Sadhana and Seva

An extract from a divine discourse by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on July 7, 1985.

YOU have worked very hard in your life discharging worldly duties and come to Prashanthi Nilayam, seeking rest for the body and peace for the mind. That being so, it might look strange if you were asked to undertake some kind of work here also.

In the olden days the Guru would collect his disciples in the forest and give them different types of work, sometimes for 10 to 12 years. This was done with a purpose. One important object of work is purification of the Chitha (heart). Once the heart is purified one is ready to receive the teachings of the Guru. Therefore, in the olden days the disciples were given work in the beginning, and after the disciples were purified by doing work, and the teacher was satisfied regarding the student's ripeness for receiving spiritual instruction, the teacher would start teaching Brahma Vidya.

The five Yajnas to remove sins

Besides this, there are other reasons why one should undertake work. Every family man is engaged in a number of activities in the course of which a number of small creatures and insects may be destroyed. In these and other ways, sins may be committed, knowingly or unknowingly.

For removing such sins, the Sastras have prescribed five types of Yajnas' Brahma Yajna, Deva Yajna, Pithru Yajna, Manushya Yajna and Bhuta Yajna. Brahma Yajna includes the study of sacred books and scriptures. Deva Yajna includes offering worship, Bhajans, Upaasana etc. Pithru Yajna refers to ceremonies to departed parents. The fourth one, Manushya Yajna, refers to extending hospitality to guests, 'invited and uninvited.

Bhuta Yajna refers to offering food to animals, birds and insects, etc, and looking after wild animals. By engaging in acts of service and fulfilling the requirements of these Yajnas, we will be atoning for sins of various kinds that might have been committed.

Service activities undertaken in other places, such as construction of roads in villages, or in the construction of temples or feeding the people, help to serve only that village or town; but by undertaking service activity in Prashaanthi Nilayam one would have an opportunity to serve  God directly. Any work done here is an offering to Swami Himself. Work has to be taken up in this spirit. One should not be idle. Whatever work is done here, should be done out of a feeling of love. You can take up whatever work is appropriate, in keeping with your aptitudes and capacity.

While dong such sacred work, residents can carry on their own Sadhana, whether it be Sravanam, Kirtanam, Vishnusmaranam, Paadasevanam, Archanam, Vandanam, Daasyam, Sakhyam or Atmanivedanam.

Obstacles should be taken as tests

Sometimes people say that many obstacles occur during Sadhana. When obstacles come they should be taken as tests. Tests are intended not as punishment, but they are given for ascertaining ones's fitness for promotion. Frequent tests mean frequent opportunities for promotion. If there is a big time-lag between test, it only means that promotion is not possible for a long time. The obstacles in Sadhana should be taken in this spirit, and you should try to overcome them.

While practising Sadhana one has to follow the rules laid down in the scriptures or follow the command of the Guru or that of God. While following these rules or commands, one should not

worry whatever obstacles come. One should continue with one's prescribed Sadhana and achieve success, even at the cost of one's life. Some people say that they are following Swami's

commands, but they are getting so many obstacles in their Sadhana. This is not the correct attitude. In fact, if one follows Swami's instructions carefully and correctly, no obstacles will come. If obstacles come it means one has not followed the commands correctly. Before undertaking Sadhana there are certain things which one should know.

Sadhana refers to an activity undertaken for achieving one's goal or purpose in life. The Sadhana has to decide what he wants to achieve, what his purpose is. Then Sadhana has to be carried on until one achieves that goal. If one undertakes Sadhana without knowing these aspects one will falter, face obstacles and problems. Then one may lose faith in the Guru, which could result in a total fall and destruction of oneself. So, one must be very careful in doing Sadhana.

Six steps in spiritual efforts

In Saadhana there are six steps; Sama, Dama, Titiksha, Uparathi, Shraddha and Samadhan. Sama, Dama and Uparathi have to do with various aspects of mind and sense control. Titiksha refers to having equal-mindedness in gain or loss, in pain or pleasure, and in praise or censure. Shraddha is very essential in spiritual life. Only the one who has Shraddha {faith), will get illumination and wisdom. So whatever work is undertaken, one should do it with interest and faith. Samadhana refers to contentment. He who has the least desires is the richest man in the world. He who is filled with desires is the poorest man in the world. Therefore, one should have contentment and self-satisfaction. Self-satisfaction comes from self-confidence. Self- satisfaction can lead one to self-sacrifice and through it to Self-realization.

These three are important for man: Knowledge, Skill and Balance. If one approaches knowledge with skill, one will get balance. Balance is very important. It means equipoise in praise or censure. For balance, skill is necessary. For skill, knowledge is necessary. If you lose balance, suffering will soon follow.

Winning the Guru's grace

When you are given some work, you should put your heart and soul into it, and do the work with the utmost sincerity and dedication, to the limit of your capacity. Take for example a person who is entrusted with planting trees and developing a garden. If he does the work wholeheartedly the plants will come up well, and the garden will grow into a thing of beauty. When Swami comes to see that garden and feels happy with the condition of the plants, then Swami's joy becomes the Grace He bestows on that person; and that Grace will confer great happiness on that individual. Here is an example of this:

Sri Sankaracharya had a number of, disciples, of whom 13 were considered important. Of these, four were the closest to the Master. They were Hasthimalika, Thotaka, Suresha and  Padmapada.

The first three chose to study the scriptures under their Guru, but the last one said that he would be most happy just serving the Guru. Sankara asked him what service he wanted to   perform. The disciple replied that he wanted to wash the Guru's clothes and have them ready for the Guru each day. The other three would ridicule him for choosing only service to the Guru, while they were learning the great scriptures, but the fourth disciple was not at all bothered by that. Every day he used to take the Guru's clothes to the middle of the river so that they could be washed in the purest water available. One day there was a flood and he was caught in the middle of the river.

He was not worried about losing his life, but he was greatly concerned about getting the clothes to the Guru, in time. He began rushing across the river, which was now in spate. Wherever he placed his foot a stone lotus sprang up. Thus he got the name of Padmapada. When he brought the clothes to the Guru, the guru was so pleased with the disciple's devotion that he showered his Grace on him, and immediately Padmapada became a great scholar. This is the greatness of service to the Guru and the Grace it can evoke from him.

Always use polite language

If you can earn Swami's Grace then everything will be added unto you and you will be happy here and hereafter. Whatever work is being done by you, do it with utmost sincerity. Always use polite language and speak sweetly. During Swami's 60th Birthday Celebrations, lakhs of devotees will come here. They should be treated as guests. Show them all possible courtesy and consideration. Do not hurt their feelings. They have not come here for your sake, but for the sake of Swami, in the same way as you came here for the sake of Swami originally.

If you are in charge of accommodation and someone wants room, but none is available, then you should politely tell him so. He may repeat the request but you should not shout back at him. You should politely tell him that there is no accommodation.

There are four stages in the journey to God: Saalokya, Saamipya, Saarupya and Saayujya. Now you have entered the first stage of Saalokya which is coming into the Diane Presence. You should progress forward to Saamipya, which means coming nearer; then move on to Saarupya where you shine with the very form and splendour of Dignity. Finally you enter the stage of Saayujya complete mergence, where the bubble bursts and finds itself to be the Sea. Service will give you the opportunity to progress along these steps and come nearer to Swami!

If you have to be told in a manner that you can understand, one

can say "Do into others as you want them to do unto you"--that is

Dharma. Dharma consists in avoiding actions which would hurt

others. If anyone causes happiness to you, then you in turn should

do such things that would cause happiness to others. When we

recognise that what others do will cause difficulties and if we do

the same things, that would be Adharma.

BABA

ATMAJYOTHI – The Eternal Light of SatChitAnanda

By Shri Lakshminarayan Aithal

(Shri Lakshminarayan Aithal has served for over 3 decades in Swami’s institution and is the former Principal of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Institutions at Muddenahalli. Inspired by Swami’s direct message to study the Upanishads, he first learnt Sanskrit and then studied the direct works of Adi Shankaracharya and Swami. Sincere perseverance led him to the reality of Aham Brahmasmi and He realized and experienced Swami’s words: “I am God and so are you”. He shares the import of the Upanishadic teachings with us in this series of articles.)

(From the previous two editions, we began a new series of articles in this section entitled Vedanta Praveshika: an Entrance to Vedanta. This is a guided discussion on the essence of Vedanta which shows us how to deliberate and reach the conclusion that we are actually Premaswaroopas and not the mind-body-intellect complex.)

I AM NOT THE INTELLECT.

Egotism and mind are different forms of the inner-instrument; and the intellect is another form of it. Organs of sense supply information of external affairs and the duty of the mind is to know the information’s one by one; and the mind collects the information and sends them to the intellect. It discovers what is what. Then, the egotism prides that ‘ I have this experience, I knew this’. Then, by knowing the external affairs, we obtain either happiness or sorrow. Hence, even the intellect is a means alone like the mind and the egotism; the intellect is known by us; and it is clear that the intellect is different from our own form. As the mind, the intellect, the egotism- are changes in the inner-instrument so happiness, sorrow, desire, anger, fear, shame, etc. Are the changes in it? All these changes are called conditions (Vrittayah). The mind, the intellect and the egotism are the conditions related to awareness. Happiness, sorrow, etc. are the conditions related to the experience of the external-affairs; and these are the conditions of perception. All these conditions appear in the inner-instrument and this instrument is a means alone. This is my instrument. Hence, my own form is different from the instrument and its conditions. Therefore, the discriminator should decide that his own form is different from either the instrument or any condition.

I AM NOT THE GROUP OF VITAL-AIRS

A few people consider that they are different from the body and organs of sense; and are also different from the mind, the intellect and the egotism. They think that they are the users of these conditions. An example can be given: If I want, I can lift my hand; if it is enough, I can bring it down; I take any object if I am in need of it; and I give it up if I don’t need it. I listen attentively any discourse if I feel the value of it; if I am not interested I can forget it scornfully. I dissolve the mind and the egotism in the deep sleep or I can stop thinking and concentrate the mind at a particular subject. Thus, I am that object under whose control body, organs of sense, etc. work.

This is also not the correct opinion. For, the energy that activates body organs of sense, etc. Is called the Vital-Air (Praana). I, alone, am the shelter to the vital-air. In the statement: ‘ I know this’- we have discovered that ‘ I ‘ is the egoism, my mind knows and my intellect decides. Similarly, we can find out that all activities of body, etc. Are conducted by the vital-air. For an example: ‘ I am doing this work’ is another statement. Here, I am the agent of the work and that is egotism. The mind wishes to do the work; and the intellect decides to do it. After this decision alone the vital-air works. We have already proved that egotism, etc. are the non-self-objects; and these are not our own form. Therefore, the vital-air that works soon after the decision is also the non-self. Thus, it is proved.

In the wakeful-state, the vital-air has two types of works: volitional and non-volitional. Breathing, heart-beating, blood-circulation, secretion of juice from glands, evacuation of excrement and urine, etc. Are non-volitional works that take place incessantly? Thus, this vital-air has different conditions: Praana, Apaana, Vyaana, Udaana and Samaana. In the wakeful state we can imagine the connections of different conditions of the vital-air. And it is clear that in deep-sleep we never feel the relation of any activity. In our wakeful state, we imagine that all the activities of the vital-air take place without our knowledge in the deep-sleep. It is true. But in the wakeful state we cannot understand what the deep sleep is. When we have the experience of the deep-sleep we don’t notice any activity of the vital-air. The experience is a stronger means than the imagination for the determination of the knowledge of the truth. Therefore, our own-form doesn’t have any connection with the vital-air or the inner-instrument; and our own-form is its shelter.

Anyhow, the vital-energies are many in number. These vital-energies change themselves; and these subjects are known by us; and these vital-energies never exist in the deep-sleep. Therefore it is proved that these are of the inert form; and our own conscious form is different from these vital-energies.


I AM AWAY FROM WIFE, CHILDREN, FIELD, MONEY, ETC.

In this manner, it is clearly deliberated on the basis of the experience that neither body, organs of sense, nor mind, egotism, intellect; nor vital-airs - any one of these is our own form; and this truth comes forth easily. For, as long as we identify with the non-self body, organs of sense, etc. Belong to us. A few inconsiderate who identify themselves with body, organs of sense, etc. become proud to identify themselves with their wife, children, etc. such people, if their respective wife and children are happy, feel happy; otherwise, they feel sad. If they have an extensive field, a palacious residence, a huge mass of money; they think that they have improved a lot and they need not worry; and if they loose everything what they have, they worry; that they are utterly ruined. Those who know that identifying with body is wrong and they know that body, vital-air, mind intellect, egotism- anyone of these doesn’t really belong to their Own-Self. Those who know the truth through the circular deliberation only understand that wife, children, etc. that related to body don’t belong to the Self. These wife, children, etc. really seem to belong to us; and this is true. If these relatives are seen in the dream, then also they seem to be related to us; still, are we not decided that none of them is really related to us? Similarly, we have to decide that the relation what we see now is also a mere appearance and that is not real.

I AM THE WITNESS, THE ETERNAL, AND THE INNER-SELF.

Now, another question may arise: In the day to day activities we identify with body, etc. If we are not any one of the non-self and not even the egotism, then which is our own form .that is bereft of anyone of these non-self ! How do we decide that the Self does exist?

Those who question like this, have a strong look towards the non-self. For, body, organs of sense, vital-air, mind, intellect and egotism are non-self-objects. These objects are known; and our own form that knows the non-self is totally different from the known-objects. This is an object of our experience being told again and again. Such being the case, if I am not any one of these known body, etc.; how is it decided that ‘ the knowing my Self ‘ is not at all existing?

( Objection ):- Even if we accept that body, organs of sense, etc. don’t have consciousness; all of us should agree that the inner-instrument is having consciousness. For, without using the inner-instrument we never know the external-objects. Such being the case, I is the egotism which is the shelter for awareness; and giving up this egotism, if it is told that another own form exists; how do we believe the existence of that form? Sir, you have told that the egotism doesn’t exist in the deep-sleep. That is true; but, then, we don’t have the consciousness, too. From that experience also, we don’t find any higher real estate other than the inner-instrument, isn’t it? ( Relief ):- It is true that the awareness appears in the inner-instrument. But, we know the o inner-instrument. That becomes an object of our experience. Hence, the inner-instrument, too, is a known object; and it is proved that our own form that knows it is different from the inner-instrument. Suppose, if you agree that the egotism has awareness because it knows the external objects; why don’t you decide that the organs of sense have awareness because these organs know their respective objects? The organs of sense appear to the inner-instrument; and knowing and not knowing of these organs depend upon the inner-instrument alone; and, if it is told that the awareness of organs belongs to the instrument; then, the inner-instrument appears to our own form; and our own form which knows the knowing and not knowing of the inner-instrument is different from it; and the inner-instrument depends upon our own form and its awareness really belongs to our own form alone. And, it is established that the Awareness is our Form.


This Awareness Form of ours is the Witness, that is, the Witness knows directly all the non-self-objects. The mind, the organs of sense, etc. don’t know their respective objects directly. If the mind, etc. have some assistance alone, these know their respective objects. For an example: If the mind wants to know a beautiful picture, it needs the assistance of the organ of sight and that organ should be located at the eyeball; and the eye should have the assistance of light. In this manner, rest of objects are known with some intervention. But our own Form, the Witness knows the inner-instrument, or all the non-self-objects directly without any intervention. The Witness illumines its object without any intervention and without expecting any motive.



For this reason the Witness is Eternal. Here, eternal means that which is not time-bound. The time is a principle that appears to our intellect in the wakeful state. All the objects that we see in the wakeful state should be seen in the domain of time alone; therefore, these objects should be considered as transient ones. But our Witness-Form illumines all non-self-objects including the time by its consciousness; and the time cannot bind our own Form. Therefore, this Awareness doesn’t have changes as the time-bound-objects have. For this reason, the Witness is called the Eternally the same one ( Kootastha-Nitya ). Here, ‘Koota ‘ means the summit of a mountain. The word ‘ Nitya’ ( eternal ) has another meaning in the popular use, that is, continual one. An object, even if it obtains many changes and continues to be called as the same object; and that object is said to be a continual one. For an example: We believe that the earth on which we live remain the same from thousands of years; but the external shape of it is being changed perpetually and still we continue to call the Earth. Scientists, today, tell that a substance may obtain physical changes and its matter continues to remain in other forms. According to that opinion, even if this earth is destroyed, the substance of it will remain in another form. Such objects obtain the name: Perpetually-changing-objects. But our own Form is eternally the same. It is neither time-bound, nor obtains changes. That is Unchangeable One ( Nirvikaara ), that means, that is the Same One ( Kootastha Nitya ).

Not only that, this Consciousness is the Inner-most Self ( Pratyagaatmaa ); and it is our Inner-Real-Form. As already explained, many a time, in our daily affairs, we identify with our bodies and sometimes with our organs of sense. But the existence of the body depends upon the awareness of the organs of sense. Therefore, we can consider that the organs of sense are the essence of the existence of the body; and we can consider that is our real form. If we continue to deliberate thus, vital-air, mind, intellect and egotism will become our real forms in the higher sense. For, we understand that latter has the higher existence than the former and the existence of the latter depends upon the former. By this deliberation we can go up to the egotism that appears as the I-feeling. But, even if we go up to the egotism, we have not reached our real Self, that is, we have not obtained our own Form; for, the Witness illumines by His consciousness all right from egotism to body; and the Witness has given existence to the egotism. Therefore, this Conscious Witness itself is our the Inner-most-Self. In reality, this Self should be called as ‘I ‘. A little light of the Conscious Witness falls on egotism, etc.; that is why these non-selves are called as ‘ I ‘. Really speaking, these egotism, etc. Are not our Self. By the wrong understanding these egotism, etc. Have become our selves. Therefore, the Conscious Witness exists as the self of egotism, etc.; and He is the Supreme Self; and, really, He is the Inner-most-Self ( Pratyagaatmaa ) in the midst of wrongly understood selves. ……to be continued

School Updates

English classes for teachers

With the commencement of the new academic year, Teacher’s English training has begun. Ms. Lalita Pulavarti, a master in Bio-statistics and doctor in Sociology is spearheading the training by conducting English classes for the teachers every Saturday. She is currently working as with an NGO in Bangalore and is actively involved in the activities of Sai Krushna Charitable Trust in her free time. The content of the training will be made available on the website soon.

Children receiving books

Teachers taking down notes

Trustees distributing books

Further, last week, the children from Classes 1- 7 were provided with new text books, note books, and other stationery items for the New academic year. The excitement of the children was notable when they started classes with their new books. The members of the Sai Krushna Charitable Trust distributed the books to the children.

Teacher training worksheet

Construction Update

Saikrushna Mandir after completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2

With the Divine Blessings and grace of our Beloved Swami, Phase 1 of the children’s home – Sai Krushna Mandir – is to be inaugurated on 23^rd November, 2012. As part of this, the SKM construction team is working to ensure that the architectural drawings, foundation, construction and funding are all moving along expected timelines.

 There were certain legal constraints and some background work related to fixing a contractor that delayed the start of the project on the ground. Most of that has been addressed now and we are now in a position to begin on Gurupoornima. By Swami’s grace the earthwork, excavation and building work for Phase 1 of Sai Krushna Mandir is beginning on GURUPOORNIMA: 3^rd July, 2012.  

However, before a discussion on that, we introduce our team of architects and construction consultants- Shankarnarayana Consultancy. Incidentally, they have also constructed for Swami in Muddenahalli, Parthi and other buildings associated with Swami. Currently, they are also engaged in the construction of the annexe building for the Senior Boys Hostel building in Puttaparthi.

In this edition we take you through the process of decision making in selecting a contractor. The construction consultants gave us the Bill of Quantities( BOQ)- which is essentially a list of requirements specified in terms of overall material and labour requisites. The BOQ was then given to different contractors to source their quotations for the overall project cost. This was followed by negotiations with the contractors and having internal skype calls among the Sai Students construction team. There were also three meetings of the Trustees to discuss the possibilities of a labour contract as against a civil contract. Our construction consultants, Shankarnarayan consultants, favoured a Civil Contract strongly considering the challenges involved and unavoidable delays that accompany a labour contract. Respecting the expertise and dedication of our consultants, a final decision was taken to go for a Civil Contract for Phase 1.

Phase 1 of Sai Krushna Mandir : Front View

The SKM Construction team after thorough analysis and consultation with our construction consultants is happy to appoint Mr Umesh as the Civil Contractor for Phase 1. He has a referral from one of the SKM team members also who have seen his commitment and dedication in working for their home construction. He has experience in working on multiple projects including industrial and residential buildings. Some of these include an R&D division for ITC Limited and Cauvery Medical Centre at Shankaranagar near Bellary Road. We welcome him on our team and look forward to a long term relationship to fulfill the project commanded by Swami.

 The entire BOQ for Phase 1 with multiple sub worksheets and the break-up would be made available on the website shortly. Attached below is a brief account of BOQ for Phase 1:

Making a site for the borewell

On 1^st July, Sunday the borewell for water will be dug.  This will be followed by cleaning and leveling of the site. Construction will formally begin with measurements on ground, excavation and earthwork commencing on Gurupoornima- 3^rd July. This will be followed by the work related to foundation and sub structure.

Using a compass to identify the water point

We look forward to all your active involvement and participation in this God given opportunity. We also welcome you to come and visit the site and witness the making of Sai Krushna Mandir. From our side, we will keep you updated through Venugaanam and the website. You are also free to contact us directly for any further information.

We are confident that, just as Swami’s bounteous blessings ensured the procurement of the land, Swami’s grace will crown our genuine intentions and He will continue to guide and bless the entire effort.

Astrology and Spirituality-Tithis and their significance

   By KVRK Bhargav 

 (Bhargav is a student of Swami who after completing his B.Tech in Textile Engineering graduated with an MBA from the the Sri Sathya Sai University in 2001. Ever since, he has had the great fortune of waiting for Swami’s direct guidance. He has been blessed with many interactions with Swami and he pursues astrology as a hobby to understand how it complements and dovetails spirituality. He shares his insights on how the planets are not causes of fear; rather they all serve the common goal of prodding man towards his spiritual destiny of Self Realization)

An eminent speaker was addressing the huge gathering in Sai Kulwant Hall on the occasion of Durgastami in the divine presence of our Beloved Bhagwan. During his talk he commented rather emphatically, " People believe that the tithis of Astami and Navami are inauspicious. How can they be inauspicious? Avatars like Lord Krishna and Lord Rama were born on Astami and Navami respectively."

Swami who was intently listening to his talk interrupted him, called him near, corrected him and said, " Rama and Krishna went through lot of suffering and hardship though being born as avatars as the tithis of their birth were inauspicious."

 Traditionally speaking, these tithis or dates govern the commencement of a lot of new and auspicious ventures in our households. Whenever I was to start a train journey, my grandmother used to sit with the panchangam to find out the best tithis to undertake the travel. Come Ekadashi , she would keep a morning to night fast, saying her prayers turning a rosary and doing parayanam of Bhagwad Geeta, emphasizing that it  has lot of merit. I always used to scoff at her orthodox ways, as my so called educated and scientific mind dismissed it as a mere superstition. I always tried to accept anything after putting it through the rigours of my test tube mind. She had a totally different temperament; she accepted with unflinching faith whatever has been handed over to us by our seers with complete reverence to their wisdom. But when I got a chance to study astrology, I started understanding the profound wisdom which our seers and sages of yore had, to have given us such rituals and practices.

Tithis in a month

Tithis are the dates which come into existence due to the relative motion of moon with respect to earth and sun. When moon is closest to the sun it is called a new moon day or Amavasya and when it is the farthest it is called full moon day or Poornima. Journey from new moon day to full moon day is called the shukla paksha or the waxing phase and the journey from full moon to new moon day is called krishna paksha or the waning phase. Tithis like Panchami and Ekadashi are considered very auspicious and the tithis - Astami and Navami are considered very inauspicious for undertaking any activity. The waxing phase when the moon apparently grows in size as well as strength, is considered beneficial and the waning phase, where the moon shrinks is not beneficial.

Let us try to understand this in astrological parlance. Sun and Moon play a major role in shaping our entire life and the day to day events of a human being. Moon signifies our mind, emotions, devotion to a chosen deity, sensitivities, obsessions and fears and Sun represents the soul, spiritual will, ego, the digestive fire, warmth, generosity and also self-centred nature and excessive pride.  They also represent the lunar nadi of Ida and the solar nadi of Pingala in our body as explained in the article on eclipses. The physical, mental, emotional well being of an individual depends on the balance in the prana of these two nadis. When an individual is born, a snapshot of the placement of planets in the zodiac at that time is his/her horoscope, governing the individual's whole life. There is also the concept of transits, which is the day to day change in the positions of the planets influencing the day to day activity of the individual i.e. birth horoscope is the macro view and the transit is the micro view. The different predictions, which we read in all the newspapers and magazines like 'the week ahead' or 'know your next week' takes into consideration only the transits of planets. Taking into consideration only the transit without considering the birth horoscope, results in an inaccurate prediction.

In a birth chart or transit chart, if two planets are five and nine places away mutually(known as trikona) they work in complete harmony complementing each other's energies, helping the individual to internalize their energy  for spiritual uplifment. Similar is the case  when they are three and eleven places away but to a lesser extent. In the same way, if two planets are placed six and eight places away (shasta- astaka) they seriously interfere in their mutual functioning and create obstacles for the native.

(8)	Su    (1) (9)	(2)	(3)
(7)	Alignment for Panchami and Ekadashi(waxing, five and nine away)		(4)
(6)			Mo  (5)  (1)
(5)	(4)	(3)	(2)

Chart 1

(2)	Su  (1) (3)	(2)	(3)
Mo  (1) (11)	Alignment for Panchami and Ekadashi(Waning, three and eleven away)		(4)
(10)			(5)
(9)	(8)	(7)	(6)

Chart 2

(7)	Su  (1) (8)	(2)	(3)
(6)	Alignment for Astami and Navami(Six and eight away)		(4)
(5)			(5)
(4)	(3)	(2)	Mo  (6) (1)

Chart 3

On shukla paksha Panchami and Ekadashi (waxing moon), sun and moon are mutually five and nine away(chart 1), making it a very auspicious time for spiritual practices and also start any new ventures. Similarly, on krishna Paksha(waning moon) panchami and ekadashi sun and moon are mutually three and eleven away(chart2)  again making it an auspicious time. On astami and navami of both waxing and waning periods sun and moon are six and eight away (chart 3)seriously hampering their mutual energies and creating obstacles for the native.We logically get one argument here that as the transit is not solely responsible for governing a person's life, why do we give them so much importance. The answer is that these Tithis in transit don't have an overbearing influence in a person's life but the energy available to us either positive as in Ekadashi can be harnessed by all and negative as in Astami or Navami can be shunned by all.  My grandmother was wise enough to follow these dictums scrupulously with utmost reverence without questioning them. As Ramakrishna Paramahamsa very aptly puts it, ' Experience starts with implicit faith'

If one notes carefully, in Sanatana Dharma tithis like Aashadha Ekadashi, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Karthik Ekadashi, Bhishma Ekadashi( when Bhishma left his mortal coil) and chaitra ekadashi are considered very auspicious.  Devout observe fast, maintain a strict diet regimen, undertake spiritual pracitces and try to internalize the available energy. They also visit temples and spiritual centres to recharge themselves. Also tithis like naag panchami, vasant panchami, rishi panchami, sri panchami have a special significance. As an afterthought,the success or failure of a venture doesn't solely depend on the choice of Tithis. If the Wimbledon final is played between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal(as in 2011) on a Astami, which is inauspicious for both, the one with a stronger will power, self- belief, one pointedness and to some extent a strong birth horosope will win.

Taking this thought to the highest level, one can earn Swami's grace with one's faith and effort as Swami very aptly says that if one has pure and selfless feelings, and a zeal to accomplish a noble act His anugraha will always help the person to  achieve the goal irrespective of what the ‘inverted bowl above’ predicts.

  Paramhamsa Yogananda in the chapter 'Outwitting the stars' in his book Autobiography of a Yogi, echoes the same feelings “Occasionally I told astrologers to select my worse periods, according to planetary indications, and I would still accomplish whatever task I set myself. It is true that my success at such time has been accompanied by extraordinary difficulties. But my conviction has always been justified; faith in the divine protection, and the right use of man’s God-given will, are forces formidable beyond any the 'inverted bowl' (sky) can muster.”

A Journey Within

By Sri Ram S.

(Sri Ram. S is an MSc (Math) and MBA grad from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He was also the University Brass band leader, a mandir bhajan singer and one of the founders of the alumni Band Group known as Rhythmic Energy. Post studies he worked in the IT industry for over 6 years after which he moved on and is currently a practising Clinical Integrated Hypnotherapist working out of Bangalore. He has founded Sunshine Wellness Studio (www.SunshineStudio.in) that aims at using various modalities of hypnotherapy for healing.

Feel free to write in on your experiences and also if you have any further queries at info@SunshineStudio.in)

Over the last two years at various instances I came across people, theories, explanations and discussions on the subject of karma. I also realized that for some, the concept of karma that they held in their own minds was the root cause of holding on to their problems in life. For somewhere deep down, people felt ‘guilt’ for some ‘wrong’ and felt almost justified in the consequence. So here, I would like to share (purely) my perspective on the law of karma and how it plays an important role in healing ourselves at body, mind and spiritual levels.

As I grew up I had a pretty common attitude towards religion and God. I ‘prayed’ to God (especially when I was in trouble!) and in general it was a feeling of awe and a little fear of God. It was when I came to college and face to face with Swami that my perceptions and concept of God and spirituality changed or rather formed completely. I realized and fell in love with God (Daiva preethi as Swami would say). I understood that more than being a taskmaster, God was an ocean of compassion who stood by me at all times and helped me evolve. I also discovered that spirituality was the way we lived life and not something we do at specific times in front of an altar.

Post college the lessons learnt at California Hypnosis Institute of India (CHII) and my own experience as a therapist / healer allowed me to further crystallize my concepts of karma. I have heard a popular belief system that states that if a person A slapped a person B, then by the law of karma, person A had to receive a slap (mostly from person B). I find that to be a pretty bigoted point of view (no offence meant to believers of this). Is it possible that we say that God is compassionate and yet He would create a law to ensure ‘an eye for an eye’? An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth would leave the world blind and not spiritually evolved!

According to me, the law of karma requires person A to REALIZE what it is to receive a slap so that he would desist from such an action in the future. That’s it! It is true that the simplest way for the mind to understand this is when the person A receives a slap in the first place. But it is not to taken as a prerequisite for learning the lesson. The law of karma is in place to ensure healing and not wounding.

What is the significance of this theory? Every time we believe or are told that we are suffering due to our past karma, now we realize that all we have to do is probably find out what it is that the soul (ourselves) has to learn. When that lesson is learnt, the problem or suffering has to and will immediately abate as the learning is all that was required in the first place.

I welcome your comments and inputs to these thoughts at info@sunshinestudio.in and in my next article will outline a simple meditation by which one could resolve issues, especially relating to karmic release in relationships. Please watch this space for that.

Love & Light! :)