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Thread: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

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    Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    Namaste,

    The following is from Pt. Narasimha Rao's recently published public facebook post. I was thoroughly impressed with this post! Doesn't it clearly show which chakra deals with what aspect of the personality and the different manifestations of Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas in them as well as when bakthi yoga is applicable, when karma, when jnana and when Raja-yoga?

    Thanks,

    Viraja

    Now for the article:

    Phases in Spiritual Evolution
    --------------------------------------

    Our subtle self is made of 5 subtle elements - earth, water, fire, air and space, in decreasing order of density. These are controlled by 5 chakras, from Mooladhara chakra to Visuddhi chakra. Let us see the qualities that manifest in a spiritual seeker as each element is influenced by each of 3 gunas. Please note that people may purify different elements in different order.
    * * *
    Earth element governed by Mooladhara chakra is about structure, stability and habits.
    When there is predominant Tamas there, one may be stuck in laziness, unwise habits and harmful routines. One may struggle to maintain regularity in spiritual sadhana.
    When there is predominant Rajas there, one may passionately engage in some practices and routines and fluctuate between obsession and disappointment, both caused by high expectations.
    When there is predominant Sattwa there, one may engage in regular and contented practices. One's expctations become less self-centered and one may not get disheartened if expectations are not fulfilled.
    Karma yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by performing regular actions - whether serving others, reading books and contemplating, doing rituals or whatever - and transitioning from selfish actions to selfless ones without attachment to results.
    * * *
    Water element governed by Swadhishthana chakra is about harmony, sense of belonging, emotionality and attachment.
    When there is predominant Tamas there, one may be stuck in stagnant and self-serving emotional attachment to a group/path/guru/deity.
    When there is predominant Rajas there, one may be passionately and emotionally attached to a group/path/guru/deity and one's attachment may fluctuate between selfish and unselfish motives.
    When there is predominant Sattwa there, one may possess stable and steadfast attachment to a group/path/guru/deity, without any self-serving motives.
    Bhakti yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by infusing actions with feeling and devotion - whether for a group or a path or a guru or a deity - and transitioning from self-centered feelings to selfless ones of giving oneself up without any expectations.
    * * *
    Fire element governed by Manipoora chakra is about will power, esteem, mastery and ability.
    When there is predominant Tamas there, one may pursue self-serving notions of esteem, ability and power over others.
    When there is predominant Rajas there, one may passionately pursue notions of esteem, ability and power over others and oneself, driven by a mixture of selfish and selfless motives.
    When there is predominant Sattwa there, one is in a focused, contented and selfless pursuit of power over one's own vasanas and instincts.
    Raja yoga is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by channeling one's self-esteem and sense of control/power to develop self-control over one's own vasanas and transitioning from a selfish sense of power to a selfless one that looks inward.
    * * *
    Air element governed by Anahata chakra (litereal meaning: unbound/unconstrained) is about expansiveness, empathy and identifying with all.
    When there is predominant Tamas there, one's own limited agendas outweigh empathy for others, their feelings and needs.
    When there is predominant Rajas there, one fluctuates between empathy for others and one's own agendas.
    When there is predominant Sattwa there, one instinctively empathizes with others and one's "own" happiness and well-being stop being much more important than those of others. The gap between "I" and "others" narrows considerably.
    Jnana yoga (especially viveka or discrimination) is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by channeling one's discrimination and wisdom to identify, downplay and overcome agendas of limited self, increase empathy for others and expand one's self-identification to the unlimited Self.
    One word of caution here: Theoretical knowledge of pseudo-Vedanta and repeating like a parrot that all is Self will not increase sattwa in air element. There is no way other than de-identifying with one's own needs and feeling emppathy for others around one.
    * * *
    Space element governed by Visuddhi chakra (litereal meaning: purity by absence) is about subtlety, absolute lightness and just "being" - being devoid of agendas and notions.
    When there is predominant Tamas there, seeds of many agendas lie scattered in one's subtlest core existence.
    When there is predominant Rajas there, seeds of some agendas lie hidden in one's subtlest core existence.
    When there is predominant Sattwa there, one's subtle core existence is devoid of any considerable agendas - explicit or hidden.
    Jnana yoga (especially Ishwara pranidhana or complete surrender) is the ideal path for purifying this element. One fulfills, and eventually purifies, this element by completely surrendering to the Supreme and ridding oneself of any notions of "I need to be/experience/do so and so thing".
    One word of caution here: Even tremendous viveka (discrimination) and deep empathy for all will not increase sattwa in space element. Concepts and notions keep arising in the space of consciousness. Even selfless notions and agendas prevent a state of "pure being devoid of notions". There is no way other than complete surrender to the will of the Supreme - "sarvadharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja" (leave all dharmas and take refuge in Me).
    jai hanuman gyan gun sagar jai kapis tihu lok ujagar

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    Re: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    The above being said, I believe that pure bakthi yoga by itself is capable of rendering one with a cleansing effect on all his chakras, and by all means, can render the boons of all yogas combined together.

    1. Bakthi in the form of ritualistic worship, bathing of the gods, serving them food, doing flower puja - is supposed to cleanse, expand and brighten the heart - bring immense joy and peace.

    2. Cleaning the surroundings by sweeping the floor, cleaning the altar, etc - Are supposed to bring the effect of karma yoga and clean the Mooladhara.

    3. Cooking devotedly for other devotees, and collecting and cleaning their soiled plates - would further clean any impurities in our chakras.

    4. Going for 'alms', biksha as in olden days - is very humbling for the self.

    5. Charity, donating as much wealth as possible to the devotees and devotional cause - is also very good promoted by foremost bakthi yoga teachings as their first requirement.

    6. Reciting mantras, meditation - Would further open all the chakras possible, and bring in spiritual purity.
    jai hanuman gyan gun sagar jai kapis tihu lok ujagar

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    Re: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    Namaste Viraja

    I think you are referring P.V.R. Narasimha Rao. Pandit ji has achieved phenomenal success both in professional and spiritual spheres, yet maintains high degree of humility. His eBook Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach is an excellent source for the beginners.

    Thanks for sharing his thoughts.


    Best Regards
    Anirudh...

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    Re: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    Namaste Anirudh ji,

    Yes that is correct. I regularly follow his public facebook posts. I am really awestruck that, he, being an IT Engineer of first-rate caliber working every day for an IT company, dedicates nearly an hour every morning for homa (fire ritual) and works sincerely to bring awareness for this cause among public!

    Panditji seems to be a smarta, who is dedicated to Rama, Shiva, Chandi (Shakti) and Mahalakshmi.... he maintains a neat website wherein he has given links to various types of initiatives he has undertaken, including fire yoga and astrology.

    Seems to be a multi-talented person who is a master of vedic astrology, spirituality, Engineering, poetry, Sanskrit and such...

    God bless.
    jai hanuman gyan gun sagar jai kapis tihu lok ujagar

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    Re: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    hariḥ oṁ
    ~~~~~~
    namasté & hello,

    Let me offer a few lines on bhakti for one's kind consideration...

    What is bhakti ? Let me draw on ādi śaṅkara-ji’s view on this matter... it is from the śrīśivānandalaharī (śrī-śiva-ananda-laharī = the wave (laharī) of śiva’s joy or bliss (ānanda)); it is 100 verses in praise of śivaḥ.

    ॥ श्रीशिवानन्दलहरी ॥

    अङ्कोलं निजबीजसन्ततिरयस्कान्तोपलं सूचिका
    साध्वी नैजविभुं लता क्षितिरुहं सिन्धुः सरिद्वल्लभम् ।
    प्राप्नोतीह यथा तथा पशुपतेः पादारविन्दद्वयं
    चेतोवृत्तिरुपेत्य तिष्ठति सदा सा भक्तिरित्युच्यते ॥ ६१

    || śrīśivānandalaharī ||

    aṅkōlaṁ nijabījasantatirayaskāntōpalaṁ sūcikā
    sādhvī naijavibhuṁ latā kṣitiruhaṁ sindhuḥ saridvallabham ।
    prāpnōtīha yathā tathā paśupatēḥ pādāravindadvayaṁ
    cētōvr̥ttirupētya tiṣṭhati sadā sā bhaktirityucyatē ॥ 61

    I will refer to rāmaṇa mahaṛṣi’s translation of the 61st śloka then offer a few other complimentary translations that align and are offered so the idea sinks-in.

    Just as the ankola fruit falling from the tree rejoins it, or a piece of iron is drawn to a magnet, so also thoughts after rising up, lose themselves in their original source. This is bhakti . The original source of thought is the feet of the Lord, īśvara (called paśupatiḥ is this verse) . Love of His Feet forms bhakti.

    another view of verse 61:
    Like the real seed progeny reaches for the mother ankola tree,
    Like the iron needle reaches for the load stone.
    Like the chaste woman reaches for her lord,
    Like the tender creeper reaches for near by trees,
    Like the river reaches for the sea,
    If the spirit of the mind, reaches for the lotus feet of
    paśupatiḥ and stays there always,then that state is called devotion.

    another view
    Just like the real seed (once settled in the ground) reaches for the mother ankola tree, or iron needle reaches for the load stone(magnet) or chaste woman reaches for her lord, or tender creeper reaches for near by trees, or a river reaches for the sea,
    If the spirit of the mind, reaches for the lotus feet of paśupatiḥ and stays there always, then that state is called devotion.

    Rāmaṇa mahaṛṣi reviewed 10 verses of ādi śaṅkara-ji’s śrīśivānandalaharī. This was just one. The other 9 also align to bhakti.







    aṅkōla tree





    इतिशिवं
    iti śivaṁ
    यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
    yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
    because you are identical with śiva

    _

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    Re: Pt. Narasimha Rao's masterpiece - Stages In Spiritual Evolution

    Namaste,

    Somehow I have missed Yajvan ji's reply in this thread. Beautiful thought, Yajvan ji. So you are implying that where there is bakthi, again and again, even if we mean to think of something else, we immediately return to the feet of the Lord and cannot think of anything else!

    Thank you,

    Viraja
    jai hanuman gyan gun sagar jai kapis tihu lok ujagar

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