Solar (Right) and Lunar (Left) Breath – 3

Now look at the picture of Lord Shiva as the Supreme Yogi depicting to be holding a staff as a support to his left hand. Not just Shiva any yogi doing meditation or not would always have his staff supporting his left hand and not right hand. Can you answer why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lord Shiva in a meditative pose with a supporting staff in the left hand]

Let’s see the answer for this question. When you want to breathe for long and healthy life you should breathe through your right nostril. The easiest way to breathe through your right nostril is to close the left nostril or more easily press the left side of the body slightly. This can be done by leaning to the left even while sitting in a chair or by pressing the left hand on to a staff. This is what is depicted in the image of Shiva.

Any yogi would be leaning to his left or supporting his left hand with a staff or standing on his left leg highlights that he is doing effective breath management to live longer.This staff used by the yogis is called as “Vaasi Dhand”, Vaa+si means a combination of Air and Fire which is our breath. This staff is pressed against specific points in hand or armpits.

[Cuddapah Swami Sachidananda Yogeeswar]

• The quickest way to change the breathing from one right to left nostril is to sit like the Swamiji as shown above. If you want to switch from left to right then change the pose to left side with the left hand pressed on the ground.
• If you or your kids have a blockage of any nostril say right nostril is blocked, please turn to your left and sleep and you would notice that the blockage is cleared within seconds. There is no need for medication like saline and nasal drops.

Simple Do’s and Dont’s

• If you are diseased (even headaches, running low on energy) you may want to note that you may be breathing through your left nostril and not right. Try switching the breath over for a doctor-less, self-administered relief. Please note that this is not cure since the root cause is not addressed for a disease.
• Right side breathing increases the overall heat in the body and hence requires some bodily thermodynamics. It’s very important that you take the advice of a qualified yoga guru / Siddha doctor.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Word & Meaning – Importance of Word?

‘SOUND – MEANING – FORM – QUALITY (GUNA) – EXPERIENCE (FEEL / BHAVA)’

In the 5 stage process of perception which we discussed last week, one important factor we need to consider is “Ego/Mind” which interprets the Guna to an experience. For example when we say Dog, the ‘Mind’ interprets Dog to a loyal friend or a bike chaser or a rabies generator. Essentially what is the quality of dog mean to you? If you understand this process this explains the uniqueness between individuals or the root cause of differences in a society. Also remember the fact that the inputs are never limited to sound and when see a picture the process of perception starts with step 3.

What is the importance of Word?

On of the great poet named ‘Kalidas’ said

“Vaak artha viva samprakthov vaakartha prathipathaye
Jagadha: pitharov vandhe parvathe parameswarow”

Here he compares Lord Shiva (Consciousness) and Shakti (Energy) like Sound (Shakti) and Meaning (Shiva). Both sound and meaning are inseparable. You would now understand the wisdom behind this poem since there is no sound without a meaning. Also Sabda Brahman (Sound) merges with the Artha Brahman (Light) and both are inseparable. Here Artha Brahman is the light and the meaning of the word. Remember we say that ‘Throw some light” when we don’t understand something.

In Tamil ெபாருள் (porul) means “a thing” and it also means “meaning”. We will see how பரம்ெபாருள் (Paramporul) is the Lord Shiva as a God’s particle and how he is referred to as the meaning too. The same applies to Sanskrit where “artha” means wealth / things – remember Arthasastra? And it also refers to “meaning” as in the above poem. How rich these languages are?

A word is made up of letters called Akshara in Sanskrit. The meaning of Akshara is that which cannot be broken down further i.e., Word can be broken down to letters but it cannot be broken down further. A letter has a form like “A” and has a sound associated with it. This means the light and sound are merged in a letter. As per the principle stated above in the process of perception, the primordial state is one where light and sound is merged into each other.

If you don’t dispute the philosophy that everything merges into god at the primordial state and at this state, sound and light are inseparable, and then you would agree that an Akshara is God / Brahman. Each letter has significance and meaning in Indian languages especially Tamil and Sanskrit. A word is a combination of Form (Light), Sound and meaning and these are first 3 aspects of perception which takes us from a gross state to a formless subtle un‐manifest state. The statement from New Testament “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” reflects the same principle.

As per ancient scriptures, Veda is the breath of god or the aural vibration of consciousness cannot take you to the state of moksha. Words don’t take you to God, it can help you in the process but has its limit, since the sound and meaning merges into something else as we move towards more subtle space.

Every word or Akshara has four states Para, Pashyanti, Madhyama and Vaikari. Vaikari is the fourth state where the sound is audible to us. If we recite something mentally then the sound has 3 states only and these 4 states signify as to how a feeling (bhava) becomes thought and thought becomes form and then a sound. So it is feeling or Bhava or subtle desires (vasanas) which is registered in our subconscious mind drive our thoughts.

Reference

Time = Space by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

How to overcome the mental hurdles?

Question: When I began to do sadhana [spiritual practice] everything went smoothly at first. There was a lot of peace and happiness and jnana [true knowledge] seemed very near. But nowadays there is hardly any peace, just mental obstacles and hindrances.

Annamalai Swami: Whenever obstacles come on the path, think of them as not me’. Cultivate the attitude that the real you is beyond the reach of all troubles and obstacles. There are no obstacles for the Self. If you can remember that you always are the Self, obstacles will be of no importance.

One of the alvars [a group of Vaishnavite saints] once remarked that if one is not doing any spiritual practice one is not aware of any mind problems. He said that it is only when one starts to do meditation that one becomes aware of the different ways that the mind causes us trouble. This is very true. But one should not worry about any of the obstacles or fear them. One should merely regard them as being not me. They can only cause you trouble while you think that they are your problems.

The obstructing subtle desires may look like a large mountain which obstructs your progress. Don’t be intimidated by the size. It is not a mountain of rock, it is a mountain of camphor. If you light one corner of it with the flame of discriminative attention, it will all burn to nothing.

Stand back from the mountain of problems, refuse to acknowledge that they are yours, and they will dissolve and disappear before your eyes.

Don’t be deluded by your thoughts and subtle desires. They are always trying to trick you into believing that you are a real person, that the world is real, and that all your problems are real. Don’t fight them; just ignore them. Don’t accept delivery of all the wrong ideas that keep coming to you. Establish yourself in the conviction that you are the Self and that nothing can stick to you or affect you. Once you have that conviction you will find that you automatically ignore the habits of the mind. When the rejection of mental activities becomes continuous and automatic, you will begin to have the experience of the Self.

If you see two strangers quarreling in the distance you do not give much attention to them because you know that the dispute is none of your business. Treat the contents of your mind in the same way. Instead of filling your mind with thoughts and then organizing fights between them, pay no attention to the mind at all. Rest quietly in the feeling of “I am”, which is consciousness, and cultivate the attitude that all thoughts, all perceptions are ‘not me’. When you have learned to regard your mind as a distant stranger, you will not pay any attention to all the obstacles it keeps inventing for you.

Mental problems feed on the attention that you give them. The more you worry about them, the stronger they become. If you ignore them, they lose their power and finally vanish.

Source: http://ashramof1.tumblr.com/post/50571966415

Sound Merges in Light!

What if I say that “Sound is a subset of light”. Scientifically you may agree that both are electromagnetic vibrations at different frequencies in the spectrum though one may not be the subset of another. So, What if I say that every other frequency is the subset of light? I am sure many may disagree. Some of the religious pundits may claim that “Sound is god” which I am not disputing but “light too is god” and as we progress towards the primordial state sound merges into light.

Let me try to explain this with a simple exercise. Imagine that I am talking to you and avoid thinking that you are reading this blog. I am going to TELL the following 5 words and you are going to LISTEN to it. Please just observe what happens within you. CAT, BOAT, MOM, DEVIL, BEST FRIEND.

The following are the fundamentals of perception as per ancient scriptures:

• Every word has a meaning (Let us ignore the so-called meaningless words for the time being.).
• Every meaning invokes a form or shape within our mind.

For example when I say “MOM” you associate this word with your mother and the picture / image of your mother is perceived inside. You need to be little more observant to understand this. The fundamental principle is that “Every word is first associated its meaning then the meaning is associated with a form. The form is associated with a Guna (Quality) and then the quality or Guna is associated with its experience. What is stored inside is just the experience. In other words, Consciousness / existence exist in 3 states (deeper explanation is 5 / 7 states but we will discuss the simpler alternative).

1. Formless state called Experience / feeling / bhava. This is the super conscious state.
2. Gross state with Form which has physical attributes. This is the conscious state.
3. In‐between state (Semi-form) called Guna state which has subtle quality attributes. This is the Subconscious state. If this is difficult to comprehend for you please imagine “Egg” which is in‐between the formless and state with form. Gotcha?

Let’s look at an example. Rose is a flower. When someone tells you “ROSE” then the following happens:

1. The sound “rose’ associates with a flower usually. 
2. So here the word is associated with its meaning.
3. This flower is associated with red color and perhaps with thorns. Here the sound does not exist anymore but only a form. Yo!, the sound has merged into light.
4. The next step is this form is associated with a quality which is fragrance of a rose. For someone sensitive they can smell the rose when they think about it. How else could we salivate the thought / smell of a favorite dish if this step does not exist?
5. Now the last step is, this quality invokes an experience and hence a feeling. This rose may be associated with your inner self for love and hence the emotion of love surfaces. This is called Bhava / Rasa in Sanskrit.

A little contemplation would help you understand this 5 stage process of perception.
‘SOUND – MEANING – FORM – QUALITY (GUNA) – EXPERIENCE (FEEL / BHAVA)’

Application in Classical Dance

Our ancient forefathers knew this science and interconnection. Let me now quote these as an example from Bharatnatyam (classical Indian dance), which talks about this linkage.

‘Kanteenaalambayet geetam, Hasteenaardham Pradarsayet,Chakshurbhyaam darsayeet bhaavam, Paadaabhyam taalamaacharet.’ - According to Nandikeshara the dancer should sing with the mouth, express the meaning of the song with hand gestures, her eyes should express the emotions or bhava, the tala, the beat or rhythm should be done with her feet.

Further he goes on to say ‘Yato hastas tato drushti, Yato drushitis tato manaha, Yato manahas tato bhavo, Yato bhavas tato Rasaha‘ - Where the hand goes, there should follow the eyes, Where the eyes move, mind should follow it, Where the mind follow, Bhava or emotion is created, & lastly when Bhava is created the sentiment or Rasa will arise. All the Mudras or gestures represent word when held at a particular position around the frame of the body and when used in a particular way.

Reference

Time = Space by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Evolution of Universe – 2

The Space itself becomes spatial forms and time is the instrument that creates, sustains and destroys. In other words, un‐manifest state when pulsates becomes absolute time and this is the creative energy. The process of pulsation confirms to a mathematical order and we will see this order in detail later. You may now understand the phrase that “Time creates, sustains and destroys”. Since if there is no pulsation then nothing happens.

Mamuni Mayan in ‘Aintiram’ quotes

“காலேம எைவக்கும் மூலம், காலேம மூல ஆற்றல்
காலேம ேகாலத் ேதாற்றம், காலேம ஞாலத் ேதாற்றம்”

Time is Source of everything, Time is the primal force,
Time has only manifested as Form, Time has only as manifested as Universe…

“காலக்கூேற கணக்கியலாகி.”

Time splits as Maths in proportion it pulsates.

Here is an interesting modern-day quote by Bertrand Russel’s, “What we perceive as qualities of matter are differences in periodicity”.

Vyasa says in Adi parva chapter 1, shloka 249, says the same thing that Time Creates, sustains and destroys everything.

“kalah srijati bhutani kalah sanharati prajah
sanharantah prajah kalam kalah shamyate punah”

The same is quoted as “Vastur eva Vaastu” which means the unmanifest Paramaanu which is called Vastu (with Single a) becomes Vaastu (gross form – with two aa).

We shall end this part with this thought, the Space is considered as Nataraja (Shiva) – subtle component and Ranganatha is considered as the Earth component. So Shiva and Vishnu are two aspects of the same seed.

“Shivasya hridayam vishnur, Vishnoscha hridayam shivah:” and “Shivaya Vishnu rupaya Vishnave Shiva rupine”

Vishnu is the heart of Shiva and likewise Shiva is the heart of Vishnu and they both are the representation of each other. We already have seen more details about this in Vishnu and Nataraja – Earth and Space.

Reference

Time = Space by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com. Key recommendations are item 6, 11, 14 and 43. http://www.vastuved.com/publication.html

Evolution of Universe – 1

As per many ancient scriptures, Universe has evolved from itself and not created by someone. The Brahma(Create), Vishnu (Preserve) and Rudra (Destruct) can be attributed to different process heads in this evolution. They are all different aspects of the same consciousness based on their state of being in the process of evolution / devolution.

We are indebted and thankful to the nobel soul Late. Dr. Ganapathi Stapathi, (http://www.vastuved.com/life.htm) who not only unraveled the Vaastu science – the science of Space and time but also brought to light 2 important books which were over 12000+ years old written in Tamil by Mamuni Maayan.

Mamuni Maayan is believed to be the same person who is popularly known in South America as Mayan and the 2012 phenomenon based on Mayan calendar. Dr. Ganapathi has established proofs that the pyramids in Middle East, the temple architecture in India and the structures in Mexico and Guatemala confirm to a single Science and Mathematics seen in all these works. Now let us understand briefly how this evolution process has come about. According to Mayans ‘Aintiram’:

The free space is the unified field of energy and matter and source of all forms that we see in material world. That is why Tamil and Sanskrit defined science as Vingyanam. This space consists of very minute particle called Vinporul, nunporul, Sittrambalam, Paramanu, Oliporul, Microbode (விண்ெபாருள், நுண்ெபாருள், சிற்றம்பலம், பரமாணு, ஒளிப்ெபாருள்) and in many names.

The whole process of evolution is a 5 stage process. (Keep noting the importance of 5 and at the background remember Shiva is represented by Panchakshara (5 letter) mantra (Na~Ma~Si~Va~Ya).

So what is the five stage process?

• This space is called as Moolam (Source).
• This Moolam starts vibrating and this vibration of the space is called Kalam (Absolute Time and not physical time. We will refer this as time only).
• This Kalam (time) vibrates to a mathematical resonance called Seelam (Rhythm).
• This Seelam as it resonates creates Kolam (Shapes – Circles, cubes etc).
• This Kolam becomes our visible Universe which is called Gnalam.

So it is MOOLAM (Source) – KALAM (TIME) – SEELAM (RHYTHM) – KOLAM (SHAPE) – GNALAM (UNIVERSE). மூலம் – காலம் – சலீ ம் – ேகாலம் – ஞாலம், these are 5 stages of evolution.

This means that the Space itself becomes spatial forms and time is the instrument that creates, sustains and destroys. Lord Siva in Tamil is also called as Kalan (காலன்) as to who controls time since Kalam காலம் is time.

Reference: Time = Space by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Kalama Sutta – Acceptance Criteria?

The Kālāma Sutta (or Kālāma Sūtra) is often cited by those of the Theravada and Mahayana traditions alike as the Buddha’s “charter of free inquiry.”

It is also used for advocating prudence by the use of sound logical reasoning arguments and the dialectic principles for inquiries in the practice that relates to the discipline of seeking truth, wisdom and knowledge whether it is religious or not. In short, the Kālāma Sutta is opposed to blind faith, dogmatism and belief spawned from specious reasoning.

One day Buddha passes through the village of Kesaputta and is greeted by its inhabitants, a clan called the Kalamas. They ask for his advice: they say that many wandering holy men and ascetics pass through, expounding their teachings and criticizing the teachings of others. So whose teachings should they follow? They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard. The Kalama Sutta is the Buddha’s reply…

• Do not believe anything on mere hearsay.
• Do not believe in traditions merely because they are old and have been handed down for many generations and in many places.
• Do not believe anything on account of rumors or because people talk a a great deal about it.
• Do not believe anything because you are shown the written testimony of some ancient sage.
• Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that, because it is extraordinary, it must have been inspired by a god or other wonderful being.
• Do not believe anything merely because presumption is in its favor, or because the custom of many years inclines you to take it as true.
• Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and priests.
• But, whatever, after thorough investigation and reflection, you find to agree with reason and experience, as conducive to the good and benefit of one and all and of the world at large, accept only that as true, and shape your life in accordance with it.
• The same text, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.
• Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.

Reference: http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~beatrice/buddhist-practice/kalama-sutta.html