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Vedanta Sandesh
July 2019
Year - 25 Issue 1
Cover Page
The cover pages of the July 2019 issue of Vedanta Sandesh is yet
another awesome avian creation of God, and that also from the lovely &
divine state of Uttarakhand - called the Great Barbet. This photo was clicked
at Sattal by Poojya Guruji Swami Atmananda Saraswatiji in Mar 2019.
The very sight of this bird in the wild is literally awesome. One keeps
on looking at the besuty & vivid colors of this bird. They have a dominating
presence. Looking at these birds one wonders how the great artist-like creator
has intricately designed each and every being of his awesome creation.
Om Tat Sat
V edanta Sandes h
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CONTENTS Vedanta Sandesh
July 2019
1. Shloka 5
4. Letter 15-16
7. Jivanmukta 29-32
12. Links 54
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Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission
July 2019 : Year 25 / Issue 1
Published by
International Vedanta Mission
Vedanta Ashram, E/2948, Sudama Nagar,
Indore-452009 (M.P.) India
http://www.vmission.org.in / vmission@gmail.com
Editor:
Swamini
Samatananda
Saraswati
V edanta Sandes h
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vkReSosna txRloZa
vkReuksU;é fo|rsA
e`nkS ;}n~?kVknhfu
LokRekua loZeh{krsAA
Nothing whatever exists other than the Atman: the
tangible universe is verily Atman. As pots and jars are verily
made of clay and cannot be said to be anything but clay, so
too, to the enlightened soul and that is perceived is the Self.
Atma Bodha - 47
V edanta Sandes h
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Message
from
Poojya Guruji
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sary study of these matters is also done and used appropriately. Getting
softwares and then learning them is certainly a challenge, but thanks to
some of our devotees who help us get organized.
I wish & pray that this spirit of sharing the tenets of Vedanta and
bringing about awareness of our activities continues unhindered in this
same creative way. We appeal to all our members to share this lovely, free
and inspiring publication with all their friends & relatives as much as they
can.
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Sadhana
Panchakam
Introduction
Swamini Samatananda
Sadhana Panchakam
I n the last edition we concluded with a
fundamental and yet very important text for all beginners of
Vedanta called ‘Tattva Bodha’. This was given to us by Bhag-
wadpaada Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji. Having concluded Tatt-
va Bodha we will go on to study yet another very important
Prakaran Grantha called ‘Sadhana Panchakam’, which is also
known as ‘Sopana Panchakam’. The beauty of this text is that
even though it is very brief, crisp and precise yet it paints in
front of us a complete journey from a Sadhaka to a Sidha.
From a student to a realized Man of wisdom.
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Sadhana Panchakam
all the sadhanas and their connection with the ultimate goal
of life which is awakening in the state of pure existence and
blissful Self. This was explained in compact 5 slokas with each
sloka explaining eight steps each of the various sadhanas lead-
ing to Self realization. These Sadhanas are in perfect sequence
and order of rising from one level to another level of spiritual
growth.
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Sadhana Panchakam
ization alone.
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Sadhana Panchakam
sadhanas. These sadhanas and their connection with the ulti-
mate goal is thus the subject matter of this text called ‘Sadhana
Panchakam’. These sadhanas can’t be pursued as per one’s own
likes and dislikes. They have to be practiced under the guidance
of a Sadguru. Our spiritual journey involves two stages one
is preparing the mind for knowledge which involves various
sadhanas like karma yoga, japa, chanting, etc. and the second
is Shravan, manan, and nididhyasan which is a journey of pure
knowledge. It does not include any action or action-oriented
sadhanas. Thus this journey of spiritual evolution requires an
integrated approach where every sadhana has a specific role to
play in preparing the mind for knowledge. Therefore sadhanas
are not preference-oriented. It is only the Guru who can recon-
cile the role of a particular sadhana with the goal and as per
the compatibility of the sadhaka. Thus all sadhanas are high-
ly respectable. Shankaracharyaji was obviously able to see this
and thus gave us this beautiful text which comprises of an in-
tegrated approach involving all the sadhanas for our spiritual
upliftment.
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Sadhana Panchakam
the express highway of pure knowledge.
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Mail from
Poojya Guruji
Indore.
Angira Rishi in his discourse to his student Shaunaka says in the third
though been taken care of and now there are obviously no desires what
so ever.
Even though every person is basically aspiring to attain that state of to-
tragedy that very rarely we are aware of such a goal, and even if we are,
then we are not aware of the ways & means of handling and fulfilling our
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Broadly there are two prevalent means of handling the total fulfillment
and thus redundence of desires. One, lets fulfill all our desires and then
hopefully, one day they will not be there; two, dont let them raise their
heads and if they still do then just suppress them. Any serious obser-
vation will reveal that both these approaches are not effective & are
thus unvalid.
the object of desire, and then comes about the so called desire. Exist-
ence of desire presupposes various notions about both the desirer and
the object of desire. It is these notions which are the root cause of
desires. The nature of our pre-suppositions about the desirer and the
object of desires is the root cause of our so called desires. To our sur-
prise we discover that our notions about these two fundamental compo-
V edanta Sandes h
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Gita Reflections
rf}f) izf.kikrsu
ifjiz’usu lso;kA
mins{;fUr rs Kkua
KkfuuLrÙonf’kZu%AA
V edanta Sandes h
(Gita 4/34)
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Guru-Upasadana
(rf}f) izf.kikrsu)
Swamini Samatananda
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Gita Reflections
V yas Poornima or Sri Guru Poornima is the
most significant day in the life of every spiritual student. This
pious day most often falls in the month of July as per the Eng-
lish calendar. As per the Hindu calendar, it falls on the full
moon day of the month of Ashaadh. With this pious occasion
just around the corner let us take an opportunity to under-
stand the glory of this revered and divine relationship.
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Gita Reflections
the self. The scriptures strongly emphasize on mental purity if
in case one wishes to enter the portals of Vedantic knowledge.
But ultimately at the end of the day, it is only knowledge and
knowledge alone that opens the doors to liberation.
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20
Gita Reflections
ship is sowed and nourished by the surrender, service and an
intense desire to learn on the part of the disciple, who is then
blessed by the Guru with the sublime knowledge. Therefore in
this sloka, Sri Krishna very clearly gives three qualities which
a disciple must have in order to invoke knowledge from the
teacher’s heart. Sri Krishna says-’Go in search of a Shrotriya
Brahma nishtha Guru and prostrate at the Lotus Feet of the
Teacher, by prostrating (Pranipaten), by asking proper ques-
tions (Pariprashnena)and by serving the Teacher. Seeing these
qualities, the men of wisdom, who have a vision of the truth
shall teach you this knowledge.
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Gita Reflections
a curious student. But one must keep in mind that questions
should never be an attempt of ego satisfaction but they should
be a desire to sincerely enquire into the truth.
Thus Sri Krishna says the Guru will give you Upadesha-knowl-
edge. He is a Tattva Darshi. He not only has the knowledge
of the scriptures but also knows the art, the methodology of
passing on the knowledge to his disciples. Such wise men are
what the scriptures call as Shrotriya Brahmanishtha Acharyas.
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The Art Of Man Making
How to Act ?
P.P. Gurudev
Swami Chinmayanandaji
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The Art of Man Making
W hen once we have accepted the
logic that for self-improvement, for Vasana-purgation , we must
plunge into activity, there is the question, ‘What is the right
activity?’ According to the Geeta, all activities are noble and
great if we act in the right mental attitude. If the attitude is
wrong even the most ennobling divine act of devotion or char-
ity is of no consequence. When the attitude is correct, even the
act of killing is noble and divine (tasmaat uttishtha kaunteya
yuddhaaya kritanishchaya)
This is rational and logical. Even our secular law books accept
this principle. It is the motive that decides whether one is guilty
of murder or culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
After giving the mystical and material arguments for the una-
voidable necessity for action. Krishna feels that Arjuna is get-
ting ready to accept the advice. ‘Therefore, arise, O son of Kun-
ti, determined to fight.’
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The Art of Man Making
endless, soulless drudgery of mundane activities.
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The Art of Man Making
with such inner poise is to invoke within us a cleaning light of
joy-a benign grace of fulfillment.
The moment Krishna talks of Karma, Arjuna, a student of Ve-
dic texts, understands it as the ritualistic ‘service’ of the Lord.
To make it clear that this is not what he means, Krishna em-
ploys almost a new term: Buddhi-Yoga. Communication of ide-
as is difficult because the listener interprets the words of the
speaker according to what the listening mind has heard before.
By this Buddhi-Yoga, one can snap the Vasana bondages and
release oneself to be supremely free. And when you act there-
after, it is but a play’; a motiveless ‘sport’; mere self-expression
in sheer gay abandon.
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The Art of Man Making
into them, seeking and discovering the joy in the actions them-
selves, a satisfaction that we are striving in the right direction.
But whether we gain our goal immediately or afterward, or at
all, is not within us or our control. These musings should not
be our anxiety-they are idle dissipations that will puncture our
efficiencies and flatten our abilities to serve in our chosen field.
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The Art of Man Making
ing all contacts with the world, retiring into some forest hill-
top, subsisting upon roots and berries, spending one’s time in
self-abnegation and physical torture. In the Geeta, however,
mental tranquility towards all the varied happening around is
‘Yoga’ (samatvam yoga uchyate) nay, Yoga is dexterity in action
(Yogah karmasu kaushalam)
The young are always full of energy is ambitions, plans, and vi-
sions, which are prompted by their own individual vasanas. To
act accordingly without mental agitations, efficiently, allowing
no fears of failure to dissipate their vitality is in itself Yoga.
For an integrated mind-intellect sees clearly, judges rightly,
consequently achieves the most.
Young man! the Geeta is not meant for the old, the decaying
and the dying; it is meant for you who are on the threshold
of life, bubbling with enthusiasm to plunge into the field of
achievement, to struggle to strive, to sweat, to succeed. At least
for three years learn to live serving all, in a spirit of honest and
full dedication, and in all your activities-even as insignificant
as eating or bathing-bring all your efficiencies, to make them
better, and always beautiful. Such a life is the true preparation
for a dynamic spiritual life. This itself is Yoga (samatvam yoga
uchyate).
V edanta Sandes h
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Jivanmukta
Wandering In
Himalayas
78
Trilokeenath
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Jivanmukta
conducting their bhajan on one side to the accompaniment of
the damru and the drum, and the Hindu sadhus singing their
hymns and blowing their conch shells on the other, inspired me
with deep devotion.
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31
Then the king expressed his satisfaction at meeting me. He ex-
plained how the grace of Trilokeenath used to draw Mahatmas
to the spot, and the inhabitants of that remote mountain region
were thus blessed from time to time by the visits of Holy men.
It was clear that the local population was at one time Hindu,
but by long contact with Buddhists, they had come to adopt the
Buddhist way of life.
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32
STORY
Section
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Mahakaleshwara
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Mahakaleshwara
erstwhile Capital of Avanti has a glorious past as it was ruled
by Mauryas and Guptas, especially by Vikramaditya and his
renowned ‘Nava- Ratnas’ or the Nine Gems of Poets especially
of Kalidaasaa, Vetala Bhatta and Varahamihira; his step broth-
er Saint Bhartuhari who spurned on Kingship is still reputed
for Bhartruhari caves as one went inside beyond a point would
never return! Kala Bhairava Idol in the Temple in the vicinity
of the Caves accepts half of any intoxicating liquor and leaves
behind as a ‘Prashad ‘ or return of the Offerings. Ujjain is one
of the Seven Illustrious ‘Mukti Sthalaas’ or Salvation Places in
Bharat, besides Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Varanasi, Kan-
chipuram and Dwaraka.
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Mission & Ashram News
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Mission News
Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai
Gita-1 / Mandukya -2
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Gita-1 / Mandukya -2
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Vivekananda Auditorium
Gita-1 / Mandukya -2
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Vivekananda Auditorium
Gita-1 / Mandukya -2
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V edanta Sandes h
By P. Swamini Amitanandaji
By P. Swamini Amitanandaji
By P. Swamini Amitanandaji
P. Swamini Samatanandaji
P. Swamini Samatanandaji
Gita Complete
Gita Chapter - 6
Mandukya Ch - 2 (Mumbai)
Sadhana Panchakam
Dakshinamurty Stotram
Hanuman Chalisa - 67
PDF Publication
Commentary in Hindi on :
Tattvabodha
Photo Albums
Avian Vibhootis
Camp Form
V edanta Sandes h
Published by:
International Vedanta Mission
Editor:
Swamini Samatananda Saraswati