Vedanta, Hinduism & Indian Philosophy

My blogic attempt to unfold the secret of Indian philosophies especially Vedanta and bringing it's spiritual teachings to common men. I'll be pleased to answer any question that you think I am worthy of. Please write to pratikp {at} gmail {dot} com.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Meditation Decoded

Mind is the cause of freedom and bondage of human. Human is not an idol of blood, bones and flesh. It has the mind too, and mind is made up of many positive and negative thoughts. From very childhood, whatever impacted the mind is somewhere in any corner of it. These subtle thoughts have their effect on the body through mind. Every thought generates very strong effect on body e.g. when someone is scared, his body starts trembling and turns pale.

What is the nature of mind? It does not like to focus on one subject. When it is tried to be concentrated on one point, it begins to run and tends to go on different subjects. The mind sticks in useless thoughts. It doesn't want to live in the present. The mind like to live either in future or in past. Though the velocity of the light can be measured, but it's impossible to measure the speed of the mind. It is because mind runs with infinite speed. Mind always wants to be in motion. There are newer and newer desires in the mind every second. The fulfillment of one desire gives rise to thousand new desires.

There are a lot of methods to control the mind e.g. prayer, worship, devotion and knowledge etc. But out of all these, meditation is the best. It is very difficult to control the mind and it's nearly impossible to control it at once. This task needs patience and persistence. Easily it can be controlled with practice, renunciation and determination. Meditation is the key of the mind. It purifies the mind and destroys the thought-waves. Meditation is the process of transformation of the conscious and subconscious mind into super-conscious mind. It stops the wastage of mental powers and makes the stressed mind calm. Meditation gives the rest to the mind and generates tremendous amount of energy within body and mind.

Thursday, February 17, 2005

What is Tantra

Tantra is an ancient science. Like Yoga, Jnana and Bhakti etc., it's also a way to realize the self. Though, nowadays it has become the synonym of sacred sex. Market reinterpreted it so that it can be sold.

The result or end of Tantra and yoga are practically same. But means are slightly different. The aim of Tantra is the union of Shiva and Shakti elements. Here Shiva and Shakti signify Kundalini and Sahasrar Chakra (near Cerebral Plexus). The one who by intense Tantric practice elevates Kundalini from Muladhara (near Pelvie Plexus) to the Sahasrar chakra becomes free from all bondages. Tantrics say that the person, who wants to follow the path of Tantra, should be able to control his senses. Tantra is the path for the people of strong will. In Tantra practice, it needs immense will power to elevate and hold the Kundalini at different levels of Sushumna. People with weak will power couldn't hold it and Kundalini goes down very rapidly; which, later, destroys mental calmness and creates strong sex urge.

'Vamachara' is the part of Tantra, about which people are most confused. It has nothing to do with sensual pleasures. According to it, women should be worshiped as Shakti or divine mother. A true Tantric should see every woman as divine mother. Tantra is same like fire; you can either cook food or burn yourself, in the same way you can get Moksha (freedom) by right understanding and practice of Tantra and you can destroy yourself by wrong practice of it.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

New Opening, New Resolutions

As you can see, I got shifted to one permanent domain i.e. www.astrocamp.com. Now onwards, I am planning to write regularly on various religion and spirituality topics. Here are the few topics that I am planning to cover -
  • Vedanta especially Advaita Vedanta

  • Vedas and Upnishadas

  • Ramdev & Pranayama

  • Bhagavad Gita

  • Vivekananda

  • Hinduism

  • Jyotish and other Vedic sciences

Please feel free to write to me about your interest, likings and dislikings.

Saturday, February 12, 2005

New Location

Hello Friends,

This blog has got it new home at http://www.astrocamp.com/vedanta/. Please update your link. Now onwards, I am planning to be more regular on variuos Vedas and Vedanta related topics.

Pratik

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Advaita Vedanta

You must have heard the old Vedic example of snake-rope illusion. Due to fog or any other reason, a person sees the rope as a snake. But when he comes to know that there's no snake, he sees the rope only. Here rope and snake signifies cosmic power and cosmic illusion. When one sees the snake, there's no rope at all and vice versa.

Though we've got complete freedom on all the levels, but we're still far away from the truth unless we don't see the truth as it exists i.e. we must posses the vision, which can penetrate the 'maya' and can see the rope (Brahman) in its true form. We can create the world around us good or bad. Still it's not the truth. This world is neither good nor bad. We must be able to see it as Brahma itself.

Good or bad, virtue or sin; all these exist within the boundaries of this world. Our aim should be to go beyond the world, because the effect of illusion cannot be destroyed by another illusion. It's the truth only, which can destroy illusion. And Vedanta shows us the paths to go beyond it.

Sunday, February 06, 2005

Vedanta

Some people say that freedom of the will does not exist. We are like the toys in the hand of the cosmic power, and this power is being manifested through all of our actions. We are only free on the level of Atman (soul), but when we talk about body and 'mana', we are bound.

According to me, it is the wrong interpretation of Vedic theory of freedom, though it is partially true too. As Atman, we are always free. But in this world we are bound due to 'maya' (cosmic illusion). And the cause of 'maya' is our own mind, which interprets omnipresent cosmic power as the world. In the other words, world does not exist at all. It is the imagination of our 'mana' (mind). Therefore; if I'm in a certain state (good or bad), spiritually or physically or in any way; it is because my mind wants to be in that state.

For example, if there's a tree stump in front of a person in a foggy evening and he is waiting for his girlfriend, he sees that stump as his girlfriend. On the other hand, if there is a kid in the same circumstances, he sees a ghost. What makes the difference? It is the mind. The stump is 'Brahman' and fog is cosmic illusion. And the projection of our thoughts on the cosmic power is this world. It's up to us what we want to see it as. We can change the entire world by changing our 'mana'. Only this theory can explain the miracles of Christ and other great saints. Thus, we are free not only on the level of the Atman, but also on the level of this world.