....Shantih Shantihi
Robbie is back with his pleasant requests and I'm really happy about it. This time the topic is on Peace. Now at midnight, I'm going to churn the great ocean of Consciousness with the ladle of my mind and dive deep down to pick up some pearls that are contained in the three words Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
At the end of any excitement, at the end of any disturbance - all have to return to this state called peace. Peace after anger, peace after hatred, peace after war, peace after disturbance -peace is that space that happens between two events, a time to rest and gather oneself with sufficient quietitude, just like the neuter gear in the car to which we have to switch back to, between the four or five gears with fluctuating speeds.
Peace is the fundamental requirement for an individual or society to progress. Peace is the fundamental need for a mind to make its journey towards enlightenment. Peace is a necessity for meditation. It is not the ultimate goal and end result of meditation as people commonly thing. It is a by product, a side effect.
A person with peace of mind will be totally available to the work to be done at the moment. Otherwise he will be in pieces of mind with his thoughts shattered and scattered in the worries of the past and expectations and dreams of the future.
Total peace of mind happens to the one who lives in the present moment. Caught in a traffic jam. Be there totally instead of cribbing about the wastage of gas in an idling car. Sick and tired. Be there in that situation rather than worrying about the ones whom we think were the possible causes. Unable to sleep. Be there and watch the inability to sleep. In that silent watching of all situations, there is peace and when peace happens, progress happens as a result.
Moving to the next step is possible only if I am stably available in the previous step, quietly leave one foot to the next, holding the other in the previous step, grounding myself in the next and taking the other foot up. Peace is important for even an act as simple as walking. Just imagine walking with a mind lost in some disturbing event. Even a non-existent pit can make one fall! Peace is balance. Peace is living in Yoga, union with the cosmos.
Sounds have power to bring the mind to a state of peace when there is agitation. Mantras are the essence of powerful sounds. In the event of an agitation, disturbance or calamity when peace is the first casualty - chanting of the most powerful mantra Om Shantih Shanthih Shantihi will help immediate realignment and fine-tuning of the disturbing vibrations. If in doubt, try it out.
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36 comments:
Beautiful
OM Shanti
Swahilya:
You have a knack of explaining things. Your way of presentation often leaves nothing for imagination. Even the way you explain the importance of sound in invoking internal peace is so convincing. It certainly is a gift and I am sure you are in peace with yourself when you write. I find a lot of peace visiting your blogsite and reading your wonderful words.
thanks
It is almost like you are reading my mind. I had a thought this morning about the polarity experiences, happiness and sadness, excitement and tiredness, and many more, but then the best part is to come back to the center.
Your words just became an extension of my thoughts, Peace exists in the center, in the balance and in that state anything can be done. Also your explanation of walking is so much correct, I experienced that when I was trekking Himalayas last summer, being aware of every step is so important, unless the step in this moment is correct, how can we think about the next step, and same with the old step, when the step is taken and it is over, why contemplate on the old step.
I realised the importance of steps, as every step was so important to reach the goal.
Beautiful.
Your words bring Peace..
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi.
with best wishes,
Suman
It is almost like you are reading my mind. I had a thought this morning about the polarity experiences, happiness and sadness, excitement and tiredness, and many more, but then the best part is to come back to the center.
Your words just became an extension of my thoughts, Peace exists in the center, in the balance and in that state anything can be done. Also your explanation of walking is so much correct, I experienced that when I was trekking Himalayas last summer, being aware of every step is so important, unless the step in this moment is correct, how can we think about the next step, and same with the old step, when the step is taken and it is over, why contemplate on the old step.
I realised the importance of steps, as every step was so important to reach the goal.
Beautiful.
Your words bring Peace..
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi.
with best wishes,
Suman
great post... i just loved this: "Peace after anger, peace after hatred, peace after war, peace after disturbance -peace is that space that happens between two events, a time to rest and gather oneself with sufficient quietitude"...
i have a quick question... when u said while taking every step we need to have peace else with a mind lost in some disturbing event we will fall... but when we take the next step do we not focus on the next step... ofcourse to have a better focus we should not have any other distrubing thoughts... so is this a variation or a different form of peace u r talking about... sorry if that was a stupid question...
Swahilya:
I thought of another very interesting topic, dont know if you will find it interesting. The topic I thought of was MORALITY.
It would be interesting to read your opinion on this sensitive issue.
Swahilyaji
Om and other tarakanamas like Hare Rama Hare Krishna are powerful indeed. The essence is the Tarakanama is the Nadabrahman
Swahilyaji,
this is my first comment on this blog...have been reading your posts for quite sometime.
all your posts seem to be expressions of one shloka from the Gita:
aarurukshor muner yogam karma kaaranam uchyathe
yogaaroodasya thasyaiva shama: kaaranam uchyathe
best wishes
SARVAM SRIKRISHNAARPANAMASTHU!
@Ganesh: Om
@Robbie: My writing happens in meditation. If not, I don't write. Morality - yes, coming soon.
@Sumonk: I'm not reading your mind, but we are actually neighbours in the thought world!
@Naikutti: Yes, what I meant was, while walking at Chicago, if I am thinking of some fight that happened in Chennai, then my footsteps will falter!
@Krishna: Every sound is a Taraka Nama. That is how Shabdam was born.
@Anand: What's the meaning of the verse?
Swahilya
Then y say "OM" : )
Swahilyaji,
the verse means;
for one who works to attain the state of Yoga (or mount the steed of Yoga ) dedicated action (a la Nishkama Karma) is the means.
for one who has already achieved the state quiescence is verily the means .
beautiful verse isn't it?
it sums up the whole experience of peace you are talking about.
yes what you say is true, peace and silence are not external things and mediation is not about sitting cross-legged - meditation occurs beautifully in action, just as you have described it.
thanks.
SARVAM SRIKRISHNAARPANAMASTHU!
Thanks Anand.
@Krishna: Then don't say that also.
@ Swahilyaji
Then y do u write
"Sounds have power to bring the mind to a state of peace when there is agitation. Mantras are the essence of powerful sounds. In the event of an agitation, disturbance or calamity when peace is the first casualty - chanting of the most powerful mantra Om Shantih Shanthih Shantihi will help immediate realignment and fine-tuning of the disturbing vibrations. If in doubt, try it out."
can u clarify?????
If one can be in peace by saying a mantra/ by just being mute , what do u advocate on reciting the mantra to get the peace ??
istnt it only because of the nature of virbraton , it invokes piece in mind?
Am i sensing a dual-play by you ?
Or am i ignorant enough to not sense the point converyed? Kindly clarify.
krishna,
All she meant by that was to focus on something. It could be sounds or silence, it doesnt matter what you focus on, it is a means of revitalizing your brain by immersing yourself in deep focus. Om shanti is just one example thats all!
@Krishna: For those who can understand with sound, sound is the means. For those who know the language of silence - then that is the way. As I have always said, each one chooses the way suited for him or her. There is no scope for any confusion or argument in a path where each follows the way they choose.
anonymous..
totally agree with ur opinion. :)
@robbie
thanks
@aswahilya
"@Krishna: Every sound is a Taraka Nama."
i wont agree that all sounds are taraka namas.
@swahilya
the rama tarakanama can transform a hunter into a great sAge/poet of Valmiki
If one can say any sound can become taraknama , then y say "Om shanti" ??
I need an answer :)
Krishna..Krishna...krishna !!!!
The problem in uttering abusive words is that the abuse remains in the heart and turn the one who abused to gather those impressions
which eventually become KARMA.
If you hear the name 'vivek'..for example, then immediately your mind will spring the images of all the viveks you know right from your school days. Uttering Krishna or Rama names are good but they tend create also the 'rupa' or the forms of krishna and rama. The rupa of these two are enchanting but can be an obtacle on the path to the formless ultimate.
But if you utter OM SHANTI...theres
no chance of any forms appearing
in your mind..TRY. (boy oh boy...! but dont think Im anti ISCKON or pro BRAHMAKUMARIS... i dont believe they both can deliver after a point).
That sound which leads to no form is far greater than a sound that leads to a form(even if it is
krishna or rama)eventually.
Sound is vibration, as perceived by the sense of hearing.
In more technical language, sound is an alternation in pressure, particle displacement, or particle velocity propagated as a series of mechanical compressions and rarefactions in which case
all sounds are equal.
But the association of each sound to a particular form makes that sound special or not. Jiddu Krishnamurti mentioned "even repeating the word COCO COLA a thousand times will
get your mind quiet".
Ofcourse the problem will be that at the end of it you will gulp down that funny thing into your stomach.
BTW..krishna..(if thats your real name.) they named you Krishna only to utter that sound as many times
possible so that they remember
krishna of Gita(not you). But as time passed by they would have ended up remembering you even if they were reading krishna in Bhaagavad Mahapuraan.
By the way..krishna !!...valimiki could not utter rama easily. So they played a trick on him to repeat 'mara' which means death. Valmiki was happy to repeat that but without his knowledge ended up sounding as rama.
ALL SOUNDS ARE GOOD but where does it lead you finally matters.
coco cola leads you to the nearby vendor, rama leads to the 'atma ram' who is a aadarsha purush
and a role model. If you chant
Om shanti...it leads you to SILENCE
straight away. while other sounds
stops everywhere and finally reaches you to the destination..OM Shanti takes you there NON STOP.
So krishna...have you been to the krishna temple in new orleans by any chance? i have heard it is of immense beauty and is it closer to La Fayette?
hoopla hoo
As u say, all sounds are good.
but all sounds arent taraka nama as swahilya says.
Taraka nama is the name that helps you cross the ocean of samsaara. Other sounds can't be called as tarakanaamas thouhht all sounds are essentially from the nadabrahmam.
U said..
"The rupa of these two are enchanting but can be an obtacle on the path to the formless ultimate."
I believe the god with those auspicious attributes and forms and that without the form are the same.
Hence they can't be a hindrance.
and by the way ..i guess u shuld be aware of the form associated with "OM" .
Wow! Hoopla hoo....You do come to my rescue in one name or form or the other, from whichever part of the world you may be. Yesterday, I didn't have the time for a detailed reply to Krishna and you have so beautifully done it for me. In fact, I even thought about this Coca Cola and I mentioned this to my blog neighbour flamewalker.blogspot.com! And thanks so much for such a beautiful explanation.
@Krishna: At one point of times, arguments, questioning and counter-questioning are fine - but they stop with the logical mind. On the spiritual path, there are no questions to be asked - just simply accept what you read from whichever source as the words of Sri Krishna. Otherwise, arguments can only tire.
@Swahilya
All i am asking is
If you ACKNOWLDEGE what hoopla said as
"The problem in uttering abusive words is that the abuse remains in the heart and turn the one who abused to gather those impressions
which eventually become KARMA."
then y can't u ACKNOWLDEGE the fact that not all sounds are taraka naamas, (which bring not attachment but detachment) and ONLY certain sounds are?
Since you are not in a spiritual plane whilst u are writing an article for a blog , which is confined in the MATERIAL plane, all arguments CANT be considered the same as comming from sri krishna, who is not bound inside a material plane . You are trying to say something that no average man in earth can't do practically.
I guess you dont have answer for something you said by mistake or because of your false knowldege. Y can't you answer my simple question?
All i am asking for is "how can ANY sound be considered as taraka nama"?
If u are in the state where u find all the sounds as taraka nama , what is the need for saying a mantra such as "OM shanthi". In fact, if you are in such a state, there is ABSOLUTELY no need for you to recite ANY mantra coz u have already attained a state where u find everything as HE.
At least if u are comfortable in repeating any sound as taraka nama, i can agree what you are saying to an extent . You repeat "Om shanti" and also say that " You can also repeat COCA COLA if you can" . you say that both are the same.
Since u are not in such a state , isnt it like totally misguiding an average person about the greatness of a taraka nama by giving the same status to all sounds.
Of what greatness is your knowldge about the aatman , if you can't clearly answer an average readers question? Only a realized person or a paraa bhaktha can view all thoughts as coming from the divine, others can't. I am sure that neither you nor me or most of us are one of those.
@ Swahilya
I stand firmly on my stance. ONLY TARAKA NAMAS likd HARE RAMA, OM can bring salvation and NOT ALL sounds as you suggest at least for a material person. Let we care only about this . Though all the sounds by VIRTUE are divine , they CAN'T be considered as taraka namas.
@ Swahilya
LEt me also make it clear that though I seem to be arguing on certain things in your blog, I am a great admirer of your writing skills and the purpose behind your posts.
Yet if i find anything condtradicting to my thought waves , i will try to MAKE SURE that i convey it. Please don't try try to supress me by saying things like "everything should be considered as coming from god and NO QUESTIONING business here" . Should i consider it to be like you disinterest in answering to my questions just because you find them juvenile? If that is so, let me seek your permission to express my thougts for some one else to answer to them in your blogspace. If you don't want to answer, please don't and if you want to answer , please answer it to my satisfaction and just dont say that "consider whatever i say as Sri Krishna's words" and stop arguing.
@Krishna: Reading your comments, you say you want an answer. If you have heard the Zen story of the Master continuing to pour tea in a cup that is already full, it begins to overflow. A seeker's first duty is to keep his mind empty to receive what he is seeking - in your case an answer to your question. There is no answer without emptying, silence and surrender. If you are full with your concepts and ideas, there is no way you are going to see the answer even if I give it to you in black and white. Definitely I am not going to allow a parallel discussion in my blog space. I am being very patient, listening to anything that you may write and finally finishing off with a seemingly humble line that "I am an admirer of your writings." Sorry, there is no scope for fighting and arguments here. Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
@Swahilya
Am afraid you have gotten my want absolutely wrong. I have no reason to FIGHT as u mention. Please refrain from using those kind of words.
My only wish was to support my belief that "NOT ALL SOUNDS ARE TARAKA NAMAS" as u had commented back to my first comment.
After that , u have never answered to the point. I have also refuted hoopla hoo's who tried answering to the the question i raised.
I guess the problem is that you are taking the arguments and "fightings" (as u term )more serious than what you should be taking seriously.
Actually speaking, there is no FIGHT involved here. I am just trying to express my thoughts which for some reason seem to be incompatible with yours. I was trying to get my thought process behind my belief across to u but you don't seem to be take notice of them rather you are considering them as mere arguments. If you belief is correct , why don't you write a comment that helps me understand your belief. You are saying things like "stop questioning", "take whatever that is being said as coming from Sri KRishna" .
If u had realized that there is no fight going on here , there is no need for u to say "Om Shanthi Shanthihi".
Arguments when considered in a positive sense can really turn beneficial. At least if i had used some strong words, u can say i started a kind of altercation.
Having said what i wanted to say, I am not going to raise any kind of arguments from now forwards since your mind views them as mere fights.
If that is what you consider as peace, let that be with you.
Good post.
Thank You Krishna. I understand your excitement, but please watch out not to so profusely misquote me in your excitement as you have done in several instances in your comments here.
The world is too big and you cannot expect everybody to conform to your views. While it is my right and prerogative to what I want to say, your choice is to either accept or reject state what you want. That's what Shri Krishna himself has said, right: "Karmanyevadhikaraste Maphaleshu Kadachana Ma Karma Phalahe turbhu Matesangosthwa Karmani." Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi.
@Venky: Thanks.
@Robbie: I still have the topic you gave, Morality, in mind. But I am just waiting for some quietness of mind and the time to write.
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Hi,
I found your blog via google by accident and have to admit that youve a really interesting blog :-)
Just saved your feed in my reader, have a nice day :)
aarurukshor muner yogam karma kaaranam uchyate yogaaroodhasya tasyai va shamah kaaranam uchyate.
where is this shlok available in bhagvad geeta?
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