
If we let mind on its own it will learn from the instincts or the sense, which are mostly negatively valenced. In that case, we are no different from animals, which are directed and dictated by their senses. So, one needs to practice some amount of yama (restraints and disciplining) and niyama (observances). The practice of ahimsa (non violence, peace with creation), satya (truthfulness), aasteya (refraining from wrong doing, like stealing), brahmacharya (refraining from adultery, observing control), kshama (forgiveness), druti (steadfastness), dayaa (mercy), aarjava (honesty), mitaachaara (ಆತ್ಮಸಂಯಮ, temperance, controlled behavior), saucha (cleanliness) are all the different steps prescribed for yama. Note that each one needs a special training for the mind, each one needs some amount of effort and sadhana. Further, one should also learn to practice hri (remorse), santhosha (contentment, satiation), dhaana (charity), aastikya (belief in God), eeshvarapooja (worship of the Lord), siddaanta shravana (hearing to the supreme most spiritual texts), mati (intelligence), vrata (piety), japa (chanting), tapa (meditation) are the aspects of niyama. Through these one can train the mind to be peaceful.
While the sanatana dharma prescribes one to be with peace with oneself, the western belief would have us believe in indulgence. With indulgence come greater disturbance because there is never an end to the needs and wants. The right way to live though is to keep the mind unperturbed by the external turbulances.
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Your mind is like the (stagnant) waters of a pond, which is easily disturbed by external objects. When worldly objects get into it, all the dirt from within surface up; the dirt from within comes up and creates a murkiness. But, if we let it alone and not disturb it, it will gradually settle down to its peaceful, clear state.
DVG ki Jai :) Mind is compared to stagnant waters - stereotyped, limited, dirty at times, helpless, easily disturbed by even a small stone, but quick to settle down. When we step into it we can see the dirt come up easily. This is why DVG tactfully compares mind to a pond, not a river which flows. The trick is to keep it still or keep it flowing like a river and not letting the internal dust corrupt our nature of peace.
There is lot of dirt within in the form of kaama (lust, desires), krodha (anger), lObha (greed), mOha (illusion), mada (pride), and maatsarya (jealousy). We have no control on any of these arishadvargas, six categories of 'enemies' that can drag us out from the path of righteousness. We are the nicest people until others step into our "possessions". When a neighbor gets a car or a colleague gets a promotion or when a friend gets a better mark the dirt within surfaces. When external things disturb us, these negative elements surface out and show our "true colors", or most often the "wrong colors". What should one do when disturbed? Keep calm and let things settle down. Do not do anything in the "heat of the moment" as people say.
Our mind learns from us, and it learns to simply react depending on situation, which gradually become habits. So it would be what we train it to be. And, intelligence is the tool to train the mind. Many people use intelligence and knowledge interchangably, which is incorrect. Every human is equipped with intelligence, the ability to differentiate of the right from the wrong, the good from the bad, the infinite from the infinitesimal. Knowledge is accumulated learing from the past and can infact be a by-product of intelligence. Intelligence can help acquire knowledge, but aggregating knowledge need not translate to intelligence. Knowledge is abstract, and intelligence is the application of it. So, knowledge is below intelligence. Anyway. The ability to access that intelligence depends on the level of consciousness of an individual, which is tuned by samskaara and karma.
Why all these??? They make sense to understand that there are several levels for one to train the mind. The most intelligent ones know to control their mind and have the ability to live a simple life. Living a simple life is the most complicated aspect of life, because the mind would not let you, unless you train it to. So, it is the intelligent who can see the real purpose of life and tune his desires to match the ultimate goal of life. Anyway.
If we let mind on its own it will learn from the instincts or the sense, which are mostly negatively valenced. In that case, we are no different from animals, which are directed and dictated by their senses. So, one needs to practice some amount of yama (restraints and disciplining) and niyama (observances). The practice of ahimsa (non violence, peace with creation), satya (truthfulness), aasteya (refraining from wrong doing, like stealing), brahmacharya (refraining from adultery, observing control), kshama (forgiveness), druti (steadfastness), dayaa (mercy), aarjava (honesty), mitaachaara (ಆತ್ಮಸಂಯಮ, temperance, controlled behavior), saucha (cleanliness) are all the different steps prescribed for yama. Note that each one needs a special training for the mind, each one needs some amount of effort and sadhana. Further, one should also learn to practice hri (remorse), santhosha (contentment, satiation), dhaana (charity), aastikya (belief in God), eeshvarapooja (worship of the Lord), siddaanta shravana (hearing to the supreme most spiritual texts), mati (intelligence), vrata (piety), japa (chanting), tapa (meditation) are the aspects of niyama. Through these one can train the mind to be peaceful.
While the sanatana dharma prescribes one to be with peace with oneself, the western belief would have us believe in indulgence. With indulgence come greater disturbance because there is never an end to the needs and wants. The right way to live though is to keep the mind unperturbed by the external turbulances.
Sarvam Shri KrishNarpaNam.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Managing the mind
ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ |
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Mend your mind in a way you mend a stubborn child; slowly capture its mind with some sweet little stories; shouting and spatting will not help, befriend it by giving small pleasurable things.
"Fantastic". Unfortunately there is no better adjective than this to qualify this verse. Wonderful analogy, again. A child knows little about whats right and whats wrong, it knows to catch your attention and get what it wants. Most people seem to either give in for the crankiness or shout at a crying child. Both these are temporary solutions. When we give in to its demands we are reinforcing its strategy and the future cries and demands. On the other hand when we shout and force the child to be silent, it will be so for a while but deep within it will continue to carry those negative thoughts and burst out as a volcano in future. We may have to understand "why" it is crying. Even if we do not get them what they want, we should know to calm them down. Most importantly, a crying child will not listen to us and by punishing we make it even more stubborn.
So, the first step towards managing a cranky child is to divert it, to calm it down. Either give it something else it likes or tell it some nice little stories, show it a moon and bring it to peace. Now, gradually feed it with positive thoughts, which is the second step. Most parents act instinctively by shouting the child to silence and think that they have achieved their objective, but they do not realize that this is a temporary workaround.
The mind is like a child. You may spoil it by giving in to its tantrums and demands, but it will keep demanding more and more as you try to satisfy it. If you try to forcibly shut its demands, it will fool you by either get into depressive state or a violent state in future. So, convince it with nice words and stories. First, one need to control it, bring it to a stable state. Then slowly and gradually teach it to be happy with what you have, teach it to enjoy with what you have, it will gradually learn to be calm. But, controlling mind is like controlling wind, it is said in Bhagawad Gita.
Sri Shankara says in Bhaja Govindam too: yal-labhase nijakarmopáttam vittam tena vinodaya cittam. If we can teach our mind to be happy with what we get through right deeds, it will learn, but we let it indulge and it will.
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion.
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Mend your mind in a way you mend a stubborn child; slowly capture its mind with some sweet little stories; shouting and spatting will not help, befriend it by giving small pleasurable things.
"Fantastic". Unfortunately there is no better adjective than this to qualify this verse. Wonderful analogy, again. A child knows little about whats right and whats wrong, it knows to catch your attention and get what it wants. Most people seem to either give in for the crankiness or shout at a crying child. Both these are temporary solutions. When we give in to its demands we are reinforcing its strategy and the future cries and demands. On the other hand when we shout and force the child to be silent, it will be so for a while but deep within it will continue to carry those negative thoughts and burst out as a volcano in future. We may have to understand "why" it is crying. Even if we do not get them what they want, we should know to calm them down. Most importantly, a crying child will not listen to us and by punishing we make it even more stubborn.
So, the first step towards managing a cranky child is to divert it, to calm it down. Either give it something else it likes or tell it some nice little stories, show it a moon and bring it to peace. Now, gradually feed it with positive thoughts, which is the second step. Most parents act instinctively by shouting the child to silence and think that they have achieved their objective, but they do not realize that this is a temporary workaround.
The mind is like a child. You may spoil it by giving in to its tantrums and demands, but it will keep demanding more and more as you try to satisfy it. If you try to forcibly shut its demands, it will fool you by either get into depressive state or a violent state in future. So, convince it with nice words and stories. First, one need to control it, bring it to a stable state. Then slowly and gradually teach it to be happy with what you have, teach it to enjoy with what you have, it will gradually learn to be calm. But, controlling mind is like controlling wind, it is said in Bhagawad Gita.
Sri Shankara says in Bhaja Govindam too: yal-labhase nijakarmopáttam vittam tena vinodaya cittam. If we can teach our mind to be happy with what we get through right deeds, it will learn, but we let it indulge and it will.
Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga text 35.
sri-bhagavan uvaca
asamsayam maha-baho
mano durnigraham calam
abhyasena tu kaunteya
vairagyena ca grhyate
The Blessed Lord said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is undoubtedly very difficult to curb the restless mind, but it is possible by constant practice and by detachment.
Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga text 36.
Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga text 36.
asamyatatmana yogo
dusprapa iti me matih
vasyatmana tu yatata
sakyo 'vaptum upayatah
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-realization is difficult work. But he whose mind is controlled and who strives by right means is assured of success. That is My opinion.|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
Friday, June 12, 2009
ಮನೆಯ ತೊರೆದೊಡಲೇಂ? ವನಗುಹೆಯ ಸೇರಲೇಂ?
ತನುವನುಗ್ರವ್ರತಗಳಿಂದೆ ದಂಡಿಸಲೇಂ?
ಬಿನದಗಳನರಸಿ ನೀನೂರೂರೊಳಲೆದೊಡೇಂ?
ಮನವ ತೊರೆದಿರಲಹುದೆ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ
Leave your home, enter a deep forest or a cave, observe penance, move to foreign lands, do what you want, your mind will always follow you.
This verse is a logical follow up of ಬಾಳ್ಕೆಯಲಿ ನೂರೆಂಟು ತೊಡಕು ತಿಣುಕುಗಳುಂಟು, ಕೇಳ್ಕೆಮಾಣ್ಕೆಗಳಿಗವು. ಜಗ್ಗವೊಂದಿನಿಸುಂ, ಗೋಳ್ಕರೆದರೇನು ಫಲ? ಗುದ್ದಾಡಲೇನು ಫಲ?, ಪಲ್ಕಿರಿದು ತಾಳಿಕೊಳೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ. Life is full of hurdles, the only way to live it is to live it and not leave it. Just smile, endure any difficulties and take steps as you can to overcome them. The other fantastic followup of this verse is my favorite ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ ರಸವೇನಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದ ತಿರುಳರ್ಗಮ್ | ಇಕ್ಷು ದಂಡದವೊಲದು ಕಷ್ಟ ಭೋಜನವೆ || ದಕ್ಷತೆಯಿನಿಡಿಯುವಂಗೊಂದೆರಡು ಗುಟುಕು ರಸ | ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕರು ಮಿಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ || That juice from life needs to squeezed out through hardwork and determination.
But, people want to run away from problems thinking that there must be some peace somewhere; "In pursuit of Happiness". There is an escapist in most people. Some try leaving home, running away from responsibilities. Some perform austerities in secluded places. Some try going to foreign lands. Some buy cars, some TVs. All ways to find peace outside self. It is all in the mind, which will always follow you do what you may. Unless you calm it down it will keep wanting more like an unsatiated fire. So, the only way to bring about peace is through mind. Keep it happy and it will be happy irrespective of where you are and what you do.
A cliche as it may sound, but people are haunted by their past, worried about their future, concerned about their present, when do they live? The only goal of life is to be happy irrespective of what. No car or no bunglow can provide that peace.
Check out these verses for some amazing thoughts. We'll explore each of these in subsequent blogs.
ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ |
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ಕೊಳದ ಜಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ; ಲೋಗರದರೊಳಗಿಳಿಯೆ |
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ಕುದಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆವೆಗಟಹುದು; ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರೆ ಹಸಿನಾತ |
ಕದಡಲೊಡೆವುದು ಹಾಲು; ಕೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವದರಹದ ||
ಅದವೊಲೆ ಮನದ ಹದ, ಅದನೆಚ್ಚದಿ ನೋಡು |
ಬದುಕು ಸೊಗಹದರಿಂದ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ದೇವ ಮಂದಿರ ಭಜನೆ ಪೂಜೆ ಪ್ರಸಾದಗಳು |
ಜೀವನದಲಂಕಾರ, ಮನಸಿನುದ್ಧಾರ ||
ಭಾವವಂ ಕ್ಷುಲ್ಲಜಗದಿಂ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಮೇಲೊಯ್ವು- |
ದಾವುದಾದೊಡಮೊಳಿತು ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ತನುವನುಗ್ರವ್ರತಗಳಿಂದೆ ದಂಡಿಸಲೇಂ?
ಬಿನದಗಳನರಸಿ ನೀನೂರೂರೊಳಲೆದೊಡೇಂ?
ಮನವ ತೊರೆದಿರಲಹುದೆ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ
Leave your home, enter a deep forest or a cave, observe penance, move to foreign lands, do what you want, your mind will always follow you.
This verse is a logical follow up of ಬಾಳ್ಕೆಯಲಿ ನೂರೆಂಟು ತೊಡಕು ತಿಣುಕುಗಳುಂಟು, ಕೇಳ್ಕೆಮಾಣ್ಕೆಗಳಿಗವು. ಜಗ್ಗವೊಂದಿನಿಸುಂ, ಗೋಳ್ಕರೆದರೇನು ಫಲ? ಗುದ್ದಾಡಲೇನು ಫಲ?, ಪಲ್ಕಿರಿದು ತಾಳಿಕೊಳೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ. Life is full of hurdles, the only way to live it is to live it and not leave it. Just smile, endure any difficulties and take steps as you can to overcome them. The other fantastic followup of this verse is my favorite ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ ರಸವೇನಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದ ತಿರುಳರ್ಗಮ್ | ಇಕ್ಷು ದಂಡದವೊಲದು ಕಷ್ಟ ಭೋಜನವೆ || ದಕ್ಷತೆಯಿನಿಡಿಯುವಂಗೊಂದೆರಡು ಗುಟುಕು ರಸ | ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕರು ಮಿಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ || That juice from life needs to squeezed out through hardwork and determination.
But, people want to run away from problems thinking that there must be some peace somewhere; "In pursuit of Happiness". There is an escapist in most people. Some try leaving home, running away from responsibilities. Some perform austerities in secluded places. Some try going to foreign lands. Some buy cars, some TVs. All ways to find peace outside self. It is all in the mind, which will always follow you do what you may. Unless you calm it down it will keep wanting more like an unsatiated fire. So, the only way to bring about peace is through mind. Keep it happy and it will be happy irrespective of where you are and what you do.
A cliche as it may sound, but people are haunted by their past, worried about their future, concerned about their present, when do they live? The only goal of life is to be happy irrespective of what. No car or no bunglow can provide that peace.
Check out these verses for some amazing thoughts. We'll explore each of these in subsequent blogs.
ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ |
ಇನಿತನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸು ಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ||
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿದನು |
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತುಮರಸಿನಿತ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ಕೊಳದ ಜಲ ನಿನ್ನ ಮನ; ಲೋಗರದರೊಳಗಿಳಿಯೆ |
ತಳದ ಕಸ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಬಗ್ಗಡವದಹುದು ||
ಕಲಕದದ್ದದೆ ಕೊಂಚ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದೊಡದು ಮರಳಿ |
ತಿಳಿಯಹುದು ಶಾಂತಿಯಲಿ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ಕುದಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚೆವೆಗಟಹುದು; ಕಡಿಮೆಯಿರೆ ಹಸಿನಾತ |
ಕದಡಲೊಡೆವುದು ಹಾಲು; ಕೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವದರಹದ ||
ಅದವೊಲೆ ಮನದ ಹದ, ಅದನೆಚ್ಚದಿ ನೋಡು |
ಬದುಕು ಸೊಗಹದರಿಂದ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
ದೇವ ಮಂದಿರ ಭಜನೆ ಪೂಜೆ ಪ್ರಸಾದಗಳು |
ಜೀವನದಲಂಕಾರ, ಮನಸಿನುದ್ಧಾರ ||
ಭಾವವಂ ಕ್ಷುಲ್ಲಜಗದಿಂ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ ಮೇಲೊಯ್ವು- |
ದಾವುದಾದೊಡಮೊಳಿತು ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Jealousy ...
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆಯೊಂದರ ರಗಳೆ ಸಾಲದೆಂದೇನೊ ವಿಧಿ
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚಿನ ಕಿಡಿಯ ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೊಳ್
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ತುಂಬಿದ ತೋಳ ಮಲಗೀತುಃ ನೀಂ ಪೆರರ
ದಿಟ್ಟಿಸುತ ಕರಬುವೆಯೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ
Another gem! As if hunger is not enough, man is inflicted with the disease of jealousy (what is referred to as a burning in the stomach) at others' success. Even the most ferocious of beasts sleep when they are full, but you (man) whine at others oh idiot.
Here, DVG refers jealousy as a spark that renders people sleepless. There are several hungers; hunger for comforts, hunger for honor, hunger for touch and so on, which all dangle on the the ire of jealousy. If we can satisfy jealousy, we could satisfy every other hunger. A wolf here probably refers to the other forms of hunger, which can all rest but this hunger of greed and jealousy takes away sleep.
ನೋಡಿ, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚನ್ನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ತೂಗ್ತಾರೆ! "ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೋಳ್" ಅದರ ಸೊಗಸು ನೋಡಿ, it is deep rooted in the human nature ಅಂತ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊ ಬಹುದು ಅಲ್ವ? Man fights for 4 basic things "eating, mating, sleeping, and defending", from which all the other complex needs arise. Eating and Mating are associated with growth and development, Sleeping and Defending are associated with Peace, Prosperity, and Security. Anyway. Physical hunger in the belly is satisfied easily if some food given at the right time. But, the fire in the belly (jealousy) grows like forest fire which needs to be watered and kept cool.
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚಿನ ಕಿಡಿಯ ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೊಳ್
ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ತುಂಬಿದ ತೋಳ ಮಲಗೀತುಃ ನೀಂ ಪೆರರ
ದಿಟ್ಟಿಸುತ ಕರಬುವೆಯೊ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ
Another gem! As if hunger is not enough, man is inflicted with the disease of jealousy (what is referred to as a burning in the stomach) at others' success. Even the most ferocious of beasts sleep when they are full, but you (man) whine at others oh idiot.
Here, DVG refers jealousy as a spark that renders people sleepless. There are several hungers; hunger for comforts, hunger for honor, hunger for touch and so on, which all dangle on the the ire of jealousy. If we can satisfy jealousy, we could satisfy every other hunger. A wolf here probably refers to the other forms of hunger, which can all rest but this hunger of greed and jealousy takes away sleep.
ನೋಡಿ, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಮತ್ತು ಹೊಟ್ಟೆ ಕಿಚ್ಚನ್ನ ಎಷ್ಟು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಸುಂದರವಾಗಿ ತೂಗ್ತಾರೆ! "ನೆಟ್ಟಿಹನು ನರನೋಳ್" ಅದರ ಸೊಗಸು ನೋಡಿ, it is deep rooted in the human nature ಅಂತ ಅರ್ಥ ಮಾಡ್ಕೊ ಬಹುದು ಅಲ್ವ? Man fights for 4 basic things "eating, mating, sleeping, and defending", from which all the other complex needs arise. Eating and Mating are associated with growth and development, Sleeping and Defending are associated with Peace, Prosperity, and Security. Anyway. Physical hunger in the belly is satisfied easily if some food given at the right time. But, the fire in the belly (jealousy) grows like forest fire which needs to be watered and kept cool.
|| ಸರ್ವಂ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾರ್ಪಣಂ ಅಸ್ತು ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
|| ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ರಾಮ, ಹರೇ ಹರೇ ||
Thursday, May 28, 2009
No Grapes, Sugarcane
ದ್ರಾಕ್ಷಿ ರಸವೇನಲ್ಲ ಜೀವನದ ತಿರುಳರ್ಗಮ್ |
ಇಕ್ಷು ದಂಡದವೊಲದು ಕಷ್ಟ ಭೋಜನವೆ ||
ದಕ್ಷತೆಯಿನಿಡಿಯುವಂಗೊಂದೆರಡು ಗುಟುಕು ರಸ |
ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕರು ಮಿಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
What a wonderful analogy! Life is not like bunch of seedless grapes that can be effortlessly squeezed to extract the juice out, but is like a sugarcane that has to be run through a grinding. Even a baby can squeeze juice out of a grape, but not even the so called expert can chew the juice out from a sugarcane. One needs to chew a lot of fiber to get to the juice and it pains the teeth or the arms (depending on whether you chew it or grind it). There are machines these days to squeeze a sugarcane, but even that needs some investment. These days someone else can extract the juice for you, but that does not happen in real life, where we need to squeeze it ourselves. So nothing comes easy, as some say. Even to gather two drops of the juice one needs to invest the right amount of effort. But the effort to squeeze out the juice will not just give the juice but a lot of what appears to be waste.
While reading this verse, I was thinking of the saagara manthana from our puraaNas; demigods and raakshasas trying to extract the primordial, immortalizing nectar. It had to be churned using a mountain, and it resulted in enormous derivatives including poison, but it had to be done.
So, there is nectar within each of us, but it needs diligence to extract the best out of it. But, we are all looking for easy ways out of it, easy money, easy life, and hence fail to extract even 2 drops out of the abundant juice stored within us. We store enormous potential that remains trapped and untapped because of our indolent nature.
Hare Krishna.
Shri KrishaarpaNam.
ಇಕ್ಷು ದಂಡದವೊಲದು ಕಷ್ಟ ಭೋಜನವೆ ||
ದಕ್ಷತೆಯಿನಿಡಿಯುವಂಗೊಂದೆರಡು ಗುಟುಕು ರಸ |
ಮಾಕ್ಷಿಕರು ಮಿಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
What a wonderful analogy! Life is not like bunch of seedless grapes that can be effortlessly squeezed to extract the juice out, but is like a sugarcane that has to be run through a grinding. Even a baby can squeeze juice out of a grape, but not even the so called expert can chew the juice out from a sugarcane. One needs to chew a lot of fiber to get to the juice and it pains the teeth or the arms (depending on whether you chew it or grind it). There are machines these days to squeeze a sugarcane, but even that needs some investment. These days someone else can extract the juice for you, but that does not happen in real life, where we need to squeeze it ourselves. So nothing comes easy, as some say. Even to gather two drops of the juice one needs to invest the right amount of effort. But the effort to squeeze out the juice will not just give the juice but a lot of what appears to be waste.
While reading this verse, I was thinking of the saagara manthana from our puraaNas; demigods and raakshasas trying to extract the primordial, immortalizing nectar. It had to be churned using a mountain, and it resulted in enormous derivatives including poison, but it had to be done.
So, there is nectar within each of us, but it needs diligence to extract the best out of it. But, we are all looking for easy ways out of it, easy money, easy life, and hence fail to extract even 2 drops out of the abundant juice stored within us. We store enormous potential that remains trapped and untapped because of our indolent nature.
Hare Krishna.
Shri KrishaarpaNam.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Controller
ವಿಧಿಗೆ ನೀಂ ಕಾರ್ಯನಕ್ಷೆಯ ವಿಧಿಸ ಹೊರಡದಿರು |
ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ನೀನಲ್ಲ; ವಿಧಿ ಬೆಪ್ಪನಲ್ಲ ||
ಹದವರಿದು ವಿಧಿ ತಾನೆ ಕುದುರಿಸುವನೆಲ್ಲವನು |
ಅದಟದಿರು ನೀನವನ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Try not to force a roadmap to fate, neither are you an authority nor is the fate an idiot. When the right time comes, things will all set right, do not try to disturb him, or chase him oh dull minded dumb fellow!
We all develop plans and blame others if they fail. We always seem to think ourselves as experts or authorities in the subject: "he should have done this way", "this is not fair", "I dont know why, I do not have any luck". But if we were experts we should have never failed, or we would not talk about luck. Strangely, when others achieve something it is by luck, but when we achieve something we would've deserved it. We are not just hypocrites but seem to think that we are in full control of our lives, but are we? Yes we are to some extent.
I was playing this game with my daughter once. We would push the train and make the train move by sitting inside the train. Believe it or not, we did make the train move, or so did my daughter think. We are no more intelligent than my 3 year old daughter was. We think that its our efforts that keep things on the move, but we forget that it keeps moving whether we sit in it or not. There is a driver who controls the train, who is the "vidhi raya", the "kaala chakra", the "karma" system who churns the wheel. We are just passengers in that. We have a journey to make, do what you may the direction of the journey does not change. You may try to change course but you could be punished; you could try to jump out of this cycle, this journey, but you could be wounded. We take different trains (different journeys) depending on our karmas and take a route that is predetermined for us. The only freedom we have is to choose what we want to do within the confinements of the compartment that we are in; may be move around across compartments once in a while, but even that is dictated by the facilities provided by the railway system. So is life.
When the destination comes the train stops and we can get off, but its better to be patient and wait for the stations to come while we continue to perform activities that we can (or should).
In Bhagawad Gita (3.5) Lord says:
"karyate hy avasah karma,
sarvah prakrti-jair gunaih
All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.
In the same chapter (3.36) Arjuna inquires:
"atha kena prayukto 'yam,
papam carati purusah,
anicchann api varsneya,
balad iva niyojitah"
By what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?
Even before the war starts, after exhibiting the Vishwa Roopa DarshaNa to Arjuna, the Lord says: All the great warriors--Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna--are already destroyed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies. All that we can do is to be "Instruments" and carry out our roles "nimitta-matram bhava savya-saacin"!!
We seem to have control but that control is not in our control, the control that is in our control is also controlled by a supreme controller. We are extremely minute and a negligible part of this creation and do not make any difference to this world (as a system, universe) though we may make some difference to some "people" on this system. Anyway.
There is a right time for everything; whatever happens, happens for good. Two popular sayings are beautifully potrayed in this verse.
Sri KrishnarpaNam.
ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ನೀನಲ್ಲ; ವಿಧಿ ಬೆಪ್ಪನಲ್ಲ ||
ಹದವರಿದು ವಿಧಿ ತಾನೆ ಕುದುರಿಸುವನೆಲ್ಲವನು |
ಅದಟದಿರು ನೀನವನ ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ||
Try not to force a roadmap to fate, neither are you an authority nor is the fate an idiot. When the right time comes, things will all set right, do not try to disturb him, or chase him oh dull minded dumb fellow!
We all develop plans and blame others if they fail. We always seem to think ourselves as experts or authorities in the subject: "he should have done this way", "this is not fair", "I dont know why, I do not have any luck". But if we were experts we should have never failed, or we would not talk about luck. Strangely, when others achieve something it is by luck, but when we achieve something we would've deserved it. We are not just hypocrites but seem to think that we are in full control of our lives, but are we? Yes we are to some extent.
I was playing this game with my daughter once. We would push the train and make the train move by sitting inside the train. Believe it or not, we did make the train move, or so did my daughter think. We are no more intelligent than my 3 year old daughter was. We think that its our efforts that keep things on the move, but we forget that it keeps moving whether we sit in it or not. There is a driver who controls the train, who is the "vidhi raya", the "kaala chakra", the "karma" system who churns the wheel. We are just passengers in that. We have a journey to make, do what you may the direction of the journey does not change. You may try to change course but you could be punished; you could try to jump out of this cycle, this journey, but you could be wounded. We take different trains (different journeys) depending on our karmas and take a route that is predetermined for us. The only freedom we have is to choose what we want to do within the confinements of the compartment that we are in; may be move around across compartments once in a while, but even that is dictated by the facilities provided by the railway system. So is life.
When the destination comes the train stops and we can get off, but its better to be patient and wait for the stations to come while we continue to perform activities that we can (or should).
In Bhagawad Gita (3.5) Lord says:
"karyate hy avasah karma,
sarvah prakrti-jair gunaih
All men are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.
In the same chapter (3.36) Arjuna inquires:
"atha kena prayukto 'yam,
papam carati purusah,
anicchann api varsneya,
balad iva niyojitah"
By what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?
Even before the war starts, after exhibiting the Vishwa Roopa DarshaNa to Arjuna, the Lord says: All the great warriors--Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna--are already destroyed. Simply fight, and you will vanquish your enemies. All that we can do is to be "Instruments" and carry out our roles "nimitta-matram bhava savya-saacin"!!
We seem to have control but that control is not in our control, the control that is in our control is also controlled by a supreme controller. We are extremely minute and a negligible part of this creation and do not make any difference to this world (as a system, universe) though we may make some difference to some "people" on this system. Anyway.
There is a right time for everything; whatever happens, happens for good. Two popular sayings are beautifully potrayed in this verse.
Sri KrishnarpaNam.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)