Bhoomananda Foundation

Bhoomananda Foundation

By Narayanashrama Tapovanam, An abode of BrahmavidyaReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality
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Bhoomananda Foundation episodes

  • Understand the Contrasts in Human Mind Through Mahabharata - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    Swamiji speaks on Mahabharata, mainly on the characterization of a few individuals to bring forth an understanding of the human mind and personality.

    Our body is a biological aggregate which we look after by food, nourishment and exercise. Our inner personality comprising of the mind and intelligence undergoes all the changes, improvements, enrichments. This inner personality defines our character, behavior and interactions.
    Mahabharata discusses the nature of this inner personality, its potential, possibilities, and gives us the history of our predecessors. Swamiji speaks at length about the human mind, its emotions, it’s excellences and being victimized by itself, sharing the story of how the 8th child of Shantanu and Ganga, Bhishma, came to be.
    Swamiji marvels at the pen of VedaVyasa which presents many contrasts in the Mahabharata.

    11 min
  • The Relevance of Mahabharata VIII - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    In this beautiful talk, Swamiji gives the examples of some of the epic characters from Mahabharatam–Draupadi, Arjuna, Bheeshma and Drona. In different times and situations, they had to face intolerable mental challenges and agony.

    Spirituality says that whether it is a physical torture or a mental torment there is a way of transcending both. There is something called the way of transcendence, the way of surrender, the way of clarity, the way of impersonal and impartial neutrality. That is called the Soul or God. That is called the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the soul. There everything dissolves.
    Citing various examples in and before the Kurukshetra war, Swamiji says that Bhagavad Gita is an answer and a redress and a solution for all kinds of developments in this world– physical, mental, intellectual or otherwise.
    Shlokas chanted in the Track:
    कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव: पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: |
    यच्छ्रेय: स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||
    Bhagavad Gita 2.7
    प्रीतोऽस्मि पुत्र युध्यस्व जयमाप्नुहि पाण्डव ।
    Bheeshma Parva, Mahabharatam, 6-41-34
    अर्थस्य पुरुषो दासो दासस्त्वर्थो न कस्यचित् ।
    इति सत्यं महाराज बद्धोऽस्मर्थ्येन कौरवैः ।।
    Bheeshma Parva, Mahabharatam, 6-41-36

    15 min
  • Ashtavakra Samhita - A Straightforward Presentation of Spiritual Science - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    Ashtavakra Samhita, is a conversation between King Janaka and Ashtavakra Maharishi. King Janaka asked sage Ashtavakra to enlighten him on Jnana, Mukti and dispassion.

    Spirituality is a psycho intellectual science. All panchabhutas are inert but we are sentient. Is the mind the final truth or is it a function of something else? Spirituality takes up this probe. When we take up this probe, we realise that everything around us is changing physically and chemically. Our body-mind personality too is transforming but we have an unchanging ‘I’ within.
    Purity of mind and refinement of intelligence lead us to the state of Self-Realization. As we drop desires and possessiveness and have no ego about anything, we become more pure and the self reveals itself to us.
    The ‘I’ is within, closer than the mind, intelligence and ego. Sage Ashtavakra presents this in a simple and straightforward manner.

    16 min
  • Scriptures Are Means to an End - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    In this track, Swamiji emphasizes that spiritual seekers require love, devotion, and association to a living guru to progress in their spiritual practice. The initiation and blessings from a guru holds great importance, as sādhana revolves around the guru’s guidance.

    Scriptures, such as the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, serve as guides to realizing the truth. However, mere reading of scriptures without realizing the truth is futile. Swamiji highlights on focus on sādhana rather than extensive reading. Overall, love, devotion, association with a guru, and realization through sādhana are deemed crucial in the spiritual journey, alongside the role of scriptures.
    Shlokas chanted in the Track:
    अविज्ञाते परे तत्त्वे शास्त्राधीतिस्तु निष्फला ।
    विज्ञातेऽपि परे तत्त्वे शास्त्राधीतिस्तु निष्फला ।।
    Vivekachudamani 59
    परीक्ष्य लोकान् कर्मचितान् ब्राह्मणो
    निर्वेदमायान्नास्त्यकृतः कृतेन ।
    तद्विज्ञानार्थं स गुरुमेवाभिगच्छेत्
    समित्पाणिः श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम् ।।
    Mundakopanishad-1.2.12

    14 min
  • Importance of Scriptures in Sadhana - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    The Sadhana of studying scriptures must be diligently practiced by a seeker, says Swamiji. Scriptures speak about devotion, restfulness in God, ephemerality of the world, dispassion, God, Self etc. They discuss how a seeker should do Sadhana to attain his goal. Scriptures throw light on the wholesome pursuit of the seeker.

    After reading or listening to the scriptures, one must absorb some of the cardinal points relevant to one’s own sadhana.
    Swamiji urges seekers to select and learn fifty verses which would represent their own Sadhana. These verses, once absorbed, would become a permanent wealth and help for the seeker. The verses would help him assess how much he has grown in his spiritual pursuit, what are the qualities to be incorporated, what are the traits to be discarded etc.

    12 min
  • The Impact of Srimad Bhagavatam on The Human Mind - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    In Srimad Bhagavatam there are twelve Skandhas, says Swamiji. These twelve skandhas are the raw materials which have to fed into one’s own mind. By the time one comes to the twelfth skandha, all the impurities of the mind are dissolved. The mind becomes beautiful and full of devotion.

    In the tenth Skandha, Bhagavatam discusses Sri Krishna’s birth, growth and exploits. The Bhāgavata author found that for the human mind to hold on to, there must be a beautiful and alluring character to hold on to. So, he presented Sri Krishna. Krishna faced a lot of adverse situations in his life but faced everything with a smile and acceptance. In the most conflicting and opposing environments, he did not lose his inner splendor, glory, potential and greatness. Swamiji urges all seekers to follow his example and strengthen and refine their own Mind and intelligence.

    15 min
  • Cherish the Scriptures and be Nourished by it - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    Speaking about scriptures, Swamiji says that a seeker must read and understand the scriptures and find his delight and inspiration in them. He has to cherish them and be nourished by them.

    Each scriptural narration speaks to the seeker as if it is his/her best friend, teacher or a parent. Hey are the great gift and treasure of mankind. There will be an answer in the scriptural narrations for every question in one’s life. For every need there will be fulfillment in the scriptures.
    Shlokas chanted in the Track:
    अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते ।
    तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ।।
    (Bhagavad Gita 9.22)

    15 min
  • The Relevance of Mahabharata VI - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    Swamiji in this message speaks about the different Yugas and explains how the decline started in the society.

    In Krita Yuga, everyone was happy, contented and fulfilled. But it gradually declined and there was a need for a monarch in Treta Yuga to maintain order and discipline.
    In Dvapara Yuga, independent thoughts and aspiration became strong and people took to argumentation and logic. Swamiji gives the example of the Kuru assembly where the Pandavas lost in the game of dice and everyone was given a chance to argue and present their case.
    Shlokas chanted in the track:
    कृते तु कृतकृत्यत्वात् त्रेतायाम् नृपशासने द्वापरे तर्कचातुर्य

    14 min
  • How Epic Narrations are the Prevailing Influence in Humanity - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    In this track, Swamiji speaks about our epic narrations–Ramayana and Mahabharata. He says that throughout these epic narrations there is a constant effort to inculcate in the minds of the readers and the listeners a fourfold human objective–Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

    Personal stories are the prevailing influence in humanity every time. They offer inspiration, ideal, compulsion, persuasion, commitment, dedication, sacrifice and what not. The epics depict stories and show how to deal with any situation.
    Shlokas chanted in the Track:
    स्त्रीशूद्रद्विजबन्धूनां त्रयी न श्रुतिगोचरा ।
    इति भारतमाख्यानं कृपया मुनिना कृतम् ।।
    Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.25

    16 min
  • Inculcate Values from Ramayana - Prabhata Rashmih | Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

    In this short audio, Swamiji points out the two values that one can definitely imbibe from the eternal epic, Ramayana.

    “This is my friend, this is not so”, this kind of a divisional approach and attitude is there only in the constricted and narrow minds. For a one of noble conduct, the entire earth is one’s family. One has to consider the whole universe as one’s own family.
    The second value is: Motherland and everything about the Motherland is far superior to even the heaven.
    Shlokas chanted in the Track:
    अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् ।
    उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥
    अपि स्वर्णमयी लङका न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ।
    जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ॥

    14 min

About Bhoomananda Foundation

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A series of talks from Narayanashrama Tapovanam.