Teaching for the day – Goal of life

SB 2.2.5 — Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed? Or above all, does the Almighty Lord not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then do the learned sages go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?

SB 2.2.6 — Thus being fixed, one must render service unto the Supersoul situated in one’s own heart by His omnipotency. Because He is the Almighty Personality of Godhead, eternal and unlimited, He is the ultimate goal of life, and by worshiping Him one can end the cause of the conditioned state of existence.

Thought for the day – Anger

Anger is an acid that does more harm to the vessel in which it is stored rather than to the person on whom it is poured.

Thought for the day – The Influence Of Gossip

I cannot afford to overlook the influence that other people have on me. To what extent do I check that I am not being influenced by gossip? Negativity in the mind is like poison. Negative thoughts are the seeds of negative actions. Gossip and guessing bring sorrow, heaviness and distrust. Hear no Evil; See no Evil; Speak no evil; Think no Evil.

Teaching for the day – concentration

SB 2.1.39 — One should concentrate his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who alone distributes Himself in so many manifestations just as ordinary persons create thousands of manifestations in dreams. One must concentrate the mind on Him, the only all-blissful Absolute Truth. Otherwise one will be misled and will cause his own degradation.

Teaching for the day – Lord Vishnu

SB 4.7.50 — Lord Viṣṇu replied: Brahmā, Lord Śiva and I are the supreme cause of the material manifestation. I am the Supersoul, the self-sufficient witness. But impersonally there is no difference between Brahmā, Lord Śiva and Me.

SB 4.7.51 — The Lord continued: My dear Dakṣa Dvija, I am the original Personality of Godhead, but in order to create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic manifestation, I act through My material energy, and according to the different grades of activity, My representations are differently named.

Thought for the day – Sin Bin

It’s a great idea in sport. Too many fouls and your out of the game for a short period. The same happens in real life, but we are not aware of it. Sin essentially means forgetfulness, or more specifically, to forget yourself, to forget who you truly are, a pure, peaceful and loving spiritual being who occupies and animates a physical form. It is this forgetfulness that makes us commit what we call sinful action. If you are insulted by another person, and you become angry in response, the sin is the anger which you create not the insult. You are asleep to the truth that you just hurt yourself, and that you are the creator of your anger not the other person. And now you have a recording in your consciousness that contains an image of the other surrounded by the energy of anger. You put it there, not them. Next time you see them, up comes the anger again, and in that moment you are at your least effective, paralysed by self created anger, you are effectively out of the game until you cool down. Interesting isn’t it. Never get angry, at anything, or anyone, anytime. It’s a sin!

Teaching for the day – non – attachment

The Gita again and again emphasises that one should cultivate an attitude of non-attachment or detachment. It urges repeatedly that an individual should live in the world like water on a lotus leaf. “He who does actions, offering them to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin as a lotus leaf by water”—V.10.

Attachment is due to infatuation. It is the offspring of the quality of Rajas. Detachment is born of Sattwa. The former is a demoniacal attribute, the latter a divine one. Attachment is born of ignorance, selfishness and passion and brings with it death; detachment is wisdom and brings with it freedom. The practice of detachment is a rigorous discipline. You may stumble like a baby who is just learning to walk, but you will have to rise up again with a cheerful heart. Failures are not stumbling-blocks but steppingstones to success

Try to dwell always in your own Self. Abide in your centre. Think of the Self constantly. Then all attachments will die automatically. Attachment to the Lord is a potent antidote to annihilate all worldly attachments. He who has no attachments can really love others, for his love is pure and divine. “Therefore, without attachment do thou always perform action which should be done; for, by performing action without attachment man reaches the Supreme”—III.19.

 

Thought for the day – Respect

Experience the bliss of Self-Respect and give respect to others at all times. When I am prejudiced against another, my narrow vision and small heart lower my self-dignity and self-worth.

Teaching for the day – the Gayatri Mantra

Om Sound as the basis of creation, Brahman
Unity of all that is visible and invisible
Bhur The gross: earth, existence, physical body
Bhuvah The subtle: atmosphere, prana, subtle body
Svaha The causal: heaven, Atman, the soul, causal body
Tat That: Brahman (The Ultimate Reality is simply
referred to as “That” because it defies description
through speech or language.)
Savitur The protector, Savitri, equated with the luminous, life-giving energy of the sun
Varenyum Supreme Consciousness that inspires adoration
Bhargo Goodness, radiance, luster, illumination,
destroyer of ignorance
Devasya Divine radiance or grace
Dhimahi Meditation or knowledge of the Absolute
Dhiyo Buddhi, intellect
Yonah Our energies, our actions
Prachodayat Inspire