What is Yoga?

What is yoga?
A question so easy to answer. Just repeat from the scripture or what siddha said on it.


Before you read anything further, please note down or at least frame your own answer. What do you know? What do you believe? What you understand from the word Yoga and Yoga in your own world? Are both the meaning word yoga and yoga in your world in complete alignment?

At The Yoga Institute, we were encouraged to define our own meaning, deepen our own understanding. So we were not only taught tradition and other meanings of yoga. Rather to define and make it our own.

I got mine...

Yoga is alignment. At least that's the first milestone on the way and at the end. When there will be perfect individual, perfect society. Not as per our imagination and mental thinking, but when alignment of every parts been achieved. When oneness be felt, what seems scattered, dispersed are unified and brought at its right place. But for a time being, for sake of practice. It's always better to know and talk of near goal. Thus Yoga is Alignment.
Alignment of our thought, speech and act; Alignment of my whole body; Alignment of Head-Heart & Hand; Alignment of individual with society and universe. Alignment at all level...I can relate to it much easily?

Have you find out for yourself, What is Yoga? With what you can relate to easily? Something which you can practice?

Will be sharing more on Alignment soon. At the end sharing one of the very famous words of Sri Aurobindo, from his book 'Synthesis of Yoga'.

Goddess Laxmi, economics, me & practices - Part 2

Continuation....(part 1)

Can we study and put few concepts of economics in our life? How wonderful it will become.
Currently just running a race, accepting things in its very crude way. Just floating, without personalizing or internalizing.

Can Economics be studied through mythology and history?
Can Economics be studied and practice from Great Legends life - from all walks, all stature of life?

Let's go from near to far,

Inspired to core

I was inspired by few people and their life. Except very few, I never met them. Just read about that. Not in books of economics but in textbooks of our language course.

let me share about one person, one idea and my story.

It must be in 9th or 10th standard Gujarati, first language textbook of Maharashtra Board, year 2001. Interview of Ila Bhatt, gandhian, founder of SEWA. 

What attracted me and I wanted to practice was idea of minimalism. How she had tried to live a whole month in very less amount. This idea used to run a lot. Always try to calculate things from this point.
It was after my Master, during almost every job interview. In final rounds, when they want to confirm and discuss about salary. My mind used to work on those minimalist life and how much money requires only considering Present.

Obviously, I used to get selected. May be because of this low demand of money. It has still continue but with lot much change and view.

This practice has continued till now.

One more story

How about checking your psychological (emotional and mental) state during following moments.
1- When you are at receiving end of big amount
2- When you are at receiving end of amount which is lesser than you expected
3- When you have to give something precious and near
4- When you have to give something at very low price.

Check.. this practice of reflecting, observing and introspection.

Last 4 years, I am reading and trying to put some elements of sacred economics (also known as gift economics).
I have found even though we want to offer it, mind is ready.. there are parts within, thoughts around which captivates. They are not yet fully ready, mind still calculates, heart still wants to cling. One needs to work internally. Need to find the root and solve from that level only.

Unwisely expectations are harmful for human life and world.
and for Divine life, one need to offer all ones expectation. Drop all expectation till the time, one offers all, is contented in whatever comes whether riches, diamond, palace or bowl, water and rice, tent.

There are many stories, which comes to my mind right now.

From mythology - whether its comparison between Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati or Goddess Laxmi with God Vishnu. Trying to find out who is big, powerful?

To the stories of saint poet - Kabir & His son Kamala, Narsinh Mehta

Stories of Pilgrimage, stories of Chachaji (Sri Surendra Nath Jauharji) and many more.

Stories of countries, innovators, Visionary and many more

Process

As I write this piece, I feel more connected & centered within.
Putting things in practice makes it more clear, base principal more strong.
One gains more understanding of core principal.

I feel a strong need to truly understand forces of money, Mahalaxmi. based upon our nature and aim, set down few principal. On which we can lead our life.

Deep Observation, bringing light to every corner.

Before writing, I had noted down few points and made an outline for the article. As i started writing, many changes, new and much refiner thoughts came in.

Most importantly, just following on few principal of sacred economics, I see a change.
Program which I wanted to offer in 2015 based upon gift economy and its failure.
To current programs, skepticism in 2018 is much lesser. More faith and less attachment.
Specially, when you are working in Education field.

Current Practice

One can not sale ones learning. I rather love to share them freely with all. I surrender to universe and offer all work at her feet.


PART 1

હું ઉજાસ લઈ આવ્યો

હું ઉજાસ લઈ આવ્યો,
તારા આંગણે.
તું ઉદાસ થઈ બોલ્યો,
કે રાખ તારા આંગણે.
અમો મસ્ત છીએ,
અંધારા ઉલેચતા.
ત્રસ્ત ના કરશો, મહેરબાની!
રાખજો પાસે પોતાની વાણી.
પણ,
હું તો ઉજાસ લઈ ને આવ્યો,
સંગાથે ઉમંગ, ઉલ્લાસ ઇ લાવ્યો.
ઊંડી લાગે તારી તરસ
પરસ્ત થવા નહીં ...

( incomplete)..

Vaibhav
07/11/2018

પ્રયાસ

તને શું કહું?

મને વ્યક્ત થતા ક્યા આવડે,
જોને, આ સમય વહી જાય.

જગત કાઇ નહીં પણ તારા
વક્તવ્યના પ્રયાસ છે.

મુંઝવણ ત્યારે થાય છે,
જ્યારે મંતવ્ય વધી જાય છે.

વ્યય થતો જોઈને,
વય ઘટી જાય છે.

શરીર મડ્યુ, જીવન વ્યક્ત કરવાને, વ્યતિત નહીં.

પણ વ્યક્તિઓને છોડી, આ મન ઉક્તિયાઓ મા વહી જાય છે.
ની મુક્તિની આકાંક્ષાઓ, ટકાવે, ભ્રમરાવે...

શું કહું તને?
શાને કહું?
અભિવ્યક્ત થતા મંતવ્ય કદી
ગંતવ્યે ના પહોચાડી શકે.

ઘડી ઘડીનો પ્રયાસ,
કે હવે થાય તારો વાસ, હૃદય-મંદિર અમાર.
શ્વાસ-પ્રશ્વાસ નો પ્રવાસ,

વ્યકત કરે, ફેલાવે તારા પ્રેમની સુવાસ.

- Vaibhav
(main portion - 13+4=17 & last two line addition and minor editing on 06+11<18 font="">

તારા ચરણોમા

તારા ચરણોમા, સર્વ આચરણ અરપું.

જીવન રણમાં, ચરેવતિ ચરેવતિ મંત્ર રટતુ

તારા ચરણોમા, સર્વ આચરણ અરપું.

ખુલ્લો પડ્યો છું, હરણ કરજે ક્ષુદ્રતાનો;

ભરણ કર જે, આ તરણ કરવા નીકળ્યો.

તારણો ના તણાવમા, તનાવ વધ્યો,

શરણ દે જે, મારણ દેજે કારણો નુ

તારા ચરણમાં, પલકો ને ટકાવું

તારા ચરણોમા, સર્વ આચરણ અરપું.

In few hours, when sun will rise from the east. Western parts of India will be welcoming a new year, welcoming Vikram Samvant 2075.

On night of Diwali and awaiting the dawn of new year, I offer this prayer. 

At thy feet, I offer all my behaviour.

In this Desert of Life, walk on walk on I chant...

Happy Diwali 

&

May you all have a splendid prosperous and lovely Vikram Samvant 2075

Goddess Laxmi, economics, me & practices - Part 1

Message, Meaning and ____

         A thirst, yearning to earn and fulfill the desire is embodied in human. This thirst makes human move, progress and makes a life. Yearning can be a desire for many things, not only of money or wealth. In general, what one doesn't have one craves for it. One becomes thirsty, hungry to get those things. Generating a passion in human, to work and move for achieving desired result/thing. 

Passion, which brings in fire within is very precious. Without which life seems meaningless. In this fire we offer our life, every movement, outward acts, our thoughts & feelings. Keeping this fire alive, is equally important as to keep it pure. To keep this fire out of greed, envy, jealousy and all such impure parts. At beginning, at the middle and may be till towards end, it generates more fire. It looks and keep passion too much. 

How than it generates more passion? increases the thirst and also gets more result. Ohh! what one is offering is actually a true fire, one eats up oneself. Without knowing. One engulf oneself. and Self remain hidden for a long. A true fire hidden under layers of thick ashes. Our tendency is not just quenching the thirst, a need. Time, comes into the picture. Which makes human think about past quench and thirst which wasn't quench. Future thirst and its imagery runs into the mind and heart. forgetting many times natural place and space of body. This time ask for more, to take little more always. If didn't got to take in whichever way and all friendly negatives enter in. thirst is left on side, another superficial thirst came up. This is not right space to ask what is time? whether its good or bad? We burning in this fire. On one side our need, our natural thirst and hunger and on another side artificial, synthetic needs. Needs turning into immediate demands, desires and wants. a pressure on supply, source.

All offered, prayed to Goddess Mahalaxmi. Many prayed to God Kubera. For a change, as little point human psyche recognizing little more. You get messages and prayers considering other aspects of fire, thirst. Something which was getting quench easily. Are now not quench because thirst of artificial, money has taken up more values. How can thirst of emotions, thoughts and many other forms can be fulfilled. A balance need to be brought.

Above all, I wrote just to explain and make a base for message I shared.

whoever, whatever amount of thirst you have,

whatever type of thirst you have,

let your thirst be quench by MahaLaxmi.

Happy Dhanteras.

{Dhan = capital, money, जीवन-निर्वाह हेतु साधन भूत द्रव्य - a valuable which helps as a tool for living, one can consider emotions, social life, cultural life, spiritual life, all are as equally important tool to live and they all have its own kind of dhan;

Teras = it means thirteenth day of month either in first or second half of the month. With little breakdown, it sounds like word Taras, meaning Thirst.}

Me, Money & Economics

Before my physical age turned into double digit. I was getting averted from my name. Reason, meaning of my name were associated more with money, one of the over valued proposition. And than there was this Vrat (fasting, resolve) of Vaibhav-Laxmi vrat. This over stretching and seeking of money, i use to hate. Even though one of the sister from Brahmakumari's had told me the deeper meaning of the word. Abundance. Still it never went in that well. 

For me various transactions were economics, at that age. I think in its simpler way, to explain its nothing but how things were exchanged and cycles were created to generate, sustain and destroy.  

Yet, 18 years ago when I got economics as separate minor subject under main subject of social science. I was elated to have such subject. It was one of my favorite subject and I had taken a keen interest. In fact, even while taking admission in science stream I was looking and aiming at college where I can study economics along with physics and mathematics. Stock Market, Business, Budget were few things. Even till graduation year, I used to read and try to understand them.  [Which never happened and never studied the subject as in academically]

But is this the real economics?

 In school we were taught about big systems, theories and institutes. How taxes are generated. How trade happens between one country and other? How does Bank functions? My knowledge is only limited to what I learn in school. 

Rather I feel first and for most when need to be taught economics of our living. Right values and its propositions. Positions of various Dhan in our life. How to deal with them? What kind of attitude one should keep? Now a days, under name of financial literacy and few using economics are talking and bringing in life, individual into picture of economics. But when I studied... (Sorry! no point going back to past and reflecting. Trying to bring some point and building something to fill those gap. That is also good. But that's not the purpose here. Nor i feel it helps more than creating and practicing more real connections.)

Why we need to be taught economics to all? 

economics which helps person to figure out what actually it takes to live a life in harmony, in unity along with a beauty. 

In Sri Aurobindo's words - 

Harmony and beauty of the mind and soul, harmony and beauty of the thoughts and feelings, harmony and beauty in every outward act and movement, harmony and beauty of the life and surroundings, this is the demand of Mahalakshmi.

(Selection from the book, The Mother)

Harmony with oneself, Harmony with people around me, Harmony with animals and Nature. Whole of the earth. I think and feel, this is more vital point to learn. Specially in current time. 

But what we were taught was mere theory of capitalism or socialism or Nehru's model & adoption in India or someone else & some country. They corrupt the mind, it puts one against the other. Our teacher never took that interest, even if some child wants to become economist or chanakya(kautilya - Indian Economist from ancient period). Life was missing. Life is still missing. Life is divided. Can we have a look at micro level of economics along with macro?

A big question. In fact there are few important question one can asked, few were asked.

Our search continues and so does story of life. me, economics and practices.... To Be continued in next part...

Part 2

Diwali 2018 : Alignment

“It’s very common that people who have had deep and significant spiritual awakenings will at some point have to meet their inner shadow at a very deep and fundamental level. Through dealing with this shadow material, we become more and more aligned—but not with ideas of right and wrong, good and bad. There is a different kind of alignment here, an alignment with that inner sense of spiritual reality, love and divine being.”

~ Adyashanti

from, Resurrecting Jesus; https://bit.ly/2ckn6iD

What came to me, inner learning.... a lesson in alignment

The moment, awakening begins. Sun rises into the sky. thus shadow is bound to come. Shadow is bound to grow. Darkness will be spared out but shadow grows and haunts. Only when you have deeply aligned with the sun. Sun the light of supreme wisdom. Alignment with reality. shadow disappears. movement, alignment goes with the light. shadow is back in action. and time will come when a deep dive in light and you are light. one wishes! even if it's an imagination. one aspire for it. a one deep dive for alignment.

A simple observation of shadow and light, teaches so many things. Withstanding the noon sun. always keeping that high powerful all above everything. One need to grow that capabilities.

Still in the darkness all this sounds magical and rightful, doable. Night a preparation ground, to deal with shadow caste by inner lamps. when real lamp arrives?

There is no point of return, you are in light.

Even if you return into darkness, ignorance.

Light will be with you.

I don't know from where this words come.

whether they are right or wrong.

I don't see on left and right.

sometime in search of alignment, one scatters out.

One scatters out to rearrange and place things at right places.

To take out and observe,

Accept and put it at right place. again don't judge by thy mind.

as they have past the scrutiny of trinity of intellect. high above the mind.

They too have rejected, low standard ignorant just to pass back again and transform into the light.

On the first day of Diwali, starting from today I wish for alignment.

Let this Diwali be Diwali of alignment with inner light. let Ram dwelling inside comes out and adorn the thorn.

Let this Diwali, be another step of alignment of various forces. Let all come back into its rightful circles of infinity. Close channels of love and harmony be opened to get align.

Align thy mind-heart-body around the Ram.

Ram not the one, who had taken birth in palace.

Ram who is still awaiting his birth in and through you.

Krishna whose flute music once enchanted the vrindavan,

same is waiting to come out in and through you.

Buddha's compassionate eyes which looked at the world.

Waiting for your third eye to open and look out, from within.

Alignment, Mahavira's courage be with you.

may we all align towards harmonious life, around universal life.

Alignment is a way towards Enlightenment.