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Thread: Prayaschitta

  1. #11
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    Re: Prayaschitta

    Quote Originally Posted by Believer View Post
    Namaste,

    Just to clarify,

    In the old days maun vrat (vow of silence) meant no verbal communication of any kind.
    In today's world that would include no communication via writing or hearing/watching devices. That means no visits to or posting in the forum, no watching of TV or listening to radio or interaction with any other electronic device.
    The idea is to be isolated from the mundane activities and to be in a meditative mood for the duration, rather than being in a vegetative state.

    Pranam.
    Vannakkam: Yes, indeed, and thank you for the clarification. I did 'no talking for the morning' with my classes at school sometimes, with extremely interesting results, namely their later comments on the ability to concentrate and observe during that 2 hours. There was written communication though.

    Maunam is also observed during any kavadi walk. The supporters sing, but the bearers are silent.

    Aum Namasivaya

  2. #12
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    Re: Prayaschitta

    Namaste,
    Quote Originally Posted by ShivaFan View Post
    That may be beyond the control of some .....
    We can spray a soiled piece of clothing with water and declare it to have been washed, or rinse it in water and think that it has been washed, or wash it with soap and water and then rinse it in clear water for proper washing. Similarly observing 'maun vrat' could be done just for the show, or to attempt to fool the deities or done properly. It is a self cleansing, voluntary exercise which should be done only if one's heart is into it and it is performed with sincerity. Waiting for a power outage to do complete maun vrata would not bear any fruits.

    Pranam.

  3. #13
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    Re: Prayaschitta

    namaste everyone.

    I do believe in all kinds of prayashchitta, specially going on yAtra (tour) for doShas (deficiencies) that persist over time. For small transgressions, I resort to reciting the gAyatri mantra.

    KAnchi ParamAchArya once spoke about this saying in Sanskrit:

    akSharatdvayam abhyastam nAsti nAsti iti yat purA |
    tad idam dehi dehi iti viparitam upasThitam ||

    He explained:

    Some people are born rich and some poor in this birth. This is because those who were rich in their earlier birth refused (saying 'nAsti nAsti--no, no') deserving cases of charity end up in this birth poor, asking 'give me, give me (dehi dehi)'. The shAstra says that begging is an act of indignity which the begger suffers: to refuse a deserving case is therefore a sin with consequences.

    Most case of seeking alms these days, especially in metros like Chennai, are fraught with untruthfulness, so I often do not comply with giving them money. In that process I sometimes end up with the feeling that I might have refused a genuine case, for which transgression I seek to reciting the gAyatri mantra a few times. I also compensate such ommission by surprising the poor garbage collector who passes through our streets daily by giving him on some days, fresh fruits, biscuits, snacks or some money occasionally.

    I recite gAyatri mantra seeking a good gati (path) in the next birth, when I accidentally tread on small creaters like ants, or need to the end the life of a waywardly invasive creature like a cockroach that has grown big enough to fly!

    *****

    Quote Originally Posted by Eastern Mind View Post
    Vannakkam: Sometimes we feel a bit guilty over deeds, intentional, or unintentional. Prayaschitta is the intentional action intended to help out with this. It's meant to be any purifying action we can undertake. Here's a link that explains it in more detail.


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr%C4%81ya%C5%9Bcitta

    I often feel so inclined. I guess I must have erred a few times.

    Thoughts? What have you done, how did it work out, what would you consider?

    Aum Namasivaya
    रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
    ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥

    To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.

    --viShNu purANam

  4. #14
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    Re: Prayaschitta

    Namaste
    Quote Originally Posted by Believer View Post
    Namaste,

    During the course of interaction with people, sooner or later, somebody is bound to get hurt, either intentionally, when in a fit of anger, or unintentionally when action is taken in a foggy state of mind. Praye-sh-chit is the act of setting it straight. My two fold act is to feel the remorse as soon as it becomes evident that I have erred and resolve to not repeat it; and to reach out to the hurt person with a sincere apology. Praye-sh-chit is done as much for the benefit of the wrong doer as for the victim. When I atone for my wrongdoing (not the Xitian sin), it gives me a great relief and peace of mind to silently confess the error, rebuke myself, resolve to not repeat it and then to offer an apology to the offended person.

    Pranam.
    This sounds almost as if it was copied from the Manu smriti XI.229-234:
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/manu/manu11.htm

    229. In proportion as a man who has done wrong, himself confesses it, even so far he is freed from guilt, as a snake from its slough.

    230. In proportion as his heart loathes his evil deed, even so far is his body freed from that guilt.

    231. He who has committed a sin and has repented, is freed from that sin, but he is purified only by (the resolution of) ceasing (to sin and thinking) 'I will do so no more.'

    232. Having thus considered in his mind what results will arise from his deeds after death, let him always be good in thoughts, speech, and actions.

    233. He who, having either unintentionally or intentionally committed a reprehensible deed, desires to be freed from (the guilt on it, must not commit it a second time.

    234. If his mind be uneasy with respect to any act, let him repeat the austerities (prescribed as a penance) for it until they fully satisfy (his conscience).

    regards

  5. #15
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    Re: Prayaschitta

    Namaste Saidevo,
    Quote Originally Posted by saidevo View Post
    Most case of seeking alms these days, especially in metros like Chennai, are fraught with untruthfulness, so I often do not comply with giving them money.
    I fully understand your position and the reason for avoiding giving charity to a fake beggar. Like you, I also tend to have reservations about the ubiquitous beggars. On the other side of the spectrum is Kahlil Gibran. To paraphrase one of his philosophical thoughts, 'If God has let a soul drink from the ocean of life and given him a human body/life, who am I to sit in judgement and withhold a few coins from him?' I am having a difficult time reconciling the two. Any further thoughts on that?


    Namaste BJ,
    Quote Originally Posted by brahma jijnasa View Post
    This sounds almost as if it was copied from the Manu smriti XI.229-234:
    I have never heard of the person that you talk about, Manu; but he must have been an incredibly smart man to have mirrored my position.

    Pranam.

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