Fatty Liver Diet

Below is the diet for stage 2 fatty liver. Nash condition.

No oil, sugar and salt should be used much. 

Waking up	Alo vera Juice + Lemon water	Use Patanjali Alovera – 100 ml only
Green Juice	Celery alone or Celery+ Carrot	Celery has good salts – helps in digestion and joints
Breakfast	Steel cut oats with stevia	Limited use of Stevia
After Breakfast	Eat 2 whole green cardamom	For Fatty liver and Pancreas
Lunch	Veggies  + Rice+ Dhal
Dinner	Veggies + Rice+ Dhal
Greens	Methi, Amaranthus,	Limited use of Palak
Oil	Cold pressed ground nut oil, sunflower oil and Olive oil	Limited use of Desin ghee
Sprouts	All sprouts are good – either cooked or raw
Tea	Can continue hibiscus tea
Nuts	Limited Almonds	No cashew, walnuts and pine nuts
Rice	Brown rice	Use rosemary while cooking rice
Dals	Masoor dhal with chilka Moong dal – especially the kichadi Rajma -for spleen enlargement	Use limited Urad dal and thor dal – they are acidic especially in idly and dosa preparation
Sourness	Use Tamarind – especially Thai Tamarind	Reduce Tomatoes – especially remove the seeds
Veggies	Veggies - Lauki, Karela, BhindI, Lufa Lufa, Cabbage, Cauliflower, beans, carrot, capsicum- all are good. Use sweet potatoes, white pumpkin good	No red pumpkin
Soup	Drumstick soup/Moringa
Fruits to take -	2 Apple, Pomegranate. Limited use of papaya and ½ banana per week if you feel like eating Berries – Straw berries, Amla, Blue berries	No Banana, Pineapple, grapes, mango and sapota ,dates and kishmish
Supplements	B12  and Magnesium	Not to take anything continuously – take and stop for Sometime – Let the body adjust
Juices	Alovera and Pomegranite for Iron in the body - Transferrin

1. – No fruits – no grapes, pineapple( not at all good), no sapota , no banana
2. – Limited papaya
3. Eat Oat meals – rolled – use stevia limited for break fast
4. Limited use of dates
5. Eat apple –2 to 3
6. Drink alovera juice with Lemon jucie – buy Patanjali – to increase transferrin in the body
7. Eat peanuts – ground nut,
8. No cashew- increases cholesterol,
9. No pine nuts, walnuts – use almond – limited
10. Use olive oil, sunflower oil for cooking
11. Moong dal and Whole masoor dal – use regulary
12. Use limited Urad dal and thor dal – they are acidic
13. Eat Rajma for spleen enlargement
14. Eat green cardammon 2 in the morning after break fast
15. Eat brown rice – not red rice.
16. Limited idly and dosa as it has urad dal
17. Limited tomotoes- especially the seeds are not good
18. Use tamarind – The best is Thai tamarind
19. All vegetables – the best is Bhindi,
20. Drink pomegranate juice to increase iron in the body
21. Sprouts are really good
22. Vitamins and Magnesium- take for some time and then give a gap
23. Fruits – eat apple, carrot, watermelon, pomegranate, berries – strawberry, amla, blue berry
24. In greens – Methi is good, Amaranthus is good, Palak is limited
25. Use Brown rice – mix rosemary in rice to reduce startchness
26. Use sweet potatoes, No red pumpkin , white pumpkin good
27. LOKI, KARELA, BHINDI, LUFA LUFA, Cabbage, cauliflower,beans, carrot,capsicum- all are good
28. Soup of drumstick – moringa is good.
29. Mix rosemary with brown rice while cooking to reduce starchiness

Tarot card Introduction - Choosing a deck

This is an amateur video explaining about Tarot cards and which deck to use 

Some Mantras

Surya Mantra

OM ghRNiH sUrya Aditya

ॐ घृणि:सूर्य आदित्य

om ghriṇih sūrya āditya

Tara Mantra

OM tAre tutAre ture svahA

ॐ तारे तुतारे तुरे स्वहा

om tāre tutāre ture svahā

 More will be posted

Why Spirituality?

Why Spirituality?

This is an important question that one should ask himself before want to pursue the path of Spirituality. The path of spirituality is different from path of rituals that are followed as spirituality now. So it is necessary for us to be clear as to why we want to pursue in the path of Spirituality

The nature of the human mind is that it always wants something or the other; because of this we undergo a series of emotions which is a never ending cycle of happiness and suffering. When a person realizes this truth and wants to transcend beyond this then his true spiritual journey begins.

Most of us are stuck at the level of Material happiness and reluctantly accept the suffering which comes along with it. We assume that all the happiness in the world can be acquired through money or material happiness is the primary source of happiness. We feel that outside objects around us is the source of happiness and try to accumulate more of it, but once you acquire what you want, there is an urge to acquire more and more. This becomes a never ending process and hence we fall in the trap of suffering.

The above point is important to understand as this realization is the stepping stone to spiritual progress. Only when we understand that outside objects is not the source of your happiness but rather is a tool to secure the body and its life for future contingencies. You will come to a profound understanding that happiness is not outside. Happiness is derived from within. The moment we understand money, objects and everything around us does not affect the way we feel about our self. We start the process of transcending this apparent material world.

Then at this crucial part of our life we try to find the answer for how we can experience true happiness and how to get over this cycle of suffering. At this stage we try to understand why am I suffering? This enquiry leads to the understanding mentioned above that attachment to material objects are the cause for suffering. Then next there is a void in our life as throughout our life we were behind money and objects and now we have now left the same. Then our mind works over time to go against the will and makes us to run behind objects again, but with will power we bring a control over our attachments. At this stage we give up objects and start having control over desires, and then we question ourselves what is the purpose of our life? Because throughout our life we were behind objects assuming that it’s the source of our happiness now that idea itself has crashed in our mind.

This is the stage where true transformation starts happening with the help of a Guru, were we start understanding the nature of our existence (because we have let go of objects and external world so only option left now is to turn inward and understand the nature of our existence). Once the renunciation of the material world beings (metaphorically as we still exist on earth only mental transformation happens) the questions like what is this life? What is the nature of the life? What is the purpose of the life? And most importantly who am I? Are the questions, that arise in the mind of the seeker. This is where he steps into spiritual path and he starts letting go of his attachment towards material world and starts understanding life by learning from a Guru, studying scripture and performing sadhana.

The spiritual seeks now learns the reason for his unhappiness and realizes that mind and ego are the source of all suffering, mind and ego gives rise to desire which is the cause of all the suffering. Then with meditation and learning from the teachings of the scriptures the apparent problems that he is facing would be of no consequence for him as he would just see all problems as the ones created by the mind, and he is not the mind or the ego but the observers of the both. At this stage he starts differentiating between himself and what is not he; through enquiry he will understand that he is not the body, prana, mind, false knowledge that he is the body and mind or the bliss arising from material object. He realizes that these are the objects of the experience and he is the observer of these. At this stage he finds true and everlasting happiness. Further he will realize that this observer which is the source of all objects is not restricted to himself but pervades everywhere as consciousness. This the ultimate stage where he realizes all is one and merges with the supreme consciousness. Getting away from the suffering permanently transcending Maya.

Note realization is not something which he creates or something that one searches for, this truth already exists but he realizes it now. At this stage realization happens and the apparent world becomes a maya for that being

Maya – The Grand Illusion

Maya – The Grand Illusion

If you go an elderly person ask what is life? They will just say that life is just a farce, they will say that things happen and we can control few and most of the other things are out of our control. We just ride the wave of what is happening to us with little or no control.

Though we feel that we have control on what we are doing or deciding, this control is conditioned by our surrounding, the way we are brought up and the habits/tendencies that we have acquired. It is these factors which have very high influence on our life which takes away our freedom and act based on the limitations that we are put into.

So these limitations that we are put into is nothing but Maya, to be precise the joy, sorrow, money, planets, talk, thought are all considered as Maya in Advaita Vedanta. To put in simple terms anything that can felt, seen, felt, understood or perceived is Maya. All that is physical is Maya.

Now this point creates lot of disturbance to people who are engaged in this world thoroughly and have difficult time agree with this point.

So why the yogi’s of the past and present say that the world and all the apparent things around is Maya, in fact Krishna say’s that world appears out of his Yoga Maya, or it arises from his yogic powers. This gives us a hint now that Maya is the power of the Brahman. This power arises out of Brahman and goes back into it. Meaning the apparent world arises out of Nirguna Brahman and goes back into the same, so one thing that remains always is Brahman and what comes and goes as a world is just nothing but a wave in the ocean of Brahman.

Now let us dwell more into this, the point here is that there is an underlying string which is the cause of all and this underlying factor gives rise to all that is. Now when there is something which is the source for the apparent world then how can the world be true existence? Its existence is completely dependent on Brahman. So now point becomes clear that world is a manifestation of Brahman.

Now people will come up with an argument that, the world is a manifestation of the God and hence there is God and from the God this world has come into being this existence and hence this existence is true as it is a manifestation from the Lord.

But Advaita goes even further to say that the world does not exist at all this world is just an appearance in the consciousness of the Brahman. This is where things get tricky. How and why do they say that this world does not exist at all?

It’s like this when a man dresses up like a women , the perceiving eye gets confused and misidentifies man to a women. Now we know that he is a man but his outer covering and dressing is making him to look like a woman but reality he is not. So man in this case is the absolute truth and looking like women is the Maya. The Man here has transformed himself to a women even though this has deceived others. Does it change the fact that he is man? No absolutely not.

Similarly the consciousness projects itself upon itself this world and assumes itself as this limited world, but this is wrong as it’s true nature is the absolute (Brahman) and the world is the projection in its consciousness. So for example if a person imagines himself to have four hands and now if he gets confused between reality and imagination and considers himself to have four hands. Does it change the fact that he has four hands? Absolutely not, so it is his mental projection (A mental image viewed as reality) which is giving raise such delusion.

This way it is quite clear that the apparent world and us are nothing but the projections in the Consciousness. It’s like we are in a child’s game where one day he build a castle and the next movement breaks it apart, similarly we are born in this projection (appear in the consciousness) and die in the same, but in reality there is no birth or death as everything is one reality i.e. Brahman. We have just put on this dress of body and discard it which is of no relevance to us as there is just Brahman.

Balance

Balance

We always talk about balance in life, what does this really mean when a person wants to lead a meaningful and fruitful life?

Balance is more to do with mind not getting afflicted with desires and addictions. In short balance can be simply explained as a state of being where a person interacts with everything and yet he is not attached to it but will enjoy the material world to the fullest.

Here the person will welcome all aspects of life as same and does not exhibit extreme emotions under any situation. Though he is subjected to pleasures and pains of life he will always experience both with a stable mind which allows him to look at the problem as an detached person rather than investing emotions into the issue.

Balanced person will view the pleasures and pains as no different to each other as after pleasure there is pain and after pain there is pleasure, such being the state of life a balanced person understands this fundamental fact and lives a life which is beyond the both, he will always look at both state of living as temporary and ever changing, which in due course of time he will discard both of them as these feelings are nothing but a problem created by the human mind and they are not real, as we can be happy for no reason if we control our mind thoroughly. To justify this let us take an analogy some people find happiness in music whereas the few think it as nothing but noise. A source of pleasure for one is a source of pain for the other. Hence here both pleasure and pain is both mental phenomenon and if mind is ignored/subdued/controlled then for such person everything is one as he has no reason to feel happy/unhappy for anything from external sources and yet he is very contented internally which leads to an inexplicable happiness beyond words.

So balance is nothing but the natural state of any being, before the mind was corrupted by various impurities of desire, ego etc.

What we have to try and achieve is this balance in life where we enjoy life to the fullest and yet we are not attached to anything.

Question and Answer Part 2

Dec 12^th 2017

D : Again is it that the mental affirmations of that person which resolved problem and not the tantric rituals.

M : Yes, it is only the mind and the will power that counts in such healings and problems resolutions.

D : Further our family itself was affected by black magic some years ago and we faced many problems because of this. There were many accidents that we faced but nothing fatal. Lot of fighting in the house etc. Hence we had to perform some puja and our problems reduced little and I started doing Sri Chakra puja and over a period of time these problems reduced and  good things started to happen. The question here is Sri Chakra puja is a ritualistic worship and how is that our problems reduced because of the ritual as this should not work. Is it that our affirmation in our mind were so strong that positive things started happening.

M : Yes, it is the combination of your positive thoughts and faith on Sri Chakra that brought about auspiciousness. Had you brought a stone in place Sri Chakra, the same auspiciousness would have happened.

D : I was under the impression that black magic works on mind level where the practitioner performs some rite so that it affects the other person making him to take wrong decisions at crucial time. Which leads to problems in his life. But if these rituals itself does not work then why are people suffering because of this. Again is it the karma playing it's role here or is it that new karma is being generated by doing these negative acts.

M : I do not believe in black magic at all. But I have heard from many that they are under the influence of black magic and some remedial measures worked for them. When someone comes to me with this problem, I ask them to change Narasimha mantra and they are relieved. When someone tells you that you are under the influence of black magic, naturally your mind anticipates worst things to happen. When mind decides negatively, inauspicious things begin to happen. It could be both. We can generate new karmas or we could be experiencing the effect of the existing karmas. We do not know and nobody knows. It is Divine Secret.

D : Then I should without any questions should conclude that be it black magic, tantric rites, or vedic rituals, visiting places, pujas and even performing shraddhas has no purpose and we should enhance our mind and work towards achieving grace of the lord. Uncover the true self within us?

M : Yes, you are absolutely right. But you should have absolute faith in formless Brahman. It is difficult to work with subtleties and it is easier to work with gross forms. Ceremonial rights have no relevance. I have explained this in two series. I do not know whether you have read them. Please read these two articles.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7hF_DO6BMULa1dlTjlWMU9hSk0/edit

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B7hF_DO6BMULck1RNWxnaXFfM2s/edit

D : Further my father was an astrologer who used to prescribe remedial measures for many problems.  Especially when it came to marriage related issues he used to tell people to go to Rameshwaram and perform some rituals.  I have seen hundreds of marriages that were not happening earlier were settled within few weeks to months after performing this puja.
So again is it that the intention/affirmations were strong enough to resolve their issues.

M : It is not only the affirmation, it is also the faith they have on your father. This makes things to happen.

D : Again whose intention was strong is it the person who did the puja or is it the person gave the solution.

M : Nobody is wrong, as their intentions are good only. No accrual of karmas here. If money is a predominant factor then karma accrues.

D : If the intention of person is strong then the change results in meddling with karma which cannot happen?

M : Karma is the ultimate. Intention becomes strong only when karma permits. Karma acts in the most subtle way.

D : But how come this has happened to so many people exactly after performing rituals and not before that.

M : This is strange coincidence. Lots of things can be discussed on this.

D : I'm asking same questions again as, I have seen few situations which shows that there were effects of some rituals but the question is how?

M : I have answered earlier.

D : You say that we should not keep idols in houses which are larger than thumb in size. So if one has kept an idol in his house then does that mean that he has to pray to it. Meaning we are told that if saligrama or sri Chakra is in the house everyday we have to offer naivedhyam and puja. Is it necessary to do all these things. Currently my brother has saligrama and sri Chakra with him and he is not doing any puja. Even though this represents duality if we keep yantra in a house we have energise it by doing it? Or is it Ok that you can stop offering puja once you know it is not necessary.  If it is not necessary then what will you do with these yantra and saligrama. Should this be kept in home without doing anything?

M : I don’t think I would have said that idols should be of one’s thumb’s size. I don’t believe in that. But when you have some idols or saligrama or Sri Chakra, you have to at least offer some naivedya. Even water will do. Krishna wants only a leaf, one flower, one fruit and water. You should continue to keep this at home by doing only a simple naivedya of water

D : Though these idols serve as a symbolism for the divine within we would have invested time in doing puja to it and it would have been energised because of this. or is it that idol is not energised but the idol has acted as a medium to energise our self (that is our mind and body has evolved by these practices).

M : These idols are only medium that connects cosmic energy with individual energy. It is only the cause and not the source.

D : When it comes to nadi astrology written by rishis like Agastya,  they provide in the nadi many rituals that one has to perform for resolving their problems. When they know that these will not work why are they providing such methods. If they cater to people who follow dharma shastra these rituals. Does it not lead to false impressions that are created by these rituals.

M : Nadi astrology is absolute fraud.

D : In sabija samadhi we burn our negative impressions in our mind on a continuous basis. By this we are able to clean our mind from all impressions created earlier also this will act as a method to correct personality defects.  So Ideally out mind has the capacity to burn karmic impressions at this stage? Is this possible?

M : No karmas can never be burnt. They have to be experienced. Karma also gives good results and bad results.

Dec 21^st 2017

D: Idols act as a medium between the self and the cosmic (energy) Brahman. So first stage of spiritual path is to find the GOD within us and then in the second stage we see same Brahman in all, so this leads to merger with the Brahman?

M : Idols do not act as a medium between the self and Brahman. Only our breath is the connecting link between cosmic energy and individual soul. There are two steps in Self-realization. One is ritualistic path. This is like pre-schooling. Here we worship idols by performing various rituals including fasting, etc. This attunes our mind to go for formless Brahman. The devotion for a particular form transforms us to seek formless Brahman. Therefore, getting straight into spiritual path without any forms is very difficult and not advisable too.

D : When we do idol worship does to link us to the self within us, meaning when I’m doing abhishekam on an idol. It is the symbolic representation of doing abhishekam to the self within us? Or the abhishekam is for the cosmic Brahman? 

M : First state in spiritual path is to realize the Self within and later on realizing that Brahman pervades everywhere, His omnipresence. When you abhishekam etc, yes it is symbolic representation only. Normally, during external worship, the self within is brought out into the idol. Then idol is worshiped and after the worship is over, this energy is taken back into the body as the Self. Again this is also symbolic.

D : If everything is karma related then what control do we have on our life? If we have freewill, which is beyond the control of karma. When will this come into picture?

M : Not everything is karma. Some of the acts, we create and some acts happen due to karma unfolding. Which actions we create and which actions unfold due to karma is not known to us. There are only two secrets and both of them are called Divine secrets. They are - 1. The amount of karma we have and 2. What is in store for future including time of death? Yes, freewill is surely beyond the clutches of karma and only by using this free will we create either new karmas or expend our existing karmas, as karmas manifest only due to differentiation.

Question and Answers between a Master and Disciple

Nov 27^th 2014

D: You say that we have to realize the self. So we should ideally move from idol worship, mantra japa, contemplation of deity and then contemplation without deity. So here if I’m chanting then I will start the process of controlling my mind and over a period of time mantra japa will make to us have considerable control over mind. So if I have control of my mind then does it lead to easier contemplation of deity?

M : The purpose of a mantra is to protect the mind. How it protects? When you mentally recite the mantra, your mind will become inactive, as it is already occupied with the recitation of the mantra. When you recite a mantra mentally, it produces subtle vibrations int the entire body, trying to sync your body with your mind. This is the first step. Then you begin to contemplate the concerned deity and whey you begin to do this, mantra will fade away giving rise to the form of deity you are contemplating. Now second step is over.

D : So what is the need of contemplating on the form as this form is created by our concentration/imagination. Is it that I’m giving form/life to the self within me with an image or form?

M : Yes, God has no form. He is formless. But in the initial stages if you go with formless Brahman, your concentration will not be good and will begin to wander. That is why you are trying to give a form to the self within you.

D : If yes, then does self in this form, guide us through our sadhana/life?

M : That form will guide you through your consciousness, not verbally or physically. It will work on your mind, intellect and ego and will finally help you in purifying your consciousness. The purest form of consciousness is God.

D : Again when we contemplate on a form (deity), the deity represents the self within us to which are talking/interacting with?

M : Yes. Read the point above

D : Then instead of contemplating on complex form deity why shouldn’t I concentrate on a form which is easier to create in my mind?

M : Yes, you are absolutely right. You have to go with the form of deity with which you are comfortable, Dhyana verses do not matter. You create your own deity with a particular form. Use only one mantra and connect this mantra with that deity. You are almost done.

D : Further if I’m contemplating on the form of a deity and giving it life, does it not lead to confusion in the mind, as our mind may throw up unwanted suggestions through this form? This is especially will be true for a person who is little weak minded.

M : Deity is not going to speak to you or guide you to give suggestions. It is your purer form of your mind that is going to give you suggestion, may be very close to autosuggestion

D : Is it that we should have high level of control over our mind with restraint on thoughts, actions in our daily life, by which the contemplated form will be free of such influences of our mind and will be purer form?

M : Yes, now you are very close to understanding the reality. But always bear in mind that spiritual life is always within the sphere of materiel world. How can mind be outside body? Same is the concept here too. You need not totally control the mind, but never make it addictive.

D : Moreover suppose no form is fixed then what is way we are realizing the self here? Meaning when there is no form assigned to self then what is the object of contemplation at that time. What am I meditating at this stage?

M : This is answered in the all points you have raised above

Dec 7^th 2014

D: It is sad that GOD is present in all and on this we should have absolute trust. GOD created everything hence he resides in everything. But if GOD creates another self sustaining being and then that self sustaining being creates another, then how do you say that it is GOD that is residing the subsequent being. Here the only thing that is the link between GOD and subsequent beings is that the first subsequent being was created by GOD but not others. So here realizing self here becomes subjective as the individual beings energy source is the self sustaining being of the previous generation

M : You will get an answer if you read this series

https://www.manblunder.com/articles/shiva-in-conversation-with-shakti

D: When the book talks about dispassion, it is said that we should give up desire of everything and even GOD. If we give up the desire of even GOD then how do we realize Self. Because we have to realize SELF (GOD) within us but if have no desire realizing the GOD, then does it not lead to stagnation?

M : Desire is a relative term which longs for something that is gross. God is subtle and omnipresent. If we continue to have desires to the material world, we cannot enter into spiritual world. Desire and ambitions and goals are all necessary as we live in material world. If you miss out opportunities in the material world, you are going to the loser. Survival of the fittest, Darwin's theory always holds good.  Therefore, understanding spirituality be on logical and realistic basis and cannot be understood from a single line.

D : Or does it mean that we should always try to realize self but should not expect whether it happens or not?

M : Yes. All you have to do is to love the Self within and the same Self prevails everywhere. It leads to compassion.

D : But in spirituality setting of goal is important, and setting of goal leads to achieving the same, this leads to desire on achieving the same. Then how do you escape from this?

M : What is there in spirituality to set a goal. Self is already there and all we need to realize

D : You say that no remedial rituals work and it is better to stop wasting money on these rituals. My question is that our puranas are filled with many remedial measures for various problems. One of the best example is lord Rama installed Linga in Rameshwaram to absolve himself from brahmahatya dosha. Therefore this is nothing but dosha pacified through a ritual.

M : Purnas are stories. Vedas and Upanishads are realities. No remedial measures will work. They are only psychological in nature. One has to experience one's karma. Law of karma is known as Law of the Lord.

D : Also we can see that many people, saints etc go to kumb mela for on solving their sin. But the karma cannot be burnt in these ways. So what is the lesson that we are supposed to learn from Rameshwaram/kumb mela etc.

M : They are all nothing but festivals. They are meant for those who are not pursuing true spiritual path. Don't ask me why all saints are going there. If they are true saints, they will not go there.

D : Secondly is there a need to go to these places then as there is no point in doing all these things as we have to find the self within us.

M : Yes, no point in going there.

D : Thirdly on the flip side we see many people saying that their problems were resolved by performing certain remedial rituals. How were the problems of these people got resolved? Is it that their karma that each person has to undergo was completed exactly at the time of performing pujas, or is it that their karmic account was in such a way that they were destined to resolve the issue through these rituals.

M : Even without performing these remedial measures, their problems would have been resolved. It is the affirmation and faith of the mind. Mind is the most powerful of all we have. We have to use our breath to control our mind and use our mind to purify your consciousness. Performing pujas and other rituals lead to your spiritual path. We cannot think of graduating without schooling.

D : With regard to holy places there are many people who have regarded some of the places as sacred and have advocated people to visit these places. For example Ramana Maharishi says that if one is near Tiruvannamalai his mind get purified, acharya Shankaracharya installed Sri Chakra in many temples through out India to attract devotees (Tirupati, Kodangallur etc). My question is that if we have to find Self within us and resolve problems by experiencing our Karma, why have these saint performed these actions. I'm bit confused here. Is there any message that they are trying to convey?

M : They are messengers of Brahman. They are incarnations embedded with knowledge. They have two types of audience. Those who follow Upanishads and those who follow dharma shastras. Thus they have dual roles.They performed certain actions, for the sake of those who follow dharma shastras. Ramana never initiated anyone into mantras. Nobody can reach higher levels of spiritual life without trying to know ritualistic path. It is known as spiritual evolution and consolidation.

D : A true Saint knows that these are not necessary but at the same time they have advocated these actions. This leads to confusion.

M : The answer is given in the previous paragraph.

D : Then when it comes to rituals even performing Homam is a ritual, but great importance attached to this ritual, is there any specific reason for this. Because we have so vedic homas that are performed at house and it ha been told to me that these vedic homam are very important to be performed for well being.

M : No. They are not important for a realized person. But they are important for a normal being. Why? This is related to their mind set and enables him to develop faith in the Self. It is evolution of knowledge.

D : On the other side of the argument when we think logically be it visiting holy places or performing homam is unnecessary, we should concentrate on controlling our mind and thought process, so that we slowing start understand our thought process, root cause of these thoughts, gaining control over these causes in order to have better control over mind and body so that we can slowly realize the true potential of our Self. Hence i think this will lead to understanding of the divinity within us?

M : You are right. But you cannot share this to everyone. But this is the reality. I we say this aloud, people will call you atheist. Ultimately this is the knowledge we have to have. This leads to realization of the Self within and finally makes us to merge with Brahman. It is like river water conglomerating with ocean. Ocean is the reality.

Teaching through Silence

Teaching through Silence

In spiritual to learn and realize the ultimate truth we have to acquire the spiritual knowledge and without acquiring the spiritual knowledge progressing forward in this path is difficult as following some meditation or rituals would be mostly mechanical in nature and you would not know what’s next. Hence acquiring knowledge becomes important.

Here it does not mean that we should no practice but we have to have an understanding of what we are doing and know what is it that we are trying to achieve without which the practice becomes incomplete. In-fact a person needs to follow all the paths together to proceed successfully in spiritual life.

Meaning he has to acquire and understand spiritual knowledge (jnana yoga), second he should have the love towards the divine, practice Karma yoga (giving up the desire of outcome of an activity) and practice Raja yoga (meditation and associated techniques). When a person practices all these things together he will have the realization of the divine. People may say that each path can be independently followed for realization, but in practical life it is very difficult to do this. A homogeneous amalgamation of all the paths will always help the aspirant to move quicker.

So we will discuss about Jnana yoga. He the prime importance is given to acquire knowledge about the absolute and practice the same in our day to day life. What is the knowledge that we have to acquire here is question that comes to us first?

The teachings of the Upanishads are very clear and it says that “all is one”, meaning the entire existence and non-existence is nothing but Brahman and this is in the form is in the form of Absolute existence, absolute consciousness and absolute bliss. Further it says that the apparent universe is false and there is but only one reality that is Brahman and you the atman within is none other than Brahman.

To understand this, a person starts his spiritual journey to acquire the spiritual knowledge but learning from the books has its own disadvantages as everything is not clear and there is all possible chance of misunderstanding the scripture which is more dangerous than ignorance.

Hence next what a person does is that he goes and approaches a Guru to impart him with the knowledge of the self, based on the spiritual level of the student a self-realized Guru imparts the knowledge of the self by advising him to read and understand Vendantic scriptures and Upanishads. He explains the knowledge to the student and advice's him to contemplate on the teachings and come back for any questions.

If the student is of a higher caliber then the Guru advises the student to directly follow meditation and helps him to achieve the stillness required for realization. At this stage the Guru and Student communication at mental plane or to put it simply, the intention of the Guru is understood by the student without much verbal communication.

Again if the student is highest caliber the mere Silence of the Guru is enough for the student to understand that nature of the self is revealed is only in Silence and this silence is nothing but Brahman. 

The Silence of the Guru will always tell the student to still himself and understand that all these things that are happening around is nothing but Maya, i.e., the projection of the Self. The silence emphasizes that all that is happening around, the apparent world and the teachings of the Vedanta are Maya itself and the Silence beyond this is the absolute, i.e. Brahman. The best way to represent God is through silence as only when there is stillness there is realization.

When a Guru is uses his silence to teach it would mean that he expects the student to be still , all these actions around happens out of this silence and hence he says us to find that silence which is the Brahman and source of all.

Hence it is for this reason teaching through silence is regarded as the best way of the all.