Gunarchana

An offering of our inner qualities

at the Lotus Feet of our Dear Lord

Sathyam Truth

Sarva bhoota daya Compassion

Kshama Forgiveness

Tapah Penance

Shanti Peace

Dhyaana Meditation

NonviolenceAhimsa

Indriya nigraham Sense Control

Focus of the month

Month 1

Ahimsa (Nonviolence)

*****************not causing any harm to any being

either through

thought, word or deed

Ponder on:

Why we have been blessed with the sense organs?

Using each sense organ only for its true purpose

Focus of the month

Month 2

Indriya Nigraham (Sense Control)

*****************

Use discrimination

And understand

What is truly right and what is truly wrong

Focus of the month

Month 2

Indriya Nigraham (Sense Control)

*****************

Focus of the month

Month 3

Sarva Bhoota Daya (Compassion)

*****************It is a direct measure of:

How connected we are with

another individual or nature in general

It is the understanding of:

The emotional state of another

Focus of the month

Month 3

Sarva Bhoota Daya (Compassion)

*****************

Compassion happens when:

Love to help becomes Mobile and Flowing

Focus of the month

Month 3

Sarva Bhoota Daya (Compassion)

*****************

Focus of the month

Month 3

Sarva Bhoota Daya (Compassion)

*****************

Remind ourselves:• Same spark of Divinity flows through all the objects of the Universe

How can we develop Compassion?

Focus of the month

Month 4

Kshama (forbearance)

*****************

Kshama is Everything in the World

The greatest power for a human being

Helps to get along and work with others

Kshama (forbearance)

*****************

Forgiveness

KindnessTolerancePatience

True & Selfless Love

Know no Hatred

Tranquility

Equanimity

Harmony

Understanding

Live Together

Compassion

Contentment

Peace

Sympathy

Self Restraint

Focus of the month

Month 5

Shanthi (Peace)

*****************

An ornament

It is a state of mind of calmness and awareness

Everyone’s principal treasure

Where is Peace?Within Us

It is our real nature

How can we find this Peace within us?Control of Senses

Seva/Service

Shanthi (Peace)

***************

We can move from the feeling of:Happiness bringing Peace,

to, Peace bringing Happiness

Focus of the month

Month 6

Tapas (Penance)

*****************

The Heat that ends the activities of the sense

Means, the Heat

Heat that reduces our Karma

Heat that burns our Sins

Focus of the month

Month 6

Tapas (Penance)

*****************Is:

a Sadhana; a Discipline; a Spiritual exercise

For:

the realization of the SELF

Tapas (Penance)

***************

To achieve this goal:

Do we need to:

& Meditate in certain postures?

Live in the forest, living on fruits and tubers

No, No, No

Tapas (Penance)

***************

To achieve this goal:

Have Pure Thoughts,

Have Pure Actions

Have Pure Speech

Yes, Yes, Yes

Tapas (Penance)

***************

Thought, Speech and Action

Need to be coordinated

Do by compulsion?

No, No, No,

Tapas (Penance)

***************

Coordinate

Thought, Speech and Action

For the contentment of the Self

For satisfying our Inner Yearnings

Yes, Yes, Yes

Focus of the month

Month 7

Dhyaana (Meditation)*****************

Real Meditation is ….

Getting absorbed

in God as the only thought,

the only Goal

Dhyaana (Meditation)***************

- Directing love on to the name and form of the Lord, without interruption

- constant thinking of the Lord in whatever we do. Even performing your duty can be Dhyaana

- constant awareness that He is the indweller of all

- Cultivating love for the Lord has great potentialities

- to avoid lower desires and to develop higher values

- When and where the mind desires, then and there is the time and place

- No fixed time or place for meditation on God

- A general, whole time effort of the mind

WHAT IS REAL DHYAANA :

WHEN & WHERE:

WHY:

Dhyaana (Meditation)***************

HOW:

Three methods of Dhyaana

2) Jyoti/light

(felt and seen)

Light denoting that Divinity never diminishes

1) Japa/Chant

(felt, seen, heard)

Chanting your favourite name of the Lord

in front of the Image of the Lord

3) Natural breath

(felt not seen)

the inward path

Focus of the month

Month 8

Sathyam (Truth)*****************

Swami has been guiding us to realize that

Truth does not change with time

And He has shown us various ways to realize

What the Eternal Truth is

Sathyam (Truth)***************

We consider Truth to be of 3 kinds:

Prathibhasika Sathya: the reality one experiences in a state of

dreaming.

Paramarthika Sathya: The absolute, Eternal reality that is present everywhere and at all times. The highest end of all.

Vyavaharika Sathya: the empirical reality. Based on the fact

that many have experienced it, and hence accepted as true.

But, the reality check is…..

There is one and only Truth.

The Eternal, Absolute, Spiritual Truth.

Something beyond what we perceive as Truth

Sathyam (Truth)***************

- The mind

What prevents us from experiencing the Truth?

How can we address the mind?

How can we recognize the only Absolute Truth?- Swami says we need not make any special efforts.

- Just 11 seconds of contemplation on Truth

- Inquiry into one’s own Reality.

- Just 11 seconds are enough to realize the Eternal Truth

- Develop an Inner and Outer Discipline

- Adhere to what is True in Thought, Word, and Deed.

- Follow your conscience, the principle of Truth

- Have a deep and persistent yearning to realize the inherent Divinity, the Truth