सर्वारम्भा हि दोशेण धुमेनाग्निरिवावृताः -- Works are always followed by their defects and demerits just as the fire is enveloped with smokes. -- Bhagavad Gita, Ch. 18, 48.

No event can occur without having a definite cause behind it. To trace the causes of events and to become familiar with the conditions under which an effect is produced have always been the aim of the various branches of science and philosophy.

It can be shown that every action however minute or trivial it may appear to us, being conditioned by the universal law of causation, produces different effects visible and invisible and affects the whole world of phenomena either directly or indirectly.

This universal law of causation is called the law of Karma. Under the sway of this all-pervading law of Karma , there is no room left for a chance or accident. What we call happening by chance or accidental is in reality the product of some definite causes which we may not know or cannot trace on account of our limited knowledge. The causes might be on the moral or spiritual planes, but we seek only on the physical plane. That which appears to be supernatural or Pro­vidential to an unscientific mind, is natural to a scientist or a philosopher whose concep­tion of nature is larger and more universal.

In this world of relativity within the limitations of time and space, it is impossible to find any action which is absolutely good or which produces a result that creates no discord or disharmony in any shape or man­ner in any part of the world. It is impos­sible to find any work producing absolute evil effect, without causing some kind of good somewhere. Ordinarily, in judging a result when we see the prepon­derance of good over evil, we call it good and where evil predominate we say, that action is evil, wrong or sinful.

(..To be continued, 1st of a seven part series).

#causation #doctrineofkarma #karma #spirituality #swamiabhedananda

Maharaj: You threw that away -- if someone hurts himself in his sole?

That person replied, "Nothing would happen."

Maharaj: Would nothing happen? We are old people -- we are scared of everything. Nothing happens in hundred years, then one day it will happen. I saw that in the treasury they used to guard with guns on their shoulders year after year, nothing happened. It seems they are guarding for nothing. But all of a sudden there was an "attack" in 1942. So many day's preparation for this 1942.

#chat #spirituality #swamisuhitananda #thevedantkesari

I was delighted to receive your letter. There is no need for you to worry about your devotion or liberation. The Lord will grant you these things in this very life. Don't worry about it. You will have ecstasy and attain Self-realization in this very life. The Lord will also have the work that is earmarked for you done. But this will be no impediment to your liberation. Have no doubt about this.

You no longer need to exert yourself too much doing your spiritual practices. Rather, take good care of your health from now on. No doubt you have to work hard if you want to realize God by your own spiritual practices, but remember, at the root of your success lies God's grace. Know this for certain. God's grace is already on you.

If you want to do God's work, you cannot help but mix with all kinds of people. That this will have some influence on your mind is natural. But don't worry, this will not hurt you. By His grace you will be safe.

A better time will come when you will be able to concentrate on spiritual practices, and then you will be able to remove the veil covering your mind. The mind will then be pure, and you will enjoy divine bliss. Know that this will happen.

I have nothing further to add. My sincere love and good wishes to you.

#lettersofswamishivananda #liberation #spirituality

My dear Gurudas,

Don't get discouraged or disheartened. Why should it be always sunshine and good times? Let Mother's will be done. Never mind sunshine or rain, we must not forget Mother at any time. Even if we don't see her, why should we lose heart? She appears again in our view. She knows what is best for us. Once we have given ourselves over to her, what right have we to think of ourselves again? It is not so easy to do as to say -- of that I am sure, but there is no other way out. Whether we see or don't see, Mother is our only place of rest. There are ups and downs in all hearts, but we should not give way to them.

Think not about yourself but only for others. That is renunciation, that is religion, that is all. Have you not given everything over to Mother? Why then think of yourself again? Never care for position. Give up all such ideas. Work is worship. Everything is in the life we live, not in position. Mother knows the heart and sees the heart and arranges things accordingly. Let your light so shine that everybody can see it. Let your work be silent and in secret and your Mother who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

Be strong! Don't give in to anything whatever. It is not good to be weak; the weak must go to the wall. This is the law of the world. But what you to do with the world anymore? Mother's child good or bad, weak or strong, you have no other to look up to but Mother! Others, who do not know, may think of temporal help. But you can never think that way, I am sure!

Pray for unflinching love and devotion and you will have everything.

There is no happiness in that which is finite; that which is finite is perishable. That which is universal is Blissfulness itself. [Chandogya Upanishad, VII.23.1, 24.1]

There is no world outside. It is what we project outside. But how difficult it is to understand this, and how much more difficult to remember it always, even after understanding it. we feel unhappy when we make ourselves small. We feel miserable when we think of ourselves as finite. That is the bane. Yet we forget and are in the whirlpool of Maya ever once again. But thanks to the grace of Mother, we remember it again soon. Know the universal! That is your real Self. May we never lose sight of this our real Self, which is the Self of all, our dear Mother, whose children we are.

#gurudas #lettersofswamituriyananda #mother #renunciation #spirituality

Here is Akshay's own account of this first meeting: "Devendra and Dhirendra took the dust of the Master's feet, as usual, and took their seats. The humble author did likewise and the Master gave him a look full of compassion. What was there in that look, I do not know. It was beyond any description. The holy image of the Master entered his heart through his eyes and occupied it right away. That charming figure at once dazzled his eyes and mind and captivated his heart. Whatever had been left in the heart was cleared out by listening to the Master's sweet words. It was an invisible play, burglary in open daylight by breaking open hundreds of locks inside one's heart...All past remembrances disappeared in a moment, and I became completely oblivious of the world. I forgot my old self, a new current started flowing, a new being was born in my old body. The assembled people no longer seemed to be people, the houses ceased to be houses at all, and having lost everything old, it appeared as if I had entered a new territory and was moving forward in a dream. The story of the Master's glory has been chiselled in my heart. Where can I find adequate language to describe it?" Soon the kirtans began. Sri Ramakrishna burst forth into a rapturous song, "Behold, the two brothers have come, who weep while chanting Hari's name..." Intoxicated with divine joy, the Master began to dance, his face beaming with love and bliss. At times he went into samadhi and remained motionless, at other times he danced with great vigour. As the spiritual fervour reached a climax, Mahimacharan pointed to Sri Ramakrishna and exclaimed, "Here's our Krishna." Akshay, a Krishna devotee, felt deeply that the Master was verily Lord Krishna for whose vision he had been yearning for years.

#spiritual #spirituality

"Can you give me some wine," asked the man shamelessly to the Paramahamsa in the temple of Dakshineswar. It was surely a most insulting request to make to a holy man in a holy place. But strangely the Paramahamsa was not angered or displeased. His Mother Kali had sent one more player to the game. He glanced at the tall, well-built person of brown complexion, with large eyes and confident look and smiled. Here was one given to enjoy the pleasures of the world to the fullest. He replied: "Yes, I can give you some wine. But the wine I have is so intoxicating that you may not be able to bear it." "Grand. Is it real British wine? Let me have some to wet my throat." "No, it is not British wine. It is completely home made. If a person tastes this wine even once, all other drinks will be tasteless for ever. But not everyone can stand it. Are you ready for such a wine?" The man hesitated for a while, then replied, "Give me that wine which will make me intoxicated the whole of my life." The Paramahamsa touched him and the man started to weep and kept on weeping in spite of attempts by others to calm him. Thus began an extraordinary relationship between Kalipada Ghosh, worldly, passionate and given to enjoyment and Sri Ramakrishna, godly, austere, and prone to ecstasy at the merest hint of divine inspiration.

#religion #spiritual #spirituality