ADVENTURES IN ADVAITA VEDANTA...

Adventures in Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy and science of spirit. We are one you and I; are you curious why?..


Acknowledge That

Hari Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality and become more congruent within our personality.

The next text which will guide the Choose-day posts is "Tips for Happy Living - jIvnsUÇai[ /jiivanasuutraani", by Swami Tejomayananda (Guru-ji). Choose-days writings are here to prompt deeper thinking on the choices made on a daily basis and seek to provide prompts for raising the standard of one's thinking and living. This text composed in format of Sanskrit traditional teachings, speaks directly to this purpose. As ever, the full text may be obtained from CM Publications - or your local centre (see sidebar).

As those reading here are more likely to have some concept of God or at the very least a Higher Consciousness, what exactly is it that makes life beautiful?

tenEv jIvn< vStut> zae_an< idVy< suomy< c _avit.4.
Tenaiva jiivanam vastutaH shobhanam divyam sukhamayam cha bhavati ||4||
By That alone, life becomes truly beautiful, divine and happy.

Remembering that the ultimate goal of humankind is happiness, then here we are reminded that it is by turning to the Higher Essence that we can find our way. The Lord, in whatever form or lack of it we care to apply, is Truth, Auspiciousness, Beauty, Peace. Non-Dual. It is Existence, Consciousness, Bliss (sacchidaananda). In Its presence and with Its blessings, not only do our efforts become a million-fold effective, but our life too becomes beautiful, auspicious, peaceful and joyful.

Importantly, we must not simply take the words and apply them to ourselves. We must make the effort to become the meaning of the words. We must make the best of what we have and the time we are allotted and by placing our ego firmly behind us, surrendering all that we do and say to the altar of the Higher, we will find something of that beauty. Look for it everywhere. Sri Hanuman was given a pearl necklace by Sita-ji as a present. When the Monkey Lord started biting into each bead she was shocked and asked what he was doing. His response was that he was looking for Sri Rama in them. Without Him, everything is essenceless and worthless and must therefore be discarded. This is a good example of living by the rule of viveka and vairagya; discrimination and abstinence.

Seek the best everywhere. If it is not there, seek harder!