Best Wishes - India Festival

Knowledge of scriptures will help us to properly
evaluate the values we ascribe to the objects of
material life. These are the values we attach to
money, physical comforts, power and prestige,
ego satisfaction, unless one realizes the hollowness,
worthlessness, for the primary aim of happiness,
there will be no need to reconsider their values
in life. Such evaluation can help us to overcome
six enemies that trouble us. These are 1.
“Kama”: Desire for material objects. 2. “Krodha”:
Anger when desires are not fulfilled. It can be in
the form of dislike, hatred, disrespect and strong
desire for revenge. 3. “Lobha”: Greed Expecting
more than one deserves, dissatisfaction tendency
to snatch everything from other, theft, robbery,
looting. Resort to scams, fraud, cheating etc. 4.
“Moha”: It is undue attachment, emotion, misconception
about real or just value, believing false
to be the truth. 5. “Mada”: It is superiority complex,
strong ego. 6. “Matsar”: jealousy. Effort to
run down others better placed. Conquest of
“Shad Ripu” is only negative aspect of spirituality.
After conditioning, conquering six fold negativities,
one should try to develop positivities. These
are described in Geeta Ch. 13, verses 6-11. When
these qualities become effective, the characteristics
of person of steady intellect, “Sthita Pragnya”
develop characteristics of a wise devotee, “Jnani
Bhakta”. For such evolved and advanced souls,
freedom from misery “Dukha Nivruti” is easy. For
gaining peace and happiness in worldly life spirituality
is useful in this way! However, the supreme
goal of life is self realization, liberation, “Moksha”.
Let that be for the rarest of the rare.
The positive attitudes referred above are: 1.
Amanitvam” humbleness. Not expecting to be
honored. This can lead to work as an agent for
supreme “Nimittabhava”, and further to egolessness.
2. “Adambhitvam” No hypocrisy. Not showing
what one is not. Consistency in thought,
speech and action should be achieved. Reason of
inconsistency can be to protect one’s image, social
etiquette, diplomacy etc. This takes one away
from integration of personality, truth. 3. “Ahimsa”
Non injury to others in any way, physical, mental
or intellectual. Not hurting anybody’s feelings,
Positive Attitude
By Niranjan Shroff
respect etc. even thoughts to harm or cause pain
to others, is called “Himsa”. 4. “Kshanti”
Forgiveness. 5. “Arjavam” Straight forwardness.
Open heartedness. No scheming, evil designing
etc. 6. “Acharyapsanam” Service to teacher
“Guru” 7. “Shaucha” means cleanliness of body,
mind and the environment. Mental cleaning
means taking out the negative tendencies. 8.
“Sthairyam” means steadfastness. The seeker
should be able to keep firm on goal of liberation
unmoved by the failures in attempts for goal. 9.
“Atma Vinigraha” Self control on natural inclination
to sense pleasures. 10. “Indriyarthesu
Vairagyam” means detachment of a seeker who is
not driven by objects and five fields of senses,
such as sound, touch, form, taste, smell. 11.
“Anahankara” No pride or self esteem 12. “Dukh
Doshnu Darshanam” Visualize painful nature of
worldly life, such as birth, death, old age, poverty,
unemployment, dishonor, failure etc. and their
transient nature. 13. “Asakti” Detached from
body,sense objects, etc. 14. Anabhishvanga” Lack
of misconceived identity with any objects, person,
family, house, land, money etc. 15. “Nitya Sama
Chittatvam” Sameness towards reactions to all
happenings, desirable or otherwisewhich keeps
on coming to us as a result of destiny. 16. “Ananya
Yogen” Not harboring any thought other than of
Supreme self. Firm “Dharana” and “Dhyana” can
take a seeker to this state. 17. “Bhakti
Avyabhicharini” Devotion which do not waver
from one deity to the other., but is faithful, steady
for chosen one ‘Istha deva’ . 18. “Vivikta Desha
Sevitram” Residing in a holy place. Suble vibrations
of the holy place can be conducive to spirituality.
Staying alone, solitary will reduce worldly
attractions. 19. “Arti Jana Sansadi” No desire for
contact with others. 20. “Adhyatma Jnana
Nityatvam” Always absorbed in the study of the
self or the scriptures. 21. “Tattavrtha Jnana
Darshanam” Realization.
As a result of these qualities, one can adopt
path that suits him/her of Action (Karma),
Devotion (Bhakti) or Knowledge (Jnana) for
attaining supreme objective of life- liberation
(Moksha).
“To serve is my religion” 59