i would like to give myself – the (me -ego) Self as my gift to Bhagavan. Working hard to ask for forgiveness and bring more Purity in myself to BE Bhagavan. OM Namo NArAyanAya!

  Week of April 9th, 2023-In the last 5 chapters until Bhagavan Sri Krshna is no longer with us, if there is anything that you would like to ask of Bhagavan Sri Krshna, what will you ask Him?
O Bhagavan Krishna, i know you’ll eventually make me come to You. But all i ask now is i am done with this samsara, i am ready to go away with You now and BE You! OM Namo NArayanAya!

There were 35 questions asked of Bhagavan Krishna by RSi Uddhava:
1.How many disciplines in Yama? (12 Internal disciplines🙂
1.  Ahimsa- non-harming
2.  Satyam- Unity in Diversity
3.  Asteyam- non-covetousness(Contentment)
4.  AsangaH- Non-dependence
5.  Hri- Self-awareness
6.  Astikyam- Faith in Map
7.  asamSayaH- non-amassing(non-selfish)
8.  Brahmacaryam- self-disciplined
9.  Maunam- Moderation in speech
10. Stairyam- Consistancy
11. Kshama- Not being offended
12. Abhayam- Courageous
 
 
2.Disciplines in Niyama? (12 External)
1. Saucam- Purity of Body (physically)
2. Japa- Contemplation
3. Tapah- Austerity
4. Homah- Yagna
5. Sraddah- Sincere faith
6. Athithyam- Accomodating
7. Madarchanam- Worship of Divine
8. ThirthAtanam- Pilgrimage
9. ParArthaH- Serving others
10. TushtiH- Contentment
11. (Purity of mind)
12. AcArya sevanam-Service of Teacher
 
3.What is Sama? – Mind that rests in BhagavAn
 
4. What is Dama? – Control of senses
 
5. What is TitIkSa? – Endurance while performing one’s responsibilities
 
6. What is Dhriti? – Firmness shown in control of senses
 
7. What is Dana? – Param-DAnam is abandonment of tendency to non-harming of other living beings.
 
8. What is Tapas? – Being responsible in not letting sense organs become lusty
9. What is  Sauryam?-  Conquest of one’s animal tendencies – fighting and winning inner enemies
 
10. What is Satyam? – Seeing Unity in Diversity
 
11. What is Rtm? – Speech that is factual (true) and beneficial and sweet to hear.
 
12. What is TyAga? – Giving up all UNREAL that this ego thinks is REAL.
 
13. What is unstained wealth? – Wealth that is not amassed by demerited means and that which is used for needy (others)
 
14. What is Yagna? – It is not a mere ritual, Bhagavan Krishna is the real yagna. Surrendering all unto Him.
 
15. What is DakSina? – Not mere gifts of money but humble GRATITUDE to knowledge imparting GURU.
 
16. What is man’s strength? – In not letting the mind indulge and the head is where the hands are.
 
17. What is Bhaga? – One who participates in HIS BhagAs:
         aiSwaryasya samagrasya vIryasya yaSasaH SrIyah
         jnana vairAgyayOS caiva sannAm bhagam itInganA ||
Lordliness, Power, Fame, SrI, wisdom and non-attachment
 
18. What is profit? – non-attachment to ABCs but attachment of devotion to Bhagavan Krishna – all other gains are not eternal.
 
19. What is Supreme knowledge? – Vidya is the removal of Duality in Atman.
 
20. What is Hri? – Refraining from doing wrong (as what our MAPS say is not Dharma), not mere sense of shame.
 
21. What is SrI? – Desirelessness and austerity and addition of virtues.
 
22. What is true Happiness? – Balance in all situations, not attached to situations and being happy or sad.
 
23. What is suffering? – Being worldly and lusty in thoughts.
 
24. Who is a PanditA? –  One who is a Srotriya and BrahmaniSta – who knows to discern between nitya- anitya vastu – not a mere scholar.
 
25. Who is a mUrka? – One who thinks he is the body.
 
26. What is Pantha? – Path that leads us to eternal JOY not worldly ends.
 
27. What is the perverse way? – An extroverted lifestyle.
 
28. What is Svarga? – The path of self-development not Indra’s place. Shudda Sattva.
 
29. What is Naraka? – Domination of Tamo-Guna, pulling us away from happiness.
 
30. Who is a relative? – A Guru who teaches us that all relations that come in my life are to make me realize that I should be detached.
 
31. What is home? – Kshetram is this body of mine given to house Kshetragnya.
 
32. Who is wealthy? – One rich in virtues.
 
33. Who is a pauper? – a discontented one, who is blessed.
 
34. Who is a pitiable creature? – one controlled by senses.
 
35. Who is Lord (true master)? – One free from bondage of Gunas and a slave is one bound by Gunas.

Each week, choose one indulgence of yours and become disinterested in it.

Practicing this RAW gave me more clarity on the indulgences I engage in. It also helped me magnify the excuses I make to justify these indulgences. I justify the desire to travel as my blueprint or vasana that I can exhaust. Yet I need to question that is it an indulgence or is it for my learning.
The same goes for watching the ever-tempting psychological thrillers on Brit Box.
I realize that I need to maintain a healthy relationship with everything around me. There are parameters I can use to limit such indulgences.

When I think deeper, I realize that whatever does not help me in my spiritual evolution or bring me closer to Him is an indulgence.
Need to work harder on this.

      Bhagavan Krishna’s words to Rishi Uddhava: Surrender your entire being, body, mind and soul, to ME, the all-comprehending One, the Essence within all embodied beings. By that shall you be free from all fear through my grace.

     Bhagavan Krishna waits for us to become His disciple, He waits for us to be quiet so He may speak. So my Mantra for myself that i think makes me feel lighter about this world and purer inside is:
                                     “Just surrender unto Bhagavan with Humility!“

In the pure silence of absence
I see the Light of Your Presence
We are beings of Light, The Truth
woven by the very fabric called -You!
………….

I wrote this to remind myself -who I’m and who I’m not.
I write this to remind myself that He pervades each of us and to treat Life accordingly with respect and humility and Love

I have been practicing this for many months as Vivekji had recommended in another class. The first ‘form’ I see is the smiling face of Lord Shiva with Lord Ganesha in His lap. That’s the last face I see too.
It’s perfect reminder for –

Surrender and faith – He knows the best and however the day went was in accordance with His plan. I’m not the doer. I’m His instrument. It also helps me check if I did my best.

It also reminds me to use my time wisely. With my ‘time obsessive’ personality, though it tells me not to ‘waste’ time but also gives me freedom to not be bound by time on worldly matters. Any time spent in working for Him, remembering Him is time well spent .

I choose Him( as He has chosen all of us to come to Him)