Guest guest Posted March 7, 2006 Report Share Posted March 7, 2006 yes"> yes"> ---------Sri Ramakrishna Story Of Nachiketas Extract from Kathopanishad: Gautama, the father of Nachiketas, was performing a sacrifice. Nachiketas asked his father: “To whom will you give me?” The father replied: “To Death I will give you.” Nachiketas went to the house of Yama, the Lord of Death. He stood there for three days and nights without receiving any hospitality, as Yama had gone out and as there was none to receive him. The Lord of Death returned and found Nachiketas waiting in obedience to his father’s promise to give him to Death. Yama said to Nachiketas: “O Brahmin; as thou, a venerable guest, hast dwelt in my house three nights without eating, choose now three boons in return.” Then Nachiketas first asked that his father might again be pleased with him. Yama said: “Your father will recognise you as before. He will sleep peacefully at night and when he sees you released from me, he will lose his anger.” The second boon was that of the heavenly fire and Yama said that that fire will be known to him and called by his name. As for the third boon, the boy asked for the secret of Death. “There is that doubt, when a man is dead—some say that he is and some say he is not—this! I should like to know. Tell me, O Lord of Death, thy secret. Can man escape from thy clutch?” Yama said: “Do not ask that. On this point even the gods of olden times had doubt. Verily, it is not easy to understand it. Subtle is its nature. O Nachiketas! Choose another boon. Do not press me on this point. I will give you sons, grandsons, gold, horses, dominions, wealth, long life, fair damsels to attend on you, chariots etc.” Nachiketas said: “These things are ephemeral. They wear out the vigour of all the senses. Even the longest life is short. It is nothing when compared to Eternity. Keep thou thy chariots, the damsels, the dance and music. No one can be made happy by wealth. Give me the one boon, the only boon I seek—How may man escape thy mouth?” Lord Yama found out that the boy was a qualified student for the attainment of Jnana or wisdom of the Soul. He told him how man might escape from the hands of Death. He said: “O Nachiketas! Just listen to me with rapt attention. I shall tell you the way to attain Immortality. Man is bound by desires. The desires are born of the senses. These bind him to the wheel of birth and death. He must destroy the desires and subjugate the mind and the senses. This is the first step to be taken. The body is like a chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the reins and the intellect is the driver. The Atman or the Self is the Lord of the chariot. The sensual objects are the roads. The horses gallop after the objects of senses and carry the chariot with them. They must be guided along the right path. He who has no discrimination and whose mind is always uncontrolled, his senses (horses) are not controlled like the turbulent horses of a driver. He does not reach the goal, but enters into the round of births and deaths. But, he, who has understanding and whose mind is always controlled, his senses are under control like the good trained horses of a driver. He reaches that goal whence he is not born again. He reaches the end of his journey, that highest place of God. “Meditate on the One, the Eternal, the Atman, which dwells in the cavity of the heart. Fix your mind on the Supreme Self (SIVAM). When all the desires of the senses are destroyed, when the three knots of ignorance are broken, then you will attain Immortality or Self-realisation or Brahma-Jnana . Thus you may conquer Death. O Nachiketas! This is the secret of Death. “This Atman cannot be found by the sensual or the weak. It cannot be attained by arguments or discourse or study. The Self reveals Itself to him alone whom It chooses. The choice of the Self is determined by the purity and unselfishness of the life of the aspirant. “Arise! Awake! Having reached the great Teachers, learn and realise that wonderful Atman. Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, difficult to cross and hard to tread—thus the wise say.” Nachiketas then having acquired this knowledge imparted by Yama and also the whole teaching about Yoga, having become free from passion, all impurities and death, attained Brahman or the Immortal Soul. Thus it will be with others also who thus know the nature of the Atman or the Immortal Soul. Sivaya Namah Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Wonderful, Selvaratnamji. Please keep on writing. Immense Love & Regards, Jagannath. , Selvaratnam Selvakumar <selvauk wrote: > > Om Namah Sivaya > > > > "At the doors of large granaries are placed traps containing fried rice to catch mice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2006 Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Dear Sir, I have one question, why did yama hesitated to give the third boon, Nicheketa was not asking for the eternal life but he was only asking the path for eternal life, we all should know or have to know the path of eternal life, whether we follow it or not is a different matter. Please let me know. Om namah shivaya, Thanks, Divakar. --- Selvaratnam Selvakumar <selvauk wrote: > Om Namah Sivaya > > > > “At the doors of large granaries are placed > traps containing fried rice to catch mice. The mice, > attracted by the flavour of the fried rice, forget > the more solid pleasures of tasting the rice inside > the granary, and fall into trap. They are caught > therein and killed. Just so is the case with soul. > It stands on the threshold of Divine bliss, which is > like millions of the highest worldly pleasures > solidified into one; but instead of striving for > that bliss, it allows itself to be enticed by the > petty pleasures of the world and falls into the trap > of Maya, the great illusion, and dies therein. > > > > ---------Sri > Ramakrishna > Story Of Nachiketas Extract from Kathopanishad: > Gautama, the father of Nachiketas, was performing > a sacrifice. Nachiketas asked his father: “To whom > will you give me?” The father replied: “To Death I > will give you.” > > Nachiketas went to the house of Yama, the Lord of > Death. He stood there for three days and nights > without receiving any hospitality, as Yama had gone > out and as there was none to receive him. The Lord > of Death returned and found Nachiketas waiting in > obedience to his father’s promise to give him to > Death. > Yama said to Nachiketas: “O Brahmin; as thou, a > venerable guest, hast dwelt in my house three nights > without eating, choose now three boons in return.” > Then Nachiketas first asked that his father might > again be pleased with him. Yama said: “Your father > will recognise you as before. He will sleep > peacefully at night and when he sees you released > from me, he will lose his anger.” > > The second boon was that of the heavenly fire and > Yama said that that fire will be known to him and > called by his name. As for the third boon, the boy > asked for the secret of Death. “There is that doubt, > when a man is dead—some say that he is and some say > he is not—this! I should like to know. Tell me, O > Lord of Death, thy secret. Can man escape from thy > clutch?” > > Yama said: “Do not ask that. On this point even > the gods of olden times had doubt. Verily, it is not > easy to understand it. Subtle is its nature. O > Nachiketas! Choose another boon. Do not press me on > this point. I will give you sons, grandsons, gold, > horses, dominions, wealth, long life, fair damsels > to attend on you, chariots etc.” > > Nachiketas said: “These things are ephemeral. They > wear out the vigour of all the senses. Even the > longest life is short. It is nothing when compared > to Eternity. Keep thou thy chariots, the damsels, > the dance and music. No one can be made happy by > wealth. Give me the one boon, the only boon I > seek—How may man escape thy mouth?” > > Lord Yama found out that the boy was a qualified > student for the attainment of Jnana or wisdom of the > Soul. He told him how man might escape from the > hands of Death. He said: “O Nachiketas! Just listen > to me with rapt attention. I shall tell you the way > to attain Immortality. Man is bound by desires. The > desires are born of the senses. These bind him to > the wheel of birth and death. He must destroy the > desires and subjugate the mind and the senses. This > is the first step to be taken. The body is like a > chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the > reins and the intellect is the driver. The Atman or > the Self is the Lord of the chariot. The sensual > objects are the roads. The horses gallop after the > objects of senses and carry the chariot with them. > They must be guided along the right path. He who has > no discrimination and whose mind is always > uncontrolled, his senses (horses) are not controlled > like the turbulent horses of a driver. He does not > reach the goal, but enters into > the round of births and deaths. But, he, who has > understanding and whose mind is always controlled, > his senses are under control like the good trained > horses of a driver. He reaches that goal whence he > is not born again. He reaches the end of his > journey, that highest place of God. > > “Meditate on the One, the Eternal, the Atman, > which dwells in the cavity of the heart. Fix your > mind on the Supreme Self (SIVAM). When all the > desires of the senses are destroyed, when the three > knots of ignorance are broken, then you will attain > Immortality or Self-realisation or Brahma-Jnana . > Thus you may conquer Death. O Nachiketas! This is > the secret of Death. > > “This Atman cannot be found by the sensual or the > weak. It cannot be attained by arguments or > discourse or study. The Self reveals Itself to him > alone whom It chooses. The choice of the Self is > determined by the purity and unselfishness of the > life of the aspirant. > > “Arise! Awake! Having reached the great Teachers, > learn and realise that wonderful Atman. Like the > sharp edge of a razor is that path, difficult to > cross and hard to tread—thus the wise say.” > > Nachiketas then having acquired this knowledge > imparted by Yama and also the whole teaching about > Yoga, having become free from passion, all > impurities and death, attained Brahman or the > Immortal Soul. Thus it will be with others also who > thus know the nature of the Atman or the Immortal > Soul. > > > Sivaya Namah > > > > > > > Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC > calling worldwide with voicemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 the water under a bridge enters from one side and passes out at the other, so spiritual advice given to the Worldly-minded people enters the mind through one ear and goes out by the other, without leaving any impression. Yama as a Guru wasn’t sure whether Nachiketas was a suitable disciple to comprehend or practice his teachings. Yama said, "Don't ask, don't talk". And, what was given to him? The wealth of the whole world, temptation! Nothing of the world of sensibility can be of real value-this is what Nachiketas taught trough his memorable act of renunciation. Not even the longest life and the immense wealth offered to him could tempt him. He persevered in his quest for the Highest, and in the end achieved the Highest. Nothing short of it could satisfy him. Such are the true heroes. A real hero is not he who stands against bullets or risks his life in hazardous attempts, fights battles, dives into oceans and climbs high cliffs, but he who subdues his senses and overcomes his mind, recognises the supreme unity of life and casts aside dualities and desires. To achieve this is the duty of man; this is the immortal message of the sages of the Upanishads. There is only one fire to burn all desires; Nachiketas had that fire. So many attractive and alluring things were offered by Yama. He offered money, beauty, strength, power, kingdoms and lordships over all worlds, all Vidyas. He gave flowing descriptions of the whole attractive and alluring worlds, but Nachiketas reduced all such desires to ashes, because he had that one fire, and that was aspiration. Aspiration is a positive fire in which all desires, cravings are thrown and reduced to ashes. This is the fire that should characterise all Sadhakas and Yogis who lead the divine life. The tangle of sense-experience in which man is caught is most vexing, and hard it is to free oneself from it. Man is deluded by the notion of the reality of the so-called external relations of things and thus he comes to grief. The Mahabharata says that the contact of beings in this universe is like the contact of logs of wood in a flowing river, temporary. Yet the attachment to sense-percepts is so strong that phantoms are mistaken for facts, the impure is mistaken for the pure, the painful for the pleasant, and the not-self for the Self. The message of the ancient sages is that the life one lives in the sense-world is deceptive, for it hides the Existence underlying all things and makes one feel that the particular presentation of forms before the senses alone is real. "Children run after external pleasures and fall into the net of wide-spread death. The heroes, however, knowing the Immortal, seek not the Eternal among things unstable here," says the Upanishad. The call of the ancient sages to man is: "O son of the Immortal! Know yourself as the Infinite! become the All. This is the supreme blessing. This is the supreme bliss." This is the undying message to man. Sivaya Namah Divakara Tanjore <div_tan > wrote: Dear Sir, I have one question, why did yama hesitated to givethe third boon, Nicheketa was not asking for theeternal life but he was only asking the path foreternal life, we all should know or have to know thepath of eternal life, whether we follow it or not is adifferent matter.Please let me know.Om namah shivaya,Thanks,Divakar. To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Security Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Sh Divakarji, In olden days any thing is asked or a query is raised, Guru or the person who is supposed to clarify would test the inquirer about the level of desire in him and used to check whether the person is qualified. In the absence of genuine interest any thing that is transferred becomes futile and useless. So Lord Yama had offered Nachiketa the greatest fortune and materialistic comforts and tried to lure him. But Nachiketa was stubborn and insisted upon knowing the answer by rejecting the offer. The Lord Yama tested his knowledge whether he is having the capacity to understand (Brahma Vidya) by asking how to kindle fire (Agni Awaahan) for performing Yajna. Lord Yama got satisfied with the answer given and got confirmation that he is not only curious but also deserving so he explained him about self realization, the path to liberation there by putting an end to the vicious circle of birth and deaths. AUM Namah Shivaya , Divakara Tanjore <div_tan wrote: > > Dear Sir, > > I have one question, why did yama hesitated to give > the third boon, Nicheketa was not asking for the > eternal life but he was only asking the path for > eternal life, we all should know or have to know the > path of eternal life, whether we follow it or not is a > different matter. > > Please let me know. > > Om namah shivaya, > Thanks, > Divakar. > > > > --- Selvaratnam Selvakumar <selvauk > wrote: > > > Om Namah Sivaya > > > > > > > > "At the doors of large granaries are placed > > traps containing fried rice to catch mice. The mice, > > attracted by the flavour of the fried rice, forget > > the more solid pleasures of tasting the rice inside > > the granary, and fall into trap. They are caught > > therein and killed. Just so is the case with soul. > > It stands on the threshold of Divine bliss, which is > > like millions of the highest worldly pleasures > > solidified into one; but instead of striving for > > that bliss, it allows itself to be enticed by the > > petty pleasures of the world and falls into the trap > > of Maya, the great illusion, and dies therein. > > > > > > > > ---------Sri > > Ramakrishna > > Story Of Nachiketas Extract from Kathopanishad: > > Gautama, the father of Nachiketas, was performing > > a sacrifice. Nachiketas asked his father: "To whom > > will you give me?" The father replied: "To Death I > > will give you." > > > > Nachiketas went to the house of Yama, the Lord of > > Death. He stood there for three days and nights > > without receiving any hospitality, as Yama had gone > > out and as there was none to receive him. The Lord > > of Death returned and found Nachiketas waiting in > > obedience to his father's promise to give him to > > Death. > > Yama said to Nachiketas: "O Brahmin; as thou, a > > venerable guest, hast dwelt in my house three nights > > without eating, choose now three boons in return." > > Then Nachiketas first asked that his father might > > again be pleased with him. Yama said: "Your father > > will recognise you as before. He will sleep > > peacefully at night and when he sees you released > > from me, he will lose his anger." > > > > The second boon was that of the heavenly fire and > > Yama said that that fire will be known to him and > > called by his name. As for the third boon, the boy > > asked for the secret of Death. "There is that doubt, > > when a man is dead—some say that he is and some say > > he is not—this! I should like to know. Tell me, O > > Lord of Death, thy secret. Can man escape from thy > > clutch?" > > > > Yama said: "Do not ask that. On this point even > > the gods of olden times had doubt. Verily, it is not > > easy to understand it. Subtle is its nature. O > > Nachiketas! Choose another boon. Do not press me on > > this point. I will give you sons, grandsons, gold, > > horses, dominions, wealth, long life, fair damsels > > to attend on you, chariots etc." > > > > Nachiketas said: "These things are ephemeral. They > > wear out the vigour of all the senses. Even the > > longest life is short. It is nothing when compared > > to Eternity. Keep thou thy chariots, the damsels, > > the dance and music. No one can be made happy by > > wealth. Give me the one boon, the only boon I > > seek—How may man escape thy mouth?" > > > > Lord Yama found out that the boy was a qualified > > student for the attainment of Jnana or wisdom of the > > Soul. He told him how man might escape from the > > hands of Death. He said: "O Nachiketas! Just listen > > to me with rapt attention. I shall tell you the way > > to attain Immortality. Man is bound by desires. The > > desires are born of the senses. These bind him to > > the wheel of birth and death. He must destroy the > > desires and subjugate the mind and the senses. This > > is the first step to be taken. The body is like a > > chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the > > reins and the intellect is the driver. The Atman or > > the Self is the Lord of the chariot. The sensual > > objects are the roads. The horses gallop after the > > objects of senses and carry the chariot with them. > > They must be guided along the right path. He who has > > no discrimination and whose mind is always > > uncontrolled, his senses (horses) are not controlled > > like the turbulent horses of a driver. He does not > > reach the goal, but enters into > > the round of births and deaths. But, he, who has > > understanding and whose mind is always controlled, > > his senses are under control like the good trained > > horses of a driver. He reaches that goal whence he > > is not born again. He reaches the end of his > > journey, that highest place of God. > > > > "Meditate on the One, the Eternal, the Atman, > > which dwells in the cavity of the heart. Fix your > > mind on the Supreme Self (SIVAM). When all the > > desires of the senses are destroyed, when the three > > knots of ignorance are broken, then you will attain > > Immortality or Self-realisation or Brahma-Jnana . > > Thus you may conquer Death. O Nachiketas! This is > > the secret of Death. > > > > "This Atman cannot be found by the sensual or the > > weak. It cannot be attained by arguments or > > discourse or study. The Self reveals Itself to him > > alone whom It chooses. The choice of the Self is > > determined by the purity and unselfishness of the > > life of the aspirant. > > > > "Arise! Awake! Having reached the great Teachers, > > learn and realise that wonderful Atman. Like the > > sharp edge of a razor is that path, difficult to > > cross and hard to tread—thus the wise say." > > > > Nachiketas then having acquired this knowledge > > imparted by Yama and also the whole teaching about > > Yoga, having become free from passion, all > > impurities and death, attained Brahman or the > > Immortal Soul. Thus it will be with others also who > > thus know the nature of the Atman or the Immortal > > Soul. > > > > > > Sivaya Namah > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC > > calling worldwide with voicemail > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 Thank you KS Rao ji for the clarification. Om namah shivaya, Divakar. --- KASTURI SUBBA RAO <kasturisrao wrote: > Sh Divakarji, > > In olden days any thing is asked or a query is > raised, Guru or the > person who is supposed to clarify would test the > inquirer about the > level of desire in him and used to check whether the > person is > qualified. In the absence of genuine interest any > thing that is > transferred becomes futile and useless. > > So Lord Yama had offered Nachiketa the greatest > fortune and > materialistic comforts and tried to lure him. But > Nachiketa was > stubborn and insisted upon knowing the answer by > rejecting the > offer. The Lord Yama tested his knowledge whether > he is having the > capacity to understand (Brahma Vidya) by asking how > to kindle fire > (Agni Awaahan) for performing Yajna. Lord Yama got > satisfied with the > answer given and got confirmation that he is not > only curious but > also deserving so he explained him about self > realization, the path > to liberation there by putting an end to the vicious > circle of birth > and deaths. > > AUM Namah Shivaya > > > , > Divakara Tanjore > <div_tan wrote: > > > > Dear Sir, > > > > I have one question, why did yama hesitated to > give > > the third boon, Nicheketa was not asking for the > > eternal life but he was only asking the path for > > eternal life, we all should know or have to know > the > > path of eternal life, whether we follow it or not > is a > > different matter. > > > > Please let me know. > > > > Om namah shivaya, > > Thanks, > > Divakar. > > > > > > > > --- Selvaratnam Selvakumar <selvauk > > wrote: > > > > > Om Namah Sivaya > > > > > > > > > > > > "At the doors of large granaries are placed > > > traps containing fried rice to catch mice. The > mice, > > > attracted by the flavour of the fried rice, > forget > > > the more solid pleasures of tasting the rice > inside > > > the granary, and fall into trap. They are caught > > > therein and killed. Just so is the case with > soul. > > > It stands on the threshold of Divine bliss, > which is > > > like millions of the highest worldly pleasures > > > solidified into one; but instead of striving for > > > that bliss, it allows itself to be enticed by > the > > > petty pleasures of the world and falls into the > trap > > > of Maya, the great illusion, and dies therein. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---------Sri > > > Ramakrishna > > > Story Of Nachiketas Extract from > Kathopanishad: > > > Gautama, the father of Nachiketas, was > performing > > > a sacrifice. Nachiketas asked his father: "To > whom > > > will you give me?" The father replied: "To Death > I > > > will give you." > > > > > > Nachiketas went to the house of Yama, the Lord > of > > > Death. He stood there for three days and nights > > > without receiving any hospitality, as Yama had > gone > > > out and as there was none to receive him. The > Lord > > > of Death returned and found Nachiketas waiting > in > > > obedience to his father's promise to give him to > > > Death. > > > Yama said to Nachiketas: "O Brahmin; as thou, > a > > > venerable guest, hast dwelt in my house three > nights > > > without eating, choose now three boons in > return." > > > Then Nachiketas first asked that his father > might > > > again be pleased with him. Yama said: "Your > father > > > will recognise you as before. He will sleep > > > peacefully at night and when he sees you > released > > > from me, he will lose his anger." > > > > > > The second boon was that of the heavenly fire > and > > > Yama said that that fire will be known to him > and > > > called by his name. As for the third boon, the > boy > > > asked for the secret of Death. "There is that > doubt, > > > when a man is dead—some say that he is and some > say > > > he is not—this! I should like to know. Tell me, > O > > > Lord of Death, thy secret. Can man escape from > thy > > > clutch?" > > > > > > Yama said: "Do not ask that. On this point > even > > > the gods of olden times had doubt. Verily, it is > not > > > easy to understand it. Subtle is its nature. O > > > Nachiketas! Choose another boon. Do not press me > on > > > this point. I will give you sons, grandsons, > gold, > > > horses, dominions, wealth, long life, fair > damsels > > > to attend on you, chariots etc." > > > > > > Nachiketas said: "These things are ephemeral. > They > > > wear out the vigour of all the senses. Even the > > > longest life is short. It is nothing when > compared > > > to Eternity. Keep thou thy chariots, the > damsels, > > > the dance and music. No one can be made happy by > > > wealth. Give me the one boon, the only boon I > > > seek—How may man escape thy mouth?" > > > > > > Lord Yama found out that the boy was a > qualified > > > student for the attainment of Jnana or wisdom of > the > > > Soul. He told him how man might escape from the > > > hands of Death. He said: "O Nachiketas! Just > listen > > > to me with rapt attention. I shall tell you the > way > > > to attain Immortality. Man is bound by desires. > The > > > desires are born of the senses. These bind him > to > > > the wheel of birth and death. He must destroy > the > > > desires and subjugate the mind and the senses. > This > > > is the first step to be taken. The body is like > a > > > chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is > the > > > reins and the intellect is the driver. The Atman > or > > > the Self is the Lord of the chariot. The sensual > > > objects are the roads. The horses gallop after > the > > > objects of senses and carry the chariot with > them. > > > They must be guided along the right path. He who > has > > > no discrimination and whose mind is always > > > uncontrolled, his senses (horses) are not > controlled > === message truncated === Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 13, 2006 Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 Thank you sir, for answering my question. now I am clear. Om namah shivaya, Divakar. --- Selvaratnam Selvakumar <selvauk wrote: > Om Namah Sivaya > > Dear Sri Divakar > > There are two directions along which the mind of > man moves, namely, the outward and the inward. The > outward path is the way of pleasure and enjoyment. > The inward way is that of the search for SIVAM (The > Ultimate Reality). The human mind is always after > immediate results. It does not care so much for > ultimate values. 'What does it bring to me now, > whatever may happen to me tomorrow? I may even be > hanged tomorrow, but today I must have the > satisfaction.' This seems to be the usual argument > and the wish of the human mind, perhaps of every > kind of mind in creation. It is an utter folly on > the part of the mind to assume an attitude of the > solution of problems by coming in contact with > objects of sense merely because they bring immediate > satisfaction. What is immediate satisfaction after > all? > > The Upanishad explains beautifully the fate of the > human mind in a state of ignorance. The mind rises > beyond this level in the conscience of Nachiketas > and searches for a meaning in life, which comes to > us as a teacher in the form of the observance of the > transience of all phenomena. Death is the greatest > teacher. Yama is, therefore, the great Guru of the > Katha Upanishad. Though Yama himself came as the > great Master of the teaching of the Yoga, knowledge > was not immediately bestowed upon even such a > qualified student as Nachiketas. > > If you give a diamond to a baby who does not know > the value of it, the baby will through it away. As > the water under a bridge enters from one side and > passes out at the other, so spiritual advice given > to the Worldly-minded people enters the mind through > one ear and goes out by the other, without leaving > any impression. Yama as a Guru wasn’t sure whether > Nachiketas was a suitable disciple to comprehend or > practice his teachings. Yama said, "Don't ask, don't > talk". And, what was given to him? The wealth of the > whole world, temptation! > > Nothing of the world of sensibility can be of real > value-this is what Nachiketas taught trough his > memorable act of renunciation. Not even the longest > life and the immense wealth offered to him could > tempt him. He persevered in his quest for the > Highest, and in the end achieved the Highest. > Nothing short of it could satisfy him. Such are the > true heroes. A real hero is not he who stands > against bullets or risks his life in hazardous > attempts, fights battles, dives into oceans and > climbs high cliffs, but he who subdues his senses > and overcomes his mind, recognises the supreme unity > of life and casts aside dualities and desires. To > achieve this is the duty of man; this is the > immortal message of the sages of the Upanishads. > > There is only one fire to burn all desires; > Nachiketas had that fire. So many attractive and > alluring things were offered by Yama. He offered > money, beauty, strength, power, kingdoms and > lordships over all worlds, all Vidyas. He gave > flowing descriptions of the whole attractive and > alluring worlds, but Nachiketas reduced all such > desires to ashes, because he had that one fire, and > that was aspiration. Aspiration is a positive fire > in which all desires, cravings are thrown and > reduced to ashes. This is the fire that should > characterise all Sadhakas and Yogis who lead the > divine life. > > The tangle of sense-experience in which man is > caught is most vexing, and hard it is to free > oneself from it. Man is deluded by the notion of > the reality of the so-called external relations of > things and thus he comes to grief. The Mahabharata > says that the contact of beings in this universe is > like the contact of logs of wood in a flowing river, > temporary. Yet the attachment to sense-percepts is > so strong that phantoms are mistaken for facts, the > impure is mistaken for the pure, the painful for the > pleasant, and the not-self for the Self. > > The message of the ancient sages is that the life > one lives in the sense-world is deceptive, for it > hides the Existence underlying all things and makes > one feel that the particular presentation of forms > before the senses alone is real. "Children run after > external pleasures and fall into the net of > wide-spread death. The heroes, however, knowing the > Immortal, seek not the Eternal among things unstable > here," says the Upanishad. The call of the ancient > sages to man is: "O son of the Immortal! Know > yourself as the Infinite! become the All. This is > the supreme blessing. This is the supreme bliss." > This is the undying message to man. > > > Sivaya Namah > > > Divakara Tanjore <div_tan wrote: > > Dear Sir, > > I have one question, why did yama hesitated to give > the third boon, Nicheketa was not asking for the > eternal life but he was only asking the path for > eternal life, we all should know or have to know the > path of eternal life, whether we follow it or not is > a > different matter. > > Please let me know. > > Om namah shivaya, > Thanks, > Divakar. > > > > To help you stay safe and secure online, we've > developed the all new Security Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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