Concept of Yajna (Sacrifice)

Concept of Yajna (Sacrifice)

“In the theatre of the universal creator

I feel the burning anguish of sacrificial fires
As I offer myself in the quest for freedom”
(Tagore, Amar mukti aloye aloye)

This world is a wonderful sphere, upon which we, as human beings get an opportunity to be liberated through our karma. We evolve through the varied experiences of living through ups and downs, and especially through the challenges we face in our life. The sole purpose of human life is to get a taste freedom and achieve liberation from our empowered yet limited human existence. 

“Yajna” is a special ritual performed as a spiritually symbolic gesture of using fire as the metaphor to the achievement of liberation. It is a religious ceremony, where ghee (clarified butter), incense, and flowers are offered into the sacred fire with specific chants and prayers. In the Vedas, this word Yajna is often mentioned, and which has also historically included ritualistic sacrifice. The word Yajna has a socio-religious connotations and it is believed to have a cosmic dimension as well. 

Offering clarified butter in the fire, symbolizes, uniting man’s purified mind with the cosmic consciousness of the God. Flowers are a symbol of our purified senses (smell, touch, vision, etc). Symbolically we offer our pure life force to the sacred fire, through flowers, incense, etc. The burning of incense and pouring of other oblations in the fire also has a beneficial impact on the immediate physical environment and infuses the air with a pleasant aroma. It is a cause for extended families to come together, and with their united devotion offer prayers to God.  And so it has the effect of strengthening familial and social bonds.

A key aspect of Yajna is the understanding of inter-connectedness between our conscious life and the elements.  To maintain karmic equilibrium, before we take something, we must give something back to the universe. In that way, renunciation of the concept of self-ownership is not at odds with experiencing the fullness of life and the material offerings it brings. It is the imbalance of consumption and hoarding that karmically brings misery and stalls our path of evolution.

The Upanishads say, “Enjoy life through renunciation. Do not greed (ten taktena bhunjhita, ma gridham)”. Our creator, and nature has given wonderful precious life giving gifts to us - like sunshine, fresh air, pure water, forest, fruits and everything for our enjoyment. So it is our duty and also our obligation to our mother earth, and nature, to nurture it and repay back that which we consume. Destroying the very nature that enables our existence due to our greed belies a complete lack of understanding between nature and our existence. It must be preserved and enriched by us rather than blindly consumed. In that way, we may leave a prosperous earth for our future generations. 

The whole environment including all species of life must be nourished by our noble actions and with our kind thoughts. The Bhagvad Gita says, “if one enjoys what is given without returning to them their share, then one is a thief” (Chapter III verse 12). 

Yajna is not only a ritual that takes place once a year but a practice that must be reflected in our daily life activities - our actions done for well-being of others is also Yajna. In traditional Hindu homes, when food is prepared, some portion is kept separate to feed birds, or a hungry person. This way Yajna is practiced in our daily life.  

Yajna means take and give back, so a healthy relationship between man and environment can be sustained. Any society or civilization can truly progress only when they choose to act for welfare for all, and not by isolation, confrontation or exploitation. With greed, we are violating nature, and as a result, we are and will be violated by nature. 

The Bhagvad Gita also mentions about three other debts, which must be paid back by us, in our lifetime with sincere devotion. They are Pitri Rin, Rishi Rin and Deva Rin. 

Pitri Rin is a genetic debt. This body owes its existence to its ancestors. So not only by taking good care of our parents, but also by maintaining our body, mind and intellect healthy, and by helping next generation to do so, we can bring glory to the family and debt of Pitri Rin can be discharged. 

Rishi Rin signifies our debt to our teachers, and to all great thinkers, who groomed us with knowledge, with the values of life, and taught us to face life with courage and confidence. When we do not compromise with unethical situations in life, we establish truth, inspire future generation and satisfy those noble souls who were our great teachers. 

Deva Rin can be discharged by protecting environment, plants, animals, rivers, etc. These three debts are also central teachings within traditional Indian Society. 

With these debts in mind, when we perform Yajna and light the ceremonial fire, it must extend to every moment of our life and enable us to find balance between us and nature and ultimately connect with the divine. Then only can life be blissful, leaving the bondage of our ego behind and our material bodies, we may be connected with the supreme self. 

As Tagore said, 

“My sacrifice will be thy victory

In my love Thou will be known.

My patience is Thy highway

That will cross woods and hills.”

(Tagore, mor marane tomar habe joy), translation – Dr. A. C. Bose)

Edited by Prodeep Bose

Handling Difficulties of Life

Experiencing sadness, difficulties, feeling of loneliness, dejection is a common experience for all. Life’s pattern is woven with the threads of contrasts, which bring us joy and sorrow, peace and unrest. Though it is quite natural for us to go up and down with strong emotions, but these natural reactions of ours is neither beneficial for us, nor for our dear ones.
Next question comes, then how to get rid of them? Emotions can be dealt in two ways. We can face them with courage, and can transform those energies through some other creative channels. Other option is, by knowing our true blissful nature through meditation, we can go above the material pain, and can view them as passing phases of temporary life.
Buddhist theory which is very practical, and can be practiced by any layperson, in day-to-day life, has been very beautifully described by Jack Kornfield in his book “A Path With Heart”. 
He shows us four ways to tattle problems, 1. By let go, 2. Transforming energy, 3. Putting aside, and 4. Acting mind fully.
He suggests, that to practice any method, first we must develop balance and compassion in our mind, and secondly our skill can be perfect only through constant practice. First method he refers as “letting go”. Here we become aware of the appearance of a particular problem, but without nurturing any aversion, or indifference towards it, we let it go for time being. 
Knowing it’s impermanent nature, do not allow our mind to get upset about it. Our attitude should be, allow present to arise and pass away as waves of ocean. 
Second formula he says, about transforming negative energy to positive energy. When a feeling of anger grips us, we are ready to explode, hurt others, and harm ourselves. In such situation, best thing is not to react immediately, and be calm, take a deep breath, go out, and may transform that strong energy into some creative, beneficial action, like gardening, playing some active game, etc till that, excess negative energy is released. Our greedy attachment maybe transformed into selfless loving activities for others.
His third formula is, acknowledging our strong emotion, we may put it aside, for time being, and can assure to work on it at an appropriate time and place. After some time, when the mind calms down, we may think on it again, and can take the right action. 
Lastly, in every action of ours, mindfulness is a most essential quality. If we have to act, then two things must be followed, our action should not cause any harm to others and us, and we must be very mindful to our action, and observe it as a process of experience, which teaches us some thing in life. 
According to Vedanta, through meditation, we realize we are not body; we all are Atman, part of divinity. Our inner blissful nature is truth, and life’s struggle comes to teach us that truth. 
So there is no point in running away from problems. When we face them with courage, and with calm and clear decision, when we solve them, we evolve our spiritual nature. With sincere gratitude to our creator, we should accept all the ups and downs of life as a path towards our liberation. As Tagore says in one of his poems.
“In spite of the cruelty in your divine will, 
It is only right that, what life brings,
Through which, I would learn to light the incense of my devotion, and the lamp of my understanding”.

Redirecting action from personal to collective well being

To work and learn is the essence of life, and birth through death, our lives revolve around it. In every phase of life work takes on a different dimension.

During childhood, our focus is more on our basic learning necessities, like language, math and history. As we grow old, we focus more on advanced or vocational studies and skill formation. But the main intension remains almost the same, to meet our basic necessities, to earn roti, kapda and makan, and to make life physically more comfortable. We study hard, so it can give us a comfortable living, and also a feeling of identity, through which we may propel ourselves to somewhat higher pedestal than our fellow beings. This feeling of separation satisfies our ego. 

As life advances, one often realizes that ego, attachment, and material growth which motivated us to work so hard all through our lives, failed to bring true joy or happiness in life.

According to our scriptures, work should be our way of worship, not material attainment. According to Bhagvad Gita, any work can be a joyful experience for us and can lead us to liberation only if we change our inner intension from selfish needs to universal love, from personal attachments to collective well being.

The critical difference, when we work for our loved ones, like parents working hard for their children’s welfare, is that we are motivated by love, not by greed. So then with a smiling face, we may carry the heavy load of work willingly, without any grudge. 

According to many thinkers, it is necessary to develop the one skill, to know how to handle our ego and individuality within the broader context of living. It is essential to develop our own individuality, with inner peace and calmness. Ego is an energy. With inner calmness we can transform that energy and channel it for service and welfare for all. Desire and greed bring commotion, create excitement, and disturb our inner calmness. With that state of mind, whatever work we may do, it can never bring harmony, peace and joy to all. Whether in our home or in a society, when our work leads to a collision of the individual self with the broader community, it is sure to create constant friction, and lack of ease. 

The only way out is to get past our personal greed and to work for a broader goal - welfare of all. Our personal gain should not cause any harm to others. We must be aware every moment that we are not separate beings - closed in by a feeling of “I” and “Mine”. Truly we are one with all.

Our life’s goal is to realize that underlying oneness. The Upanishad teaches, that the universal Atman is in every being, and all beings are in the Atman. This realization expands our heart with love and positive thoughts. Being empowered with this knowledge, whatever work we may do, it is sure to bring good to us and to all.

Our liberation depends, not on what work we do, but on how and with what intension we do on it.

The Bhagvad Gita refers it as “nishkam karma”, which means work with detachment. Detachment is not indifference. It means without personal expectation. We must perform all duties of life, to the best of our ability, as an offering to our creator. Then only our work becomes sublime, and crosses the narrow boundary of personal gain, and leads us to the path of liberation.

Paramhansa Yogananda says, “It is better to die trying to develop spirituality even if results are not immediate or spectacular, then to follow the momentarily joyous life of the senses” (God Talks with Arjuna)

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On Accepting Impermanence as a Truth of life

“I do not wish to die in this lovely world

I want to live in the midst of men

If I may have a place in the sunshine

In flowering gardens and in living hearts”.

(Tagore’s poem; Morite chahina ami, translated by Dr. A. C. Bose)

This sentiment is the echo of all mortal beings of this impermanent world. Nobody wants to die. This world which we perceive through our senses looks so real, so beautiful, that we grow a deep attachment to it, never wanting it to end.

But we get shaken when we see glimpses of the underlying reality of life which is quite different from what we imagine it to be. The reality that we are forced to confront when our loved ones have to leave the stage of life and disappear behind a curtain that we can’t look beyond - which is called “death”. Death is certain, life is uncertain. And seems to be that certainty is one that we have a constant struggle against.

Life’s challenges become more intense when the fear of death is added to it.  Feelings of insecurity force us to hold back as much as we can for ourselves in the quest for greater security and we find it harder to ‘let go’ of anything.  And this mind, distracted with fear loses the sense of the underlying truth of impermanence. And in the attempt to make life more attractive we go on accumulating things more than our necessity and capacity. In that process of accumulation, we may deprive others from their due share; we tend to become intolerant, selfish, and more self centered. In such a state, a life focused on itself can never blossom with peace and happiness since that self-centered gaze is the psychological blockage that also blocks true happiness.

As light can dispel darkness, so only the true knowledge can help us to come out from the fear and ignorance.  According to Vedanta, Brahman is one, the ultimate reality, (Ekam eva advitiyam), which manifests it self in the universe through living and non-living things, which are called para prakriti (consciousness) and apara prakriti (matter) in Sanskrit. Gross body and matter are sustained by subtle divine consciousness. Gross body is perishable, but divine consciousness, is immortal, imperishable. We are all children of God - “Amritasya putrah”. Our inner nature is immortal bliss. And the goal of human life is to have the realization of our true divine nature. According to The Veda, God is everywhere - he has filled up the storehouse of this earth for our enjoyment.

It is beautifully expressed in these few lines;

The blissful winds are sweet to us,

The seas are showering bliss on us

May the corn in our fields bring bliss to us.

May the plants and herbs bring bliss to us

May the cattle give us bliss,

O father in Heaven, be Thou blissful unto us!

Swami Vivekananda

There is one subtle warning pronounced in one famous shloka of The Vedas, where it says “Tena takhtena bhunjita, Ma gridham”. It means enjoy everything with a spirit of giving, do not be greedy. That balance of enjoyment without attachment is the essence of balancing the gross body existence and the nature of our subtle body, which is composed of energy - prana.

These truths which were found, realized, and articulated by our ancient sages, may help us to come out of the clutches of fear and anxiety that taint much of what could be a different experience of life; we may live life with a spirit of joyful freedom of our divine nature through our energy body, which no amount of worldly pain or suffering felt in the gross body can diminish.

We cannot change life’s pattern, which is derived from light and darkness, good and evil, life and death, by our creator. The only approach available to us is to change our attitude, which is constantly at hand. By changing our inner attitude to this outside world, we may bring tremendous benefit to our own joyful experience of life as well as to others. In the acceptance of impermanence and in taking life’s each challenge without fear, to go forward and to evolve towards our true divine nature, is the first step – and perhaps the only one we can take. Life is a great school where our soul learns to make itself free from the many forms of bondage this life can tie us up in. We must realize we all come from the same source and go back there only. Each life manifests itself like a wave that forms in the ocean, which stays for a moment and then returns to the ocean. The ocean is the Brahman; the wave is but one of its many transient manifestations.

Today’s society is divided into fragments on the basis of caste, creed , religion, etc, that is generating jealousy, enmity, and intolerance amongst us. We are short sighted and this is its result. As is beautifully said in Gita “The universe is strung in me like pearls in a string (B.G Chapter 7/verse 7). Realisation of this “truth of oneness” may help us to develop the feeling of universal brotherhood, and we may see this world as a one big family. Today the evil of fanaticism is tearing apart our society into pieces. By realizing, practicing and applying this truth in life, we may help ourselves come out of the clutches of the great evil called fanaticism. Only then life can blossom with peace, love, and harmony.

Another point on which we may introspect deeply, is the difference between love and attachment. We tend to confuse these two as one, which is actually not so. The language of love is to give, the language of attachment is to desire. Attachment always pushes us to have more and more by fueling our unending desires. Attachment makes us an eternal beggar, whereas love makes us a generous giver. Attachment is the seed of today’s consumerism, which is the breeding ground of greed and intolerance. “Toleration is the homage that the finite mind pays to the inexhaustibility of the infinite” (Eastern Religion and Western Thoughts by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan).

Now everything depends on our choice, of how we want to live. There is no point in blaming others, or trying to change that which is unchangeable. Whatever we can do we should do now, whatever we can say, we must say it now. If we can give a smile, we should not wait. This is the only way to avoid regrets in life. I conclude with a quote from Vivekananda, “If in this hell of a world one can bring a little joy and peace even for a day into the heart of a single person, that much alone is true; this I have learnt after suffering all my life; all else is mere moonshine”.

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Self-Empowerment is a Necessity in Today’s World

Self-Empowerment is a Necessity in Today’s World

Self-Empowerment means, empowering ‘self’ with power. According to Upanishad, self is Atman, which is divine and blissful in nature. Self resides in a body, which is it’s temporary house, and self-expresses itself in life through many activities.
The first requirement for ‘empowering self’ is to have a strong desire to do so. Secondly we must know to choose the right path, to proceed forward. 
In today’s world, the inner weakness is very predominant. For any of our misfortunes, we have a tendency to blame others, or external factors. This is a clear sign of our inner weakness. Vedanta tells us to be positive and strong and to take full responsibility for life’s ups and downs in our own hands, and not to blame others for it. 
There is a very powerful message from Gita, “Raise yourself by yourself, don’t let yourself down, for you alone are your friend, you alone are your enemy”, (Chapter 6/verse 5).
It is said that, the upliftment of self can be done by self itself. Nature has given us that capacity to do so, and nobody else can, only we can empower ourselves.
Life requires three types of strengths. Bahubal, the muscular power for the body. It can be developed by exercises, good nourishment, cleanliness etc. When we are physically strong no disease can attack us. It is very important to make our body strong, because it is the temporary house of our soul. It is also an instrument through which the soul works in our life span. 
Second strength that we need is Buddhibal, the power of intellect. Intellectual power can be increased, by studying, thinking, being creative, and most importantly by having proper discriminating power. 
The most important aspect to empowering self is to have Atmabal, the spiritual strength from within.
There is a process for everything. The path for gaining inner empowerment was explained long ago, almost 5000 years back by Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutra’, which is called ‘Ashtanga Yoga’. Through eight steps, it teaches how to empower our inner self. These eight steps are self-control, discipline, correct posture, correct breathing, detachment, concentration and meditation. Without practicing these, it is very difficult to conquer our lower nature.
Following the scientific path of yoga, when power of concentration sharpens, the yogi becomes aware of his mind’s activity at every moment and develops the power to stop negative emotions in a timely manner before it gets out of control.
Concentration is compared to an un-flickering lamp in the Gita. A flame stays steady when wind currents are not there. In the midst of external disturbances, if the mind can stay steady like an un-flicking flame, one can feel the blissful Atman in oneself. Then one is truly empowered, and the master of his own destiny. Then no out-side sorrows or disturbances can rob his peace and happiness.  Even if somebody misbehaves, he does not get affected. He can brush off all the negative behaviours of others from his mind, can forgive them and forget it forever. Only a self-controlled person can forgive and forget the negative things in life.   
The real transformation comes to us; when we can touch our inner spiritual cord; only then we become truly empowered and confident, also we can be correct in our dealings with the external world without losing our balance, and can remain ever blissful within. 
As Paramhansa Yogananda says, “Life is like a motion picture. It is made of light and shadow, joy and sadness, compassion and cruelty, and many opposite currents. In life we are dancing with a drama of opposites. If we want to be happy and empowered, we must be aware that we are souls, we are spiritual by nature. That is our real identity. Man can be truly happy only within his soul nature of bliss, omniscience, and wisdom. He can never be contended by imagining himself to be happy because the senses are happy”, (Paramhansa Yogananda, God Talks to Arjuna).

In Search of a touch stone

In Search of a Touch Stone

I remembered one story of a very poor man, who never cared to have wealth, shelter, or any kind of help, but was madly busy in searching of a touch stone.

It is believed that the touch stone has a special quality, to turn iron into gold just by a mere touch. It is indeed a rarest fortune, one can dream of, to have such a magical stone. But that mad man, whose condition was worse than a beggar, did not want to compromise his search with any other gain.

Only with one fixed idea in his head “How to get a touch stone” he spent his youthful energy, time, and eventually turned into an old man without any strength. But still his intense search was on.

Till one day seeing him, when a street urchin cried out, “oh old saint, from where did you get that gold chain around your waist?”

The old man was shocked with surprise. He realized, that magic stone came in his hand in some special moment; he also touched it to his iron chain in a routine habit. But what a pity that precious moment slipped away unnoticed. It came in hand, and went out of it, because for his inattentiveness. He was doing his job with just ritualistic practice, without engaging his mind in present moment, so he did not notice the change. With a broken heart, he started his reverse journey again to try his luck.

This is the exact story, which is happening in our lives too. 

We are all crazily searching for a magic stone, which can vanish all miseries from our life and can bring only peace, joy and happiness. 

We are trying our luck in all possible ways. This is the heart’s desire of everybody, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, young or old. 

By spending our life’s energy in desperate search for money, name, fame, and what not. We believe, through these channels only we can make our life secured, comfortable and happy.

Our basic confusion is, what we are searching for is “inner bliss” but our chosen paths are only fit to provide us outside comforts, but definitely cannot supply inner bliss. While searching for inner bliss, our adopted methods should also be inward looking.  That path is referred in our scriptures, as a path of self-control (nivritti). 

Basic needs of life cannot be, and should not be ignored. With our honest efforts we must full fill those needs of our life. We should remember, where to stop, and not get entangle by them. Life has two aspects, soul and body. 

Meditation and action both are needed. For the development of these two, Gita refers about “pravrtti” and “nivirtti”. Through pravrtti, improvement of economy, political and social system is possible. Where as through nivrtti value oriented life, inner spiritual enlightenment is achieved.  Both are needed in proper balance, to make life wonderful. Here I quote from a German philosopher Schopenhauer’s book, “The world as will and idea”. Long back he said, “When man achieve security and welfare, now that they have solved all other problems, they become a problem to themselves”. 

Same idea is reflected in Swami Ranganathanda’s sayings, “Work, work and work, earn more and more money, but remain inwardly poorer and poorer, until one becomes a nervous wreck.” (Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita, page.??? )

So we see, balancing between our inner and outer journey is most essential, otherwise like that old fakir we may have to start our reverse journey again in next life.

We are all atman, we are one and not separate. This wisdom is the real touch stone which has the power to remove our vanity, feeling to separateness, hatred and all negativities in a second. Then why not start searching for that gem of wisdom in our life? 

The root cause of all unhappiness, whether in family, society or between countries, lies in the feeling of separateness between each other. 

This separateness is created on the basis of social status, caste, creed, race, and on so many other criterions. We forget that all of us, we want to be loved, to have helping hand in each other needs, to share our joys and sorrows.

Today though we are able to keep in touch with the whole world in a second, through our modern gadgets, but some how the art of communication with genuine feelings is fading away.

Time has come for the realization of our oneness. If only we combine our comforts, with attitude of co-operation, life can be complete and we can co-exist peacefully with all.

Spirituality Enhances Business

Mantra of Management is Meditation

There was a column in today’s Hindustan Times (14-01-2015) saying, “Personal behavior may dictate your appraisal this year”. This is a study done by Mancer Consultancy, an executive search firm. I realized our personal behavior is a very important factor in dealings of our personal and professional life. Outer polish that we get from our formal education is not enough. As Swami Vivekananda said, “I have experienced even in my insignificant life that good motives, sincerity and infinite love can conquer the world.” (Swami Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda on himself, page 225).

Our day to day life which includes our personal, professional or business life can flourish much better, if only we empower ourselves with inner development called spirituality.

Spirituality is not a ritual, neither it is a hindrance to our worldly achievements. It is a beautiful art which clarifies truth of life, and teaches us how to manage ourselves better, before we start managing outside events.

Swami Vivekanada said that Vedanta has to be applied to all situations and fields of life. Vedanta’s message of our “Oneness” is very relevant today. Whole creation, we are all Atman, we are all one, one big family on this earth. Realization of this truth is called spirituality. Gita also says, yoga can make us more skillful in actions. Through yoga and meditation, our inner blissful nature can be realized, and our feeling of separateness can be dissolved, which is actually one of the root causes of modern days misery. 

But every idea gets authenticity only when it is tested, and proved right, in the field of action. Same test can be applied in the field of spirituality also, before we accept it in our life whole-heartedly. Its acid test can be done through our daily life’s activities. 

We find spiritually empowered people can handle their own emotions, power of judgment much better. Spirituality teaches us to concentrate, to understand other’s views better, without being judgmental. And then the decision taken by us is correct, ethical and goes well in accordance with God’s will. 

‘Management’ is a very popular word these days, but generally it is referred in terms of business. 

But before we attempt to manage events of life, it is essential; we learn the skill of managing our own attitude, time, and our faculties, through simple spiritual practices. Management is nothing but an organized common sense. 

Now top business organizations are also realizing the importance of self-management. Many corporate executives are adopting spirituality in their personal lives. Some companies are integrating prayer, meditation workshops for their employees benefit also. 

I may end with a quotation from Swami Vivekananda’s saying, “something behind this world of sense, this world of eating and drinking and talking nonsense, this world of false shadows and selfishness. There is that beyond all books, beyond all creeds, beyond the vanities of this world, and it is the realization of God within yourself”. (From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, (Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama, 2013), 1334-35).