Teaching for the day – The Body

Srimad Bhagwatam

SB 10.2.27 — The body [the total body and the individual body are of the same composition] may figuratively be called “the original tree.” From this tree, which fully depends on the ground of material nature, come two kinds of fruit — the enjoyment of happiness and the suffering of distress. The cause of the tree, forming its three roots, is association with the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion and ignorance. The fruits of bodily happiness have four tastes — religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation — which are experienced through five senses for acquiring knowledge in the midst of six circumstances: lamentation, illusion, old age, death, hunger and thirst. The seven layers of bark covering the tree are skin, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and semen, and the eight branches of the tree are the five gross and three subtle elements — earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. The tree of the body has nine hollows — the eyes, the ears, the nostrils, the mouth, the rectum and the genitals — and ten leaves, the ten airs passing through the body. In this tree of the body there are two birds: one is the individual soul, and the other is the Supersoul.

SB 10.2.28 — The efficient cause of this material world, manifested with its many varieties as the original tree, is You, O Lord. You are also the maintainer of this material world, and after annihilation You are the one in whom everything is conserved. Those who are covered by Your external energy cannot see You behind this manifestation, but theirs is not the vision of learned devotees.

SB 10.2.29 — O Lord, You are always in full knowledge, and to bring all good fortune to all living entities, You appear in different incarnations, all of them transcendental to the material creation. When You appear in these incarnations, You are pleasing to the pious and religious devotees, but for nondevotees You are the annihilator.

SB 10.2.30 — O lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one’s meditation on Your lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accepting those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of nescience, one follows in the footsteps of mahājanas [great saints, sages and devotees]. By this simple process, one can cross the ocean of nescience as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a calf.

Thought for the day – Co-operation

To be co-operative means to have a quiet eye for what is needed and contribute accordingly. To be a support at the right time, in the right place.

Teaching for the day – Liberation

Srimad Bhagwatam 9.7.25-26 — Mahārāja Hariścandra first purified his mind, which was full of material enjoyment, by amalgamating it with the earth. Then he amalgamated the earth with water, the water with fire, the fire with the av xir, and the air with the sky. Thereafter, he amalgamated the sky with the total material energy, and the total material energy with spiritual knowledge. This spiritual knowledge is realization of one’s self as part of the Supreme Lord. When the self-realized spiritual soul is engaged in service to the Lord, he is eternally imperceptible and inconceivable. Thus established in spiritual knowledge, he is completely freed from material bondage.

Thought for the day – Patience

Patience is your willingness to let time and life move forward at their own pace, without losing sight of your destination. When there’s no rush, no hurry, out goes anxiety, in comes peace of mind.

Teaching for the day – Kali Yug

Srimad Bhagwatam 10.20.8 — In the evening twilight during the rainy season, the darkness allowed the glowworms but not the stars to shine forth, just as in the Age of Kali the predominance of sinful activities allows atheistic doctrines to overshadow the true knowledge of the Vedas.

Thought for the day – Generosity

Do not hide the treasures in your heart in fear that they will be stolen – instead share them and find they multiply.

Thought for the day – Peaceful Mind

Learn how to keep your mind peaceful by feeding good thoughts to your mind. Let your mind rest.. let it be restful… not restless. Remember: my mind is my own. I mustn’t let my mind cause me distress. I cannot slap my mind (suppress the mind) – I have to give it love. By giving your own mind love you will make it peaceful.

Thought for the day – Add fun to your life

Waking up energised and excited about tackling challenges is a sign that you have the ‘fun factor’ in your life. When you’re having ‘fun’, you’re curious enough to actively explore life. And then, nothing is impossible or off limits.