Geeta Jayanti - Day 2

Gist of Talk given by Pt.Satyavan Mishra at Geeta Ashram on 15 Nov 2006
Translated from Hindi by Suresh Kumar Ranga. Chapter 2. 10 minutes
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I bow with respect to Hari Harji Maharaj, Lord Krishna and all Gita devotees who have come to the ashram today.

Arjuna thought that body was the biggest thing (rather than the soul). Relations are created out of our body. Relations like father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son etc. Lord Krishna in this chapter explains to Arjuna, both about the body as well as about the soul.

For example, we see a refrigerator. It has various components inside, the freezer, the cooling section, the racks, the pipes, compressor and so on. What we dont see is the electricity that drives the functions of the refrigerator. If there is no electric supply to the refrigerator, then though still all the parts like the freezer, cooling section, racks, pipes and compressor are still visible to the eye, but yet they dont perform any of their actions. There is no cooling inside. But in our daily life we see and appreciate the refrigerator, forgetting the electricity behind that is making things happen. Similar is body and soul. We keep appreciating the body, and its features, and spend money to beautify it, make handsome the looks, but do not appreciate the soul or the life force energy that is driving all this.

The body is prone to destruction. It was born and will die some day, but the sould is indestructivle (avinashi). Our body has various organs. It generates lots of dirt, waste that has to be excreted daily. It is the life force of soul that does even this cleaning. Assume what happens when the soul refuses to act.

But unfortunately our focus and concentration and worry, all our life is aimed towards our body. We are not so bothered about the soul. Kabir dasji had written in his chaupais, that, when the body burns, it burns with great vigour. It burns of better than the wood. And when people are attending a funeral they feel the uselessness of the body. They think of their life and try to make amends, seeing that body is going to get destroyed some day. This is called Shamshan Vairagya. But unfortunately this spirit is lost once the person returns to normal routine again. Shamshan Vairagya is momentory.

Normally when some near and close one passes away, we cry for him/her. But in our scriptures it is written not to cry for those who have died. In fact to discourage them from crying it is mentioned that, when you cry, the tears, the cough and spit all that comes out, has to be drunk by the dead man. The moral is, we should not cry for those who have gone, because it is the body that has died and not the soul.

Many people say that the Soul cannot be see. In my opinion the soul is visible very clearly. It is crystal clear. The only necessity is the body has to be forgotten. How do we see our soul or how do we feel its existance. Is there a way we can feel it exists even now?

For example, when we go and stay with our friends, as a guest, we tend to agree what the guests say. Even though in our heart we dont agree to 100% what he/she says, but we in general try not to confront. Because we are his guest. So is soul in the body. It has to agree to what the body is doing, but necessarily does not approve it. It resides within but is not the decision maker.

Haven't we seen this around us.

• When are doing something that is not correct, an inner voice in us tells us not to do. To listen or not is our choice.
• People who are dishonest always like to have honest people around them, like to have honest children, honest wife, honest workers etc. Why does not a dishonest man, want all dishonest people around him?

The soul always is this within us that keeps telling us to do the right thing. It exists and hence tells us, but just that it is subtle. We have to give it space and adhere to what it advices.

Coming back to Chapter 2, the last 18 verses of this chapter are a summary of the 18 chapters. Where each verse 55-summary of chapter 1, 56- chatper 2 and so on verse 72 for chapter 18.

Geeta Jayanti - Day 1

Gist of Talk given by Pt.Satyavan Mishra at Geeta Ashram on 14 Nov 2006
Translated from Hindi by Suresh Kumar Ranga. Chapter 1
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I bow with respect to Hari Harji Maharaj, Lord Krishna and all Gita devotees who have come to the ashram today.

Out of all the months in Hindu Calendar, the Margsheersh month has special significance. It was on the Second Ekadashi or the 11th day, the Geeta's message was given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. Today is the 1st chapter discussion. Since there is only 25 mins the talk will be precise.

First of all, we discuss on Kurukshetra, the battlefield of Mahabharata. Actually the place Kursukshetra is a holy place. According to Puranas, just a thought of visiting this place itself is strong enough to wash away one sins. So why is this place called dharmakshetre, kurukshetre. The place kurukshetra was not a fertile place. Crops were rare. When the learned men in those days thought of the solution of the problem, they came out with a way that, if the King himself ploughs the fields, it would turn fertile. The King did the same as advised, and the place became a very fertile plane. (as it is even to this day). The king was no other than Raja Kuru. Hence the place became Kurukshetra.

Now why dharmakshetra? Parsuram (one of the dashavtars of Lord Vishnu) had killed 21 Kshatriya kings, who had misruled at that time. It was necessary because they were evil. To uphold the righteousness or dharma, Parsuramji had done this. Hence this place also came to be known as dharmakshetra.

Lord Krishna, knew very well that the war was inevitable. So he thought of what place should it be fought. He sent his diplomats to find if such a suitable exists. The diplomats came with this place Kurukhetra. Lord Krishna asked them, why this place was suitable. The diplomats said theat, during olden time, Shravan Kumar had visited this place. Sharavan kumar's parents were blind. They wanted to visit all the holy places. So he decided to take them to all the holy places. He made two baskets, connected them with a stick and carried them to different places. On his return when he entered Kurushetra, he put them down. He told them, why should he take them to all places. What is his fault, that he has to carry them along. He too had a life to live. But still he continued his journey. Once he left Kurushetra, wisdom struck him. He repented to what he said to his parents and fell on their feets asking for forgiveness. Thus this place, created the delusion even in the most faithful son. Krishna agreed to the place. He thought once the war begins here, even brother, sister, uncles, aunts etc all relations will be forgotten and people will fight the war.

Now who are the Kaurvas and Pandvas. The Kaurvas and Pandvas are of the Kuru dynasty. So what does the word Kuru signify. Kuru means to do work. In Manushya Yoni or Human birth, we have to work. We need to work, rather than in Animal or other forms of life where they are in "bhog yoni". We are in "karm yoni". So kuru means to perform action, Kaurvas are those kurus, who perform action without using their intellect. Pandvas use their intellect while performing actions. Same goes to all of us. When we perform actions for the sake of perfoming it, and do not think of general good, or use out intellect we are like the kauravas, on the other hand if we using our intellect, work for general good in any of our actions and work, we are like the Pandavas.

Since this place was dharmakshetra, before the war began, Krishna, Bheeshma Pitamah, Yudhisthir, Duryodhana all sat together. It was decided that since this is a dharmayudh, there will be some rules followed. Some of them were, fighting would begin at sunrise and stop at sunset. Secondly no body will attack anyone without weapons etc.

Further we see that, Bheeshma was the commander of Kaurvas where as Dhrastadhyumn was the commander of the Pandavas. When the conches were blown prior to start of war, Bheeshma blowed the first conch, where as from Pandvas side, Krishna blew. Krishna was not a party to the war as he had promised. He said he would not take side in fighting. Also notably Dhrastadhyumn blew the conch at the ninth place. So why did this happen this way?

Basically when we do a work, we can either take Anushasan Badh or disciplinary way of doing things, or going by the rule book only. The other way of solving problems or doing a work is by getting the spirit involved as well. We follow the rules but use our spirit as a guiding factor. In other words we just doing go by literal rules but rules with a human touch to it. Kauravas we re pure followers of the rule only, where as Pandavas had the rules but with the spirit. Hence where Kauravas went strictly by military hierarchy while blowing the conches, the Pandavas when by the spiritual seniority.

There are many more examples in our scriptures where we see such example, either in the case of Bharat (Shri Ram's brother) or in case of Shri Ram himself.

Coming back to today's topic, the divya drishti or the divine vision, Vyasji first wanted to give to Raja Dhritrashtra. But then the blind king said, O Sage, I did not get this vision when I wanted. Now if you give me in order to see the battle, I will be seeing dead people only. And so I do not want it, please give it to someone else. Sanjay then got it. Sanjay, means one who is Sam or un affected by turbulences. Who is calm in all situation. Jay means victory. In other words one who has remain neutral to praise or critisizms, in good or adverse situations is a Sanjay.

We close today's discourse as time is up.

Jai Gurudev.

Guruji and 15th August.

15th August is the Independence day for India, for us Indians it is a day of importance. It is a day when in the year 1947 we got Independent from the British Rule. There were scores of people who fought for independence at various levels. Many were rewarded later, many were not, and many did not want to be rewarded. Maharajji was one of the freedom fighter who did not want any reward for his role as a freedom fighter. Selfless service. And Once the country got Independent, he knew social reform had to be done, more than formal education, spiritual education should be imparted to masses. Using Bhagwat Geeta we went ahead. Not only in India but to all parts of the world he traveled with the message of Geeta. You had a teacher who did not just preach, he lived, talked, breathed every moment of life is in Geeta. He allowed everyone to come to him. He allowed every one to ask him and he helped one and all. Today his message is the motivation for all of us, to continue the journey towards spirituality.

Jai Guruji and Jai Hind. May good times return to our Mother Earth. Peace, Prosperity, Simplicity return back.

Suresh Ranga

Guru Purnima

I never attempt to answer difficult questions. So If someone asks me who is a guru, what should be the properties to look in a guru, should the guru be "enlightened" etc, I dont answer. I dont answer, not because I am proud, but because I myself dont know the answer.

I know my first guru. She is my mother. She is still my guru. Then the next guru is my father. Then all the other gurus start, school teachers, friends, etc etc. These all are a part and parcel of life. My mother taught me so many things, but the most important thing she gave me was security. To be a guru you should be able to give security. What security? Just physical or mental, spiritual etc. I think it should be all. The person whose mere presense gives us a feeeling of security is our guru. My father has always told me, dont worry, i am with you always. So he too became my guru. My boss in my first job told me, dont worry you just work, your salaries and increments i will take care and he too became my guru.

Second aspect my mother and father became my guru, was because they answered my queries. Answered to my satisfaction. Answered only that much I could take. They did not tell me to read this and read that. They told the facts and told it simply. That built a love, a respect and a meaning to pray them. So a guru should be knowledgeable. This way my maths teacher, history teacher, english teacher all became my guru. All could answer my queries and I loved their presence because there was something to learn.

Third aspect of my mother and father was motivation. Ups and downs are a part of life. Seeing their life I always felt that there was success for hardwork, dedication, honesty and persistance. Unconditional love, and Patience. All this has build the immune system in myself. I know that what ever happens in the world, society, friends, family, there is always a good reason behind it. If my parents could live such a happy life, when people kept telling the situation was adverse then it means they are great. Their formula is a winning formula. A guru gives you a winning formula.

Swami Hariharji has given me all this. His mere thought brings all this in me. He gives me Security, Knowledge and Motivations. With such a simple life he lived for a century. His needs were so limited. He started so many ashrams world wide. Still no tension, no BP, no blood sugar, no chlorestrol, no heart attack nothing. Always smiling, blessing and motivating. I see people going for weight loss programs, counting calorie intake, busy making money, no time syndrome and still dying young. Here we have our Hariharji, Guruji. He had all the time, and created all the success, and lived the best of lives and moved a million hearts.

I understand, Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurudevo Maheshvarah. Guru Sakshat Parabrahma Tasmaishree Gurave Namah.

Jai Gurudev.

Pt.Satyavan Mishra-Guruji's Birthday Message 2006

Translation of the talk (in Hindi) given by Panditji.

I came to Delhi looking for a lecturer's job in the Lal Bahadur Shastri University. I have done my PhD and decided to do teaching work. After the formalities of the application, I was called for an interview. When I reached there, I realized that there was no job actually for me there. But in the interview room I met the principal and our beloved Swamiji sitting next to him. At the end of the interview I was very dejected to know that I will not be getting anything here.

As I leaving, Swamiji Hariharji called me. He asked me, whether I was looking for a job. He asked, "Naukar Banega, Naukeri Karega". Will you be a servant. He was referring to the lecturer I had applied. He further said, "Main tere ko Malik banonga". Meaning I will make you a master. I did not understand what he had said at that time. He further continued and told me, If you are going to work here you will be teaching student of max 15, 20 or 25 years. You come with me and you will have the chance to teach paople from 9 to 90 years. I did not think twice and decided to follow Maharajji. The same day I became a member of the Geeta Ashram.

The Geeta Ashram family was expanding and more ashrams were coming up in various parts of India as well as other countries. Swamiji was regular to the Ardh Kumb held at Prayag (Allahabad, Uttarpradesh). Prayagji has a special place for us, at it a holy city on the banks of river Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The Ardh Kumbh Mela is held in the Magh or the Winter months. It is extremely cold during this period. On the top of it, camps are made at the banks of the river, in the open. That makes the life more challenging in the month of the Kumbh.

Swamiji was a regular at the Mela. The caretakes of the Ashram there was not very reliable. Once Swamiji asked one of the senior monks at the ashram to go to Prayag for Ardh Kumbh. The monk proceeded as ordered. When he reached there with 20,000 Rupees, he established a small place. The caretaker did not take this nicely. He scared the monk, saying that was trouble brewing at the Kumbh and it was best for him to leave the place and return to Delhi. The monk believed the words and returned back to the Ashram.

Maharajji was having a satsang when the monk arrived. Maharajji asked him, whey he had returned. He told the incidents that made him return. At that point of time, Maharajji put a question to the audience. "Who is not scared to die?" All heads were down. No body was establishing eye contact with Maharajji. Maharajji turned his attention towards me. I was scared but there was a comfort in Maharajji's eyes. I said, "I am not scared to die". Maharajji instructed me to go to Prayag Raj.

I stayed for a month there. And on my return brought back 65000 Rupees from the Mela. When I handed over the collection to Maharajji, He asked me jokingly. Where did you get so much money, did you rob somebody. We had a hearty laugh. I told him that, this was the collection. Swamiji said that it was the first time in so many years, that money came back. If not all these years, there was money going out only. He congratulated and blessed me. He further said that, there are two ashrams that have been established by him. One is at Mathura and other is at Prayaag. He said, he loved these two ashrams very much. He told me that the condition of the ashram at Mathura was not very good. He was looking for someone strong to take over the ashram. I was told to proceed to Mathura.

At Mathura when I took over, things were really in bad shape. There was not enough food to eat also. Monkeys were a constant problem and used to take over the food that I cooked and brought. The 5 years I stayed were one of constant Penance. I could feel the blessings of Maharaj always with me and found a peace. He always put me at those things that were dear to him. The ashram at Mathura was dear to his heart, as he had spent many years there meditating. I felt honoured to take over the ashram there.

Even now, as I have been posted at Malaysia, I feel honoured as KL Ashram has been the first Geeta Ashram outside India. I feel that it is his blessings that I have got another 1st in my life. I thank the Secretariat, Committe Members and all devotees to have that faith in me by giving me an opportunity to server the Geeta Ashram KL.

I can still feel Maharajji's blessing even today. Though Maharajji is not in his physical body, but I am very sure that he is around us always. There is Ganga Jal near the statue Maharajji. I can say here with total convictions, that if any one cleans Maharajji's eyes with Ganga Jal and chants the guru mantra 20 times, then within 3 days he can see the difference for himself/herself.

I thank you all again and Maharajji will bless each one of us here. A happy holi on this occasion.

Holi-The Festival of Colors

We celebrate Holi. But what is the significance of this festival? Way back, I remember my days at school. Holi was the time to bring out the "wild" in you. We played holi with all sorts of materials, from "gulaal", to "gobar" (cow dung), and the enterprising few even used all sorts of dirty things including aluminium paints.

But there is some more message to holi than the regular ones we normally hear from our elders. Of course no denying that there is the scriptural message and religious message. But more so it is of the brotherly message. What ever misgivings we had for all the year, it was the time to make friends again. We hugged our "dushman no 1" and made him the "dost no 1". What a way indeed to mend old fences.

Then my mother always used to tell me that holi is the rowdy festival.

Before the start of the festival, we used to pen poems (that used to be my god degrading), of any one. I like to write poems whereas my friends used to make the drawings. We did not have MS Word or Powerpoint or laser printers. So we were plain writing, drawing, and photostat. In our colony the Poem/Images papers used to be stuck in the middle of the night at all visible places. The best part was that we read and laughed at ourselves. Civilization grows when it can laugh at itself.

As I grew I learnt that Swami Hariharji was born on the same day as well. That was a great joy and it made more meaning for playing Holi. I still enjoyed it, but knews that Holi was now holier. It was all colors, colors of love, colors of friendship, colors of helping, and colors of living.

From past many years, staying at Klang, I have sort of missed the Holi I had all these years. It is more of rememberance and reliving those days. Internet blogging is one of the ways.

Why I love Guruji?

Swami Hariharji Maharaj, has a unique place in my life. He has touched people from all walks of life. When many years back, I heard of him through my father, I liked to know more. My father said he had been a freedom fighter. He also contributed his part to liberate India. When the country got Independent, he did not take any favours. There are very few people in Indian freedom movement who did not take any favours. Mahatma Gandhi and Jai Prakash Narayan are two other freedom fighters that come to my mind, other than our Maharajji.

Every body else took some post here and there. But these people said, their objective was to liberate India. They did not do this expecting rewards. When I heard from my father about all this, I knew I had found my ideal. This was in 1980. I was only 11 then. The feeling is still there today.