Category: AshramDiary
life at the Amritapuri ashram
-
Listening to a mad man
Today, Swami Kaivalyananda continued with the discussion of the 2nd shloka, 13th chapter; ‘Know Me to be the Knower in all fields; the knowledge of the field and its knower is what I consider true knowledge.’ Here, the issue being debated is that if the Lord says that it is He alone that is the individual soul, or jiva, then this creates two defect; one is that God Himself is subject to the samsara, the travel through birth and deaths. If that is not so, then this means that there is no such thing as samsara, which is contrary to…
-
no language for love
Today we got a chance to see Amma’s Devi Bhava satsang and talk with Amma before She came out in Devi Bhava. For this time, there was no video, only audio. Once we heard Amma’s voice, everybody yelled ‘Amma!’ Then there not much sound from Amma for a while. Some brahmacharinis said, ‘Amma, why don’t you say anything?!’ After this repeated, Amma enquired about everybody’s health, and asked if anyone was ill.Again, a long silence. Then one devotee who was linked from Germany told Amma that there are many devotees from European countries wanting to talk to Amma. Then he…
-
Ignorance doesn’t affect
Today, Swami Kaivalyananda discussed further parts of Shankara’s commentary of the 13th chapter, 2nd shloka. This part is a very significant, and long part of Shankara’s commentary. The discussion continues, as the Purva Paksha (opposition) asks if the scriptures are meaningless because of the unreality of bondage and moksha. To this Shankara says that the scriptures are not meaningful for a Jnani, one who has realized the Self. However, in the case of an Ajnani, the scriptures, which contains ordinances and prohibitions, are meaningful. This is because the Jnani sees karma and its fruits as separate from his Self, while…
-
3 ignorance
Swami discussed more from the 13th chapter, 2nd shloka. This part has an extensive commentary by Sri Shankaracharya. The shloka is; ‘know Me to be the knower in all fields, Arjuna! That knowledge which is of the field and the knower of the field I consider true knowledge.’ Here, the purva paksha asks, ‘so is there ‘samsaritvam’ (subjection to samsara) for the jiva (the knower of the field)?’ Shankara replies, ‘no. This is because the nature of Avidya, or ignorance, is of tamas, darkness. Because of that Avidya, comes the three-fold defects of ignorance, wrong perception, and doubts. When the…
-
Crow parables
This is a true story with the dimensions of a parable. Most of us here about are familiar with the nuisance of birds at the big eating-place in the Ashram. The most menacing are the crows. Especially for the girl-students whose Mess is an enclosure. Remember the green screens? Yes, they are kept all around as barricades, for demarcation. One thing, it causes suffocation; but it kept the mess of devotees and visitors -Indian and Western – from walking in & out. But what an appropriate perching lot (like parking lot) did they make for the crows to sit on…
-
advice to the Guru
Today, Swami Kaivalyanandaji continued with the commentary of the 13th chapter, 3rd verse. ‘Kshetrajnam api mam vidhi, sarvakshetresu bharata’ – ‘Know Me to be the Knower in all fields, Arjuna!’ Here, there is another interesting discussion between Shankara’s ‘Siddhanti’ and the opposing ‘Purva Paksha.’ Previously, we mentioned that Shankara compared the ignorance of the jiva to confusing a pillar for a man. This is similar to confusing the Atman for the body, mind, and senses. Here, the ‘purva paksha’ says; ‘yes, I agree that one can confuse a pillar for a man, because both of these objects are separate from…
-
another summer
It’s been another summer In the past most of the summers in Amritapuri were a time that nearly nobody from outside visited the ashram. The monsoon period was the time with dark rainy days and lots of wind. Not easy for people to travel and come to the ashram. The past seven weeks in the ashram has been different. It’s been quieter than the rest of the year, but there was a continuous in flow of people. Visitors came for a few days and left. Some groups of travelers stopped for a few hours at the ashram because they heard…
-
Samsara and God
Today Swami discussed the 3rd shloka from the 13th chapter of the Gita; ‘Kshetrajnam capi mam vidhi, sarvakshetreshu bharata,Kshetrakshetrajnayor jnanam yat tat jnanam matam mama.’ 13.3 This is a very important shloka for Shankara’s commentary. The Lord says, ‘Know Me to be the field-knower in all fields, Arjuna! That knowledge which is of the field and the field-knower, that is what I consider true knowledge.’ Here, there is a very long commentary by Shankaracharya, as this shloka is in his favor. This is because the Lord says that it is He Himself who exists as the knower of the body,…
-
The Field and the Knower
Today, Swami Kaivalyanandaji began discussions on the 13th chapter, ‘the Yoga of the field and the knower of the field.’ Here is the 2nd shloka; ‘Idam shariram kaunteya, kshetram ityabhidhiyate,Etad yo vetti tam prahuh kshetrajnam iti tadvidah.’ 13.2 There is also a shloka before this in some books, ‘purusham prakritim caiva…’ However, Swami said that this shloka is not in any of the major sanskrit commentaries, by Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, or Madhvacharya. Therefore, it is said that it was added in later. In the major commentaries, the 13th chapter begins from this shloka. The Lord says, ‘Arjuna! This body is called…