Yoga Philosophy & Meditation – Lecture 14

Yajur Veda Mantra 31/5 says that the whole world/atmosphere is created by Almighty God. Though the creation is the greatest,utmost and surprising deed which cannot be done by anybody else except God,But still in comparison the creation is nothing before the God i.e., the God isgreater than the creation and the surprising creation is nothing in comparison with God. In Mantra 31/7 it is added in Hiscreation that Rig, Saam, Atharva and Yajur Veda have been originated fromadorable God for the benefit of Human being. Every Rishi bowed, prayed andstudied the four Vedas because in the ancient time of Satyug, Treta and Dwapur no religion came into existence. Andthere was no holy knowledge except Vedas for the whole world.After studying thesame the Rishis learnt Yoga philosophy therein and practiced. Only then they realised truth and somehowthey wrote six Shashtras, Mahabharta and Brahmin Granth etc., for thedisciples/public’s benefit. Here again we must recollect that the Rishisstudied and practice the preach of Yoga in life, realised God through the powerof Yoga philosophy mentioned in Vedas then they became able to preach or writethe experienced knowledge. It is a matter of sorrow that now-a-days thetradition of practicing or experiencing the truth traditionally is almost allseemed to be over and mostly the present Gurus only by reading, learning byheart and briefing the same to thepublic like a lecturer. It is afraid that whether it has been a profession orsomething else. So traditionally the Yoga Shashtra has been a spiritualShashtra by Patanjali Rishi wherein he is explaining the truth .There are fivekinds of Chitta’s Vrittis——

PramaanViparya Vikalpa Nidra Smritiyha (1/6)

For the last morethan five thousands years the study on this matter is oftenly negligible which has caused a great blind faith etc. Anyhowthe first Vritti Pramaan has its three kinds——–

1.Prataksha 2.Anumaan and 3.Aagamaha

Most of theSadhus now a days tells people not to touch Shashtras,Vedas and Yajna which is the culture and a traditionknowledge of the Human being preached by Almighty God in the shape of fourVedas and thereafter learning /practising from Vedas the Rishis spread thesame. In the absence of this traditional knowledge ,no one is now able torealise the truth or decide the untruth. If we still learn about the said Vrittisfrom Yoga Shashtra based on Vedas then there is no reason left behind todiscover right or wrong. Because in Vedas/Shashtras to decide the truth, thePramaan(Proof) is to be produced .Pramaan means Proof . From the ancient timethe above stated Praman Vritti (Proof) used to be quoted while preaching orwriting being ordered by Vedas. It is a wonder that due to lack of traditionalknowledge and public being away from the traditional spiritualism the Praman(Proof) are not being quoted/asked and thus Muni Kapil says in his SamkhyaShashtra – Itaratha Andhaparampara(3/81) i.e., in the absence of an aliveyogi/philosopher of Vedas a new own created tradition will be generated whereinthe spokesman/listener both will be totally blind about the truth/facts . TulsiDass ji has also told in his Ramayana under couplet 97 verses 1&2 that –

l. Now the people do not see and study the preach ofVedas. Mostly sadhus sold Vedas i.e.,the sadhus do not know A B C about the Vedas / yoga philosophy preached therein. 2. In the absence of the traditionalknowledge of the Vedas , the people accept the religious paths which suit them. It has been also resulted that thepeople accept them the most wiser sadhus who are lack of Vedas /yoga philosophybut make spending fun and talk against the truth of traditional knowledge. We must therefore, learn our traditionalVedas, shashtras to decide truth. Todecide the truth Yoga Shashtra speaks to give Pramaan (Proof) from Vedasetc. First we learn about PratakshaParmaan as stated above. Please seethat Vedas/all shashtras including this yoga shashtra says that whatever comeunder this Parmaan that is all truth and remaining lecture/statement isuntrue.

PRATAKSHAPARMAAN

Five organs(eye,ear, nose, skin &tongue)gets the knowledge by seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting from outermaterilistic world and pass the same to the Chitta. The Chitta passes the sameto the Soul to experience and for disposal. Thus the knowledge collected by thefive organs and the faculty which receives and contains the same is called thePrime Vritti of Chittawhich is further defined as Prataksha Pramaan i.e., thetrue knowledge experienced by Soul through the process of five organs and PrimeChitta Vritti is called Prataksha Pramaan(direct proof given by fiveorgans).For-example Eye, the organ seethe snake .The effect of knowledge of the snake thus received and make on theChitta. Now the Chitta’s Vritti truthfully decided that it is undoubtedly issnake.This is called Prataksha Pramaan Vriti.(Direct proof from eye organ whichcan’t be wrong at this belated stage). Similarly we have to know about the other fourorgans viz nose ear tongueand skin on the matter of prataksha Pramaan Vritti. In this matter there may be some doubt also, For example far away there is some darknessand little bit light also. We see anddetermine that there is a snake. Butwhen we go near then we find there a rope instead of snake. The Prime Prataksha Pramaan Vritti gave thistrue knowledge about snake. So in thiscase to come to the conclusion about truth the Prataksha Pramaan (proof) isneeded fundamentally and traditionally which now a days is seemed tonegligible. This results to spreadblind faith and other harmful ways to the human beings. Vedas / Shashtras do not depend only on thePramaan vritti but either of the one from Prataksha, Anumaan or Aagam Pramaanis required to discover truth brief of which follows.

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Yoga Philosophy & Meditation – Lecture 12

Kapil Muni in his Samkhya Shashtra Sutra 1/15 preaches that the Soul is free and independent by all means. Soul is never attached with human body or any worldly matter. The matter is diverted in any different kind of shape and that is why it is destroyed. But alive Soul remains ever independent immortal and does not turn in any shape. In Sutra the Muni says that Soul is everlasting, pure, alive, learned, unchanged, liberated/set free, unobstructed by own characteristic. But due to the reason that Soul comes in contact with Prakriti (Rajo, Tamo and Sato qualities) i.e., attractive worldly matters through senses, organs and mind. Till such time Soul remains in the contact with Prakriti, she forgets her own everlasting above said characteristic.

Yoga philosophy (Ashtang Yoga) preached in Vedas/Shashtras enables Soul to feel her own liberated characteristic, as said in the previous lecture (Yoga Shashtra Sutra 1/3). Lord Krishna has told this reality in Geeta Shaloka 2/17,18 that no one can destroy the immortal Soul. And in Shaloka 2/23 Lord Krishna preached Arjuna that no weapon/arm/ammunition can make dent the Soul. Neither fire can burn nor water can make wet. The air can also not make the Soul dry. The mere study of Bhagwat Geeta/Vedas/Holy books cannot enable Soul to realise its own immortal characteristic. These Holy Books are full of preachings to practise Yoga education (Ashtang Yoga) to know truth. See, we are learning here about Soul and not only about Almighty God .We pronounce the Holy name of God as ”Sachidananda” also i.e., Sat(immortal) + chetan(alive) + Anand (merriment). So God is immortal, alive and has merriment characteristic. Here two qualities Sat (immortal) and Chetan (alive) are same as of Soul but third Anand (merriment) quality of Almighty God is not same. God does not bear the result of any deeds. God does not need body being Almighty. So God never feel sorrows etc., whereas the Soul to experience the result of deeds needs body/birth and feels disturbances in life etc. So when we do not make contact with learned Rishis/Yogis/Saints and do not worship God properly as preached in the previous lecture (from Vedas/Shashtras/Holy books/Yoga philosophy) then Rishi Patsnjali says in next Sutra:-

“VRITTI SARUPAYAM ITARTRA”
Vritti= various forms of Chitta,
Sarupayam=remains same as is Chitta’s Vritti,
Itartra=inspite of this(besides).
Meaning:- Inspite of the free immortal stage attained by Ashtang Yoga practice (Asampragyat Samadhi), the Soul due to the contact with Prakriti acts like Chitta’s Vritti and experiences sorrows, pleasure, attachment with materialistic world, birth/death etc., according to the result awarded by God to bear the result of good or bad deeds coming from several births. In absence of Asampragyat Samadhi, the Soul looks like Chitta’s Vritti, i.e., no difference looks between soul and Chitta’s (matter) Vritti, this is the reason that the Soul suffers in the shape of death/birth and other troubles. At this ignorant stage of Soul, when Chitta feels happiness /sorrows/ weeping / laughing / sadness / depression / sickness / birth / relations / attachment etc., and the same effects is felt by Soul being forgetting its above said real characteristic due to making contact with Prakriti (Rajo, Tamo and Sato qualities).That is whatever the qualities of the Chitta of Rajo, Tamo and Sato is held the Soul realises it is of same nature . We can say this is the oneness of Soul and Chitta’s Vritti, Soul being injudicious (not wiser). Whereas the real stage of Soul is alive, free from illusion as briefed above and Chitta is non-alive (senseless). And as said above the Soul in absence of practising Ashtang Yoga and in absence of attaining Asampragyat Samadhi, it has forgotten its real, immortal characteristic .This is the injudicious stage of Soul.The conclusion of the above is that after taking birth in human body , it is our duty to do only instigated deeds and discharging duties towards family and Nation, one should practise Ashtang Yoga to attain the stage of Asampragyat Samadhi like our forefathers of ancient Satyug,Treta and Duapar period .Vedas/Shashtras have taught the best way of getting final liberation to adopt traditional Yoga philosophy and too under guidance of a learned live Yogi. 

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Yoga Philosophy & Meditation – Lecture 13

It is a problem that now a days scientists are studying and do hard job to invent only the matter, which are visible and studied through mind whereas the God is invisible by organs. Yajur Veda Mantra 3/6 states that the Earth moves round the Sun and Saam veda Mantra 630 states that Sun revolves on its axis. The Mantra clarifies that due to moving the Earth, the seasons, days and nights etc., are originated. The today’s science has invented all above said theory but the fact why all planets are moving in the space is briefed in Yajur Veda mantra 33/43 that the earth has its moving nature and is thus revolving through Gravitational power. Each planet in space is attracted with its own Gravitation power. But this Mantra and Mantra 34/31 also clarifies that the Gravitation in planet is only due to the Gravity power of Almighty God. Because God is everywhere therefore, God is also within all planets and due to the Gravity and Almighty quality of God, the Gravitation is seen by the scientists in all planets. But the search being limited up to the visible matters only, no scientists has realized the Gravitation power of God which was realized only by our ancient Rishis / Munis.The Yoga philosophy preached in Vedas only gives us Divine eyes to realize God and His power .Our ancient Rishis/Munis ,therefore, were infact true Yogi and scientists, together. So one-sided progress in society has not been accepted by Vedas/Shashtras. Yajur Veda Mantra 40/14 says that science and spiritualism both should be progressed together by human being. Now a days, the World is usually after the materialistic progress only and the progress in spiritualism like Yajna, Ashtang Yoga practice etc., preached in Vedas are being ignored which has resulted tension, militancy, corruption etc., all over. Yoga philosophy preached in Vedas teaches us real path of spiritualism/worship as well as the qualities by which we discharges duties for family/nation. Yoga Shashtra Sutra 1/5 says-

Vrittiyaha Panchtay-yaha Klishta -Aklishtaha

Meaning:- Chitta’s Vrittis are five, sorrowful and without sorrows.

There are five kinds of Chitta Vrittis. Klishta Vrittis are those who give us sorrows and Aklista Vrittis do not give sorrows. When we are attached with Rajo, Tamo , and Satto qualities of Prakriti and are thus indulged with sins then the effect made on our Chitta will be sinful and when time comes to bear the sin then the Vritti gives us Sorrows accordingly. This Vritti is called “Klista”. And in contradiction when we attain pure preach from spiritual Master from Vedas/Holy Books and thus by virtue of Yoga philosophy we become ascetic/learned then the effects made on Chitta are of Aklista Vrittis which do not give sorrows/problems/pain/tense etc., in life. While doing worship /Yoga practice , both the Vrittis are to be faced by an aspirant but he should continue his practice to attain Ekagar Vritti and Sampragayat Samadhi first.The next Sutra says about the name of five Vrittis:-

Praman-Viparaya-Vikalpa-Nidra-Smaritayaha

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Yoga Philosophy & Meditation – Lecture 10

Traditional Yoga education starts right from learning Yama and Niyama i.e., on-violence, truth, not to be thief, to control on senses, satisfaction, purity, religious austerity, study of religious books and faith in Almighty God. The materialistic environments, now a days, has ruined the traditional aspects and therefore, to follow the above qualities are not being taken in human life with the result the loving atmosphere or brotherhood between public has gone away even internationally. Mostly, we now start doing Asana (posture) and we give it the name of learning Yoga Philosophy. 

We see in Mahabharata and Ramayana that in the ancient time, this Yoga Philosophy along with above qualities promoted the international brotherhood with long, happy life. Because the ancient Rishi-Munis/public practiced regularly its eight paths i.e., Yama, Niyama with the result they used to achieve final eighth stage of Samadhi (Salvation). Suppose if we now are doing Asana/exercises only or little bit Pranayam but there is no sign of satisfaction, non-violence, truth etc., in our life .So the mere doing Aasan’s practice will not achieve the main mottoes of Yoga philosophy i.e., Ahimsa, justice brotherhood and Samadhi with long happy life. In the absence of which we will not love the human beings like Lord Rama/Krishna/Rishi-Munis etc. They loved the public as well as fought for justice also. Now days, often it has been a tradition to do the Asana with the intention to take care of health only. If we see the health of Ravana, Kansa, Duryodhan and Dhristrashtra etc., so we will find that no body is available on the earth to compare in this matter but there good health only became the reason of destruction of family and peace of public so the Yoga philosophy does not target the health point only. Mainly it is a worship and preach to whole of the world to live and let live .So keeping in view the said aspects we must therefore not merely study the first and second Sutra of Patanjali Yoga Shashtra that Yoga is only Samadhi or total stoppage of “Chitta Vritti” is called Samadhi i.e., realization of God. We will have to recollect this traditional Yoga philosophy in the spiritual way also that full eight paths of Yoga education concentrate, teaches how to worship God, promote international brotherhood including spreading non-violence and discharging the duties about family and nation. 

Then we reach at the final stage of Samadhi. Certainly, therefore, traditional Yoga philosophy requires the deepest study of Patanjali Yoga-Darshan wherein we also find the references of immortal knowledge of four Vedas. In Vedas there are three immortal truths to be studied and known. First in Almighty God, second Soul and third is Prakriti (matter). God is one who creates Universe from Prakriti. Souls abide in human bodies. God and Souls are alive but Prakriti is non-alive matter. God and souls are immortal but the matters created from Prakriti are destroyable. So our body is as well as the whole Universe made from Prakriti is at one time destroyed, usually we see these happenings in the Universe daily like death, destruction of matter, food, cyclone, earthquake etc. Prakriti has got three qualities-Rajo, Tamo, Soothe Chitta (mind) is also made by the said three qualities of Prakriti.Sato quality is an indication of enlightment i.e., wisdom therefore, “Tato Chitta” is a wiser, Tamo is idleness. Therefore, Tamo Chitta never likes hard working and thus is lazy and unreligious. Rajo has qualities to do sins only. Therefore, by virtue of practicing Yama, Niyama and worship etc., when the Chitta attains the Sato qualities and ascetic stage and starts knowing the true religious preaching. At this stage the alive Soul feels himself totally separate from non-alive Rajo, Tamo and Sato qualities of prakriti. 

Therefore soul is alive and human body where in “chitta” is a part thereof, is non-alive. Therefore soul understands the knowledge viz., separation of “chitta” but “chitta” being non-alive matter does not know anything else. At this Samadhi stage the soul has got no worldly contacts .It is called “Asampragyat Samadhi” i.e., final liberation .It will be appreciated that mere doing Asana, the stages mentioned above can never be achieved /realized .Our birth is actually meant for attaining the said stage, the animals or birds etc., are not meant for this wisdom. And to attain the said stage the practice of Ash tang Yoga has been stated the best way in the Vedas /Shashtras.

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Yoga Philosophy & Meditation – Lecture 11

Yoga philosophy actully teaches the Astatang Yoga to restrin the Chitta’s various forms. For example when we see the water in a big pot and if the water is restrained and there is no any movement in the water then only we are able to see the shadow of moon in that pot .whereas if there is any movement in the water the shadow of moon will disappear . similarly if the Chitta has got various worldly forms through five senses .Then nobody is able to see GOD(realisation of god) .That is why Lord Krishna in 6 chapter shaloka 7to15has stated that who has overcome chitta’s various forms and who has controlled his five senses ,five perceptions and mind, who sits alone at a lonely place does Aasans and control chitta’s various forms ,he is a perfect yogi and gets peace of final liberation .However in sholka 33and 34 Arjuna puts problem stating that Chitta is very much powerful like the wind .Arjuna states that as the blowing wind in the space cannot be stopped by anybody else ,similarly the various forms of Chitta cannot be stopped.And in the absence of total stoppageof the Chitta’s various forms, nobody is able to do Aasan or meditation etc .In reply Lord Krishna preaches Yoga philosophy in sholoka 35 and 36 that the continuous practice of Yoga philosophy by an ascetic total stoppage of the Chitta’s various forms is possible .now a days we see that this this kind of superb preach by Lord Krishna is not being followed and there are very few who are real ascetics and practise Aasan/meditation ie; full Ashtang Yoga.Whereas from Mahabharta and Valmiki Ramayan we see that in the past three ancient periods Satya,Treta and Dwapur,this yoga philosophy used to practise by whole family (married or unmarried)door to door.So the doubt that yoga philosophy is not meant for a married family member is baseless.
When by virtue of the practice of Ashtang Yoga the stage of total stoppage of Chitta’s activities is achieved,then the aspirants attain the stage of Samadhi(final liberation) In this condition yoga Shashtra Sutra 1/3 states the stage of soul:
”Tada drashtuhu swaroope awasthanam”ie; when the aspirants gets Asampragyat Samadhi (final liberation) then the soul stands in his own and real status .whole ancient religious books like Four Vedas ,Six Shashtras, Upnishads , Geeta etc ;speak the said stage of Samadhi to attain which is only a matter of human life .At this stage of Samadhi only the effect of the three qualities of Prakriti ie; Rajo, Tamo and sato do not effect the soul and the soul thus stands in his own real shape .The orignal status of the soul is immortal having utmost merriment and has got no concern with the worldly afairs which he has forgotten ie;why only the yoga philosophy has been very nicely preached in the Vedas by God himself showing blessings to the human beings to realise the soul his reality.In the Sutra of yoga Shashtra therefore,Patanjali Muni very deeply preaches that if anybody else has attained the Samadhi stage,then the soul acts on the various forms of the Chitta and the soul never thinks about himself. To know the real picture of the soul a beautiful instance is quoted here.
Once King Janaka saw a dream that he was a beggar and hungry.he was wandering heither and theither in search of food for the last two three days.He saw a place where the holy yajana had performed and even everybody had taken the pious food.The food was totally finish. But he saw a piece of chapatti on the ground which he immedietly took and as soon as he was to eat ,a kite jumped on him and flew away with that piece of chapatti . Thus the King could not eat due to the acute hungry stage ,he fell down on the ground unconsciouusly. He immedietely awoke and felt sad on the dream. He called a religious meeting of the Rishi-Muni and asked them that which was true .Whether it was true that I was a King and had plenty of money /food or whether it was true that I was seemed to be beggar and hungry in the dream. No one could reply satisfactory.At last Ashtravakra Muniji came there and told the King Janak that neither it was true that you were a King nor you were a beggar and hungry in the dream ,you were only soul and not body. And soul does not require either your food ,money or any tittle of the word like King etc.

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Last updated on November 06, 2008 Recent Updates:   Duties of Wife and Husband NEW Mantras In Spanish Vedic Time Management What is the form of eternal worship according to Vedas? Prophet Mohammad in Vedas? Annual Yajyen 2007: Daily preaching by Swami Ram...

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Annual Yajna

Dear readers,

The 26th annual Yajyanushthan of four Vedas has commenced with effect from 30th April, 2006. His Holiness, Swami Ram Swarup ji, Yogacharya recites and explains the mantras in Hindi daily, for eight hours. His Holiness has now decided to spread the knowledge of Ved mantras in English on the web site for the benefit of readers with effect from today. Being Busy, he will only be able to explain one or two mantras in English. Only idea of the mantras will be explained, please. It will enable the readers to know about the subjects/preach of the Vedas.


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(this page will be updated daily till June 11, 2006. Please check us daily)

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Swamiji’s publications are available in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and other languages. These includes books and audio.

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Shrimad Bhagwadgeeta ek Vedic rahasya has explanation of each shloka of Geeta with the reference of Vedas. 

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It has compilation of some basic knowledge of Vedas such has Maths, Science and others. It is a must read book.  (2 Volumes)