Bhoomananda Foundation

The entire meditation is to transcend thought and thought-processes, and reach at their source. There is bad and good in this world, but we need to understand that they spring from the same source. Understanding this will make every thought enlightening, instead of a cause of torment.

Swamiji deals with the subject of brahmavidya. The Brahman is the only imperishable substratum in the entire perishable world. Brahmavidya is the knowledge which discusses, reveals, and makes us realize and perceive that imperishable. It deals with the knowledge of the subject within us, that transcends the senses, mind, and the intelligence.

PR 15 Apr 2012

Poojya Swamiji enlightens us that we, as individuals, are a confluence. Though we are part of a small family unit, we are equally part of society, the nation, and the globe. To remain immersed in the thoughts and concerns of only the family is selfishness and constriction. Even the basic necessities we need for survival, like food and clothing, come from the contributions of the larger society. We are dependent on the world. Therefore, our minds should be open to expansion and to feelings of concern for others.

We always think that we will become happy by doing something. 'I will become happy' is the final point of a desire-motivated action. In reality, it is not the fostering of desire, but the extinction of desire that allows us to experience joy. Joy is the natural state of the Soul; it wells forth from within, but we do not experience it due to the presence of desires and agitations in the mind.

Though the Atma is all-pervading and the revealer of all, we come to know of it only when it is manifested through a body or an object. It is the Consciousness that reveals the entire object world to us, including our inner thoughts, emotions, etc. What appears in the mind is called a vritti. It can be an object vritti or even a thought about Brahman, which is called brahmaakara vritti. As long as we see them as objects, we miss the Consciousness that reveals them.

Nutan Swamiji enlightens us about the reasons why mantra japa sometimes fails to give us the desired results. Swamiji explains that as knowledge increases, our humility also proportionately increases. We realize that what we know is nothing in comparison to what is unknown. It is only when our mind is soaked in humility and gratitude that the mantra will have its desired effect; otherwise, it will have only a minuscule effect.

Nutan Swamiji explains that Sthairyam is the quality of remaining on the path of auspiciousness without getting distracted or destabilized by anything. Generally, we feel small, constricted, selfish, etc., while the Ultimate is the Atma, which is all-pervading and universal. Therefore, we have to move from ignorance to knowledge by expanding; a feeling of expansion should adorn our mind and intelligence.

In this talk, Nutan Swamiji elucidates the quality called Kshanti, or forbearance. Forbearance is when we do not let ourselves be affected by the misbehavior of others. Usually, when we are abused by someone, we immediately return the abuse. However, if we stop and think, we realize that by doing so, we lose our self-seatedness and become slaves to the situation.

Nutan Swamiji narrates how important it is for a sishya to follow the Guru's instructions steadfastly. The Guru may have given us a mantra, but initially, we do not know what the mantra represents, what its power is, or what will happen with its japa. The sishya must consider the mantra as the highest and supreme aspect of life and hold on to it as the ultimate refuge.

In this enlightening short audio talk, Nutan Swamiji explains that duhkha, as such, is not unenjoyable. Otherwise, how do we watch tragedy movies, read novels filled with pathos, and shed tears? We are actually enjoying the sorrow there. However, when it comes to our own lives, we fail to retain that impersonality and thus suffer. If we stop hating duhkha, we find that it can bring a lot of enrichment.