Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission

Year 21

Nbz!3126

Issue 11

Monthly eMagazine of the International Vedanta Mission

May 2015 : Year 21 / Issue 11
Editor: Swamini Samatananda Saraswati

rkonso fujks)O;a ;kon~ g`fn xra {k;e~A

,rn~ Kkua p /;kua p vrksU;ks xzUFkfoLrj%AA
The mind needs to be understood, managed & quietened
till it becomes quiet and merges back into ones heart - its place of
origin. This alone is the essence & objective of all the various
practices of knowledge & meditation, rest all is a commentary on
this objective.
Amrutbindu Upanishad - 5

Published by

International Vedanta Mission

http://www.vmission.org.in / vmission@gmail.com

Section Index

1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
7.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Message of P. Guruji
Tattva Bodha
Letter
Gita Reflections
Jivanmukta
Yoga Vasistha
Story Section
VM News
VM Activities
Album
VM Programs

5
6-7
9
10-11
13
14-15
17
18
19
20-21
23

from Poojya Guruji

Truth of Creation
Creation is amazingly beautiful & useful too. In fact it appears divine. Poets are awestruck by its
beauty, and photographers keep clicking & capturing the awesome vibgyoric presentations. If this creation
is so beautiful, useful & divine, then why do the scriptures ask us to negate all 'names & forms'?Why do
we use words like Mithya to describe it? Why is Samsara associated with these names & forms?
Well, before we are told about things like Mithya & Samsara etc, these very scriptures first initiate
us to see the beauty & divinity around. They first tell us that not only every thing is created by God, but
everything is a manifestation of God himself. God alone has presented himself as this creation. So first
comes the sensitization & awareness of beauty and then everything else. Just as a book is not about
accumulation of some words, but is about a message, so also the world is all about the message of God.
God is talking to us through these forms & world. No wonder all the scriptures use various examples - of
the world - to explain the various intricate & subtle principles of life. The objective of calling the names &
forms as Mithya is to help us turn our attention to the truth & also the message the world is giving us.
World may be various names & forms put together, but it is living, intelligent, harmonious, beautiful &
useful too. The scriptures in fact help us read the book of life properly. A changing form is telling us that
it is just an effect, it is a creation of some creator, so basically it is turning our attention to that intelligent
& loving creator - God. Capacity to turn our attention from effect to the cause is the 'negation' of the
effect. Thereafter even when we see the effect we see something else in it. This is the implication of all
those statements like - everything is pervaded by God.
Names & forms are very interesting facts, they not only help us identify some unique manifestation
but both basically 'freeze'. A form is basically a small moment in the ever changing life of a manifestation,
every form is all about freezing a part of its life; and name further freezes that particular moment by
giving an identity to it. Anyone who keeps giving importance to 'a particular' form lives in a small world,
which many a times is no more. Instead of appreciating an object in its entirety we just hold on to one
particular moment or aspect and that also of its past, and thus all names and forms also become limiting
adjuncts. We need to be aware of this aspect also. So basically we need to have the capacity of holistic
perception to see everything in its entirety. If we do not have this capacity then we just live in dead
images, and a life in images is one of endless & hopeless seeking & seeking. This endless seeking is
called Samsara. We need to wake up to the truth that basically there is no limitation, no freezing of a
moment and thus there shall be no seeking too.

Tattva Bodha
Six Divine Qualities: Titiksha
The six divine qualities which are under discussion here, all these qualities are not merely means to take
us to the realm of total freedom, but are stepping stones for experiencing greater & greater freedom too. To the
extent these qualities are assimilated to that extent we shall experience freedom from our own self created
bondages. The next quality to be discussed is Titiksha which means Forbearance.

Q: What is Titiksha ?
A: It is the capacity to endure the ups & downs of life like cold & heat, happiness & sorrow.
Titiksha is Forbearance. it is such an important
quality that it has been enlisted in the qualified students
list.It has been defined as a quality wherein we accept
all ups & downs of life with equipoise & maturity, be it
a bed of roses or a path of pricking thorns.
Life always comes in pairs of opposites:
Just as waves are the nature of the ocean so
too dual situations are the nature of life. Day & night,
heat and cold, respect & disrespect, success and
failure, all are a natural part of life which cannot be
avoided. In such situations forbearance is a quality that
becomes a blessing taking us through all situations
without any anguish. One who does not have this quality
gets unnecessarily anxious and grumbles and
complains about all that he does not have. Such a
person is kicked by situations like a ball who is elated
in convinient situations and drowns in sorrow in
inconvinient ones. Titiksha or forbearance is that quality
which in spite of these worldly changes helps sustain
the goodness of the mind.
Acceptance of situations without retaliation:
The bearing or endurance of all afflictions,

physical, emotional, or intellectual without retaliating

to them is endurance. We usually retaliate to situations.
We should develop the ability to suffer a little bit, to
endure. This will only make us more stronger to go
through any kind of adverse situations in life. Too much
of convinience and comfort makes a person weak.
There can never be a perfect situation or what we call
an agreeable situation and we have to accept this fact
of life.
All pairs of opposites are relative to time, people,
place and situations:
There is one flower but different people may
have different opinions and tastes about it. In the urban
areas people have a lot of value for gold and diamond
but for the African tribes it may not be so, for them
ornaments made of elephant tusks may be more
valuable. So every situation is relative to different
people. There cannot be people who are totally
agreeable to us. We may also encounter agreeable
and disagreeable behavior from the same person on
different occasions. My own opinion about something
may change. I may like a book in the first instance but
I may dislike it at another time. We always want to

Vedanta Sandesh

change everything around us so that everything is

agreeable to us. Forbearance teaches us to accept
situations as they are and learn to live and enjoy the
present moment. In life there are only situations and
no problems. We label it as good or bad, pleasant or
unpleasant based on our personal conditionings and
expectations. Lack of forbearance or non-acceptance
gives the string of our lives to other people, situations
and things. We are governed by them. When
someone smiles at me or speaks to me nicely, I am
happy. When someone does not smile at me or does
not speak to me, I am unhappy. Such a mind set not
only disturbs us but also exhausts us of our valuable
energy. We need to understand that it is all a play of
our minds. It is my own mind that labels a given thing
as honor or dishonor, pleasant or unpleasant, and
happiness or unhappiness. Having the capacity of
endurance is the door to freedom.
Forbearance culminates in bringing about an
equipoised mind:
Forbearance is accepting a situation how ever
it is by the strength of one's resolution to gracefully
go through all ups and down, by having faith in God.
We cannot change the nature of things, people,
situations, or values. At the moment, we can only
change ourselves and perhaps some people and
situations who may be under our influence; other than
that, we cannot change anything. We can see that all
situations are given to us by God, and more
importantly whatever the situation ultimately it is for
the benefit of the self. At such times we accept the
situation do our best possible intelligently and move
on. But this power of endurance must culminate in
bringing about 'samatva' i.e. bringing about an
equipoised mind. This is a balance of the mind brought
about not by the power of one's resolve but means of

discrimination resulting in balance of mind. It is a form

of detachment brought about by discrimination and
understanding of certain facts.
Significance of Forbearance for a spiritual student:
Forbearance reflects an intelligent living in day
to day life and holds more significance for a spiritual
student. A person lacks forbearance when his vision
is extraneous. Such a person looks for solutions to
his problems in the outside world always trying to bring
about changes and conviniences outside amongst
people, objects and situations. The roots of this being
the presence of the Jiva, a lacking being who is only
seeking to somehow fulfill his ego by extraneous
experience. Often it is relatively easier to overcome
heat and cold but to forbear the inconviniences brought
about by people is what brings about greater anxiety
and imbalance of the mind. This calls for an intelligent
art of living brought about by understanding the reality
of the Self, the world, people, objects, situations, the
law of karma and so on. Herein comes the role of the
knowledge of the scriptures. The scriptures & its
Masters show us the path of devotion and knowledge
to bring about such a positive mind set. In the begining
holding the hands of God with faith & surrender in all
ups and downs paves the path of mental strength and
forbearance without any pains and complaints. An
imbalanced mind that loses its balance and poise in
every little situation is going to be unable to
apply itself to the study or to contemplation. Endur
detaches you from outside and the mind is avail for
firm application in adhyatma. That which is
experienced after all conviniences I can experience
the same balance in inconvinient situation also. I hav
not used anything outside but I hav used a quality
from within which gives me the benefit of all
conviniences and within I am balanced.

Om Namah Shivaya!
Our Prayers for all those people who died an untimely & unnatural death in
the recent Earthquake in Nepal & India.
May God give strength & wisdom to all to help all these unfortunate people.
Pl remember this could have happened to anyone.
-7-

Accepting situations as they are

Let me share this story about myself. When I first
came to the United States, a friend took me for a drive on
a beautiful scenic route. My friend introduced me to the
climate control in the car. I started turning the knobs It
became a little cold, so I turned it the other way to make
the car a little warmer. Soon, the sun started shining and
it became too warm so I turned the knob down. All of a
sudden clouds came and it became too cold, so I turned
the heat up. Thus, I went on turning the knob up and down.
After 45 minutes my friend asked me, How did you like
the scenery? What scenery? I asked. Why, we passed
such a beautiful scenic road! I had not observed anything
because I had been too busy turning the knob! Thus, we
are too busy turning the knobs, trying to make everything
agreeable. We cannot accept situations as they are; we
always want things according to our preferences. We are
so busy making things agreeable that there is no time to
appreciate life as it is.

Vedanta Sandesh

Prayers for Nepal

Hari om !
On behalf of myself and all the Mahatmas, devotees & members of the International
Vedanta Mission we offer our heartfelt condolences & prayers for all the people of Nepal,
various visitors to the religious & beautiful mountain country, & of course scores of the
people of North Indian states who were struck by the sudden & terrible earthquake. In
fact we at Indore also experienced the shaking of the earth on that day, so we can
imagine how big & devastating it would have been for the people around epi-center.

Whether it is
scientific research
or

philosophical

discernments, we
finally need to live as
per our wisdom &
k n o w l e d g e ,
otherwise

all

knowledge

is

useless. All this is a

call to wake up.
- PoojyaGuruji

Such testing times not only test our strength & faith but also reveals to us our true
friends. We, the people of India are very happy to see the prompt sewa by the present
Govt of PM Modi, he personally lead the way and as some Nepalese leaders said that
India literally offered us a blank cheque. All are very happy by the service. We do realize
that the death of thousands of people and also of the roads, property, infra-structure etc
is a difficult task to deal & set-right. But there is no other option but to face life & live on
with all the strength at our command. The true test of religion is seen during these
times. We need to keep our balance during these testing times and do our best & that
which is right. The aid by India is no aid-diplomacy as some media people have termed
it. We pity their pathetic perception. All this is just plain & simple humane expression of
love & brotherhood - that which our religion & culture have been advocating from ages.
All this shows how far all such people have gone away from their roots. Obviously they
cant imagine the possibility of selfless loving service. Real nishkama karma has no
selfish motivations & calculations, and even a simple, poor & an uneducated person
can see & feel this. There will always be many who are so drenched deep into selfish
calculations that even when they smile they apparently have some axe to grind. We are
happy that the present dispensation at Delhi reveals the fragance of the real culture &
values of this ancient land.
This is also the times to re-evaluate our fundamental perceptions of life & the world. Life
is changing, and all our data reveals to us that an earthquake was due in the Himalayan
region, in fact if we had given due respect to this data, then we would have been better
prepared. The leaders & wise people of both the countries need to be better prepared.
Quake-proof houses need to be a must for these lands. Architects can certainly guide &
help us on this count. Let the obvious not be ignored. The philosophy of Hinduism,
Vedanta, too has always made us aware of the perishable nature of the world. Whether
it is scientific research or philosophical discernments, we finally need to live as per our
wisdom & knowledge, otherwise all knowledge is useless. All this is a call to wake up.
With Prayers & Blessings to all.
Swami Atmananda

-9-

by

Udharet-Atmana-Atmaanam

Swamini
Samatananda

In the journey of life when one comes to realize that he is only swirling
round and round in the whirlpool of samsara and so desperately wishes to come
out of it, he as a true spiritual aspirant honestly and sincerely reflects on the
fundamental problem in his life. He comes to realize that his worldly trip is a product
of wrong understanding of the Self and the world around. He comes to see that
the life which appears to be a life of freedom and great achievements is actually a
life bound by likes & dislikes and is a mirage of constant seeking. Such a seeker
of truth humbly accepts his state of sheer ignorance and starts to walk on the path
of enquiry. In such a case any spiritual aspirant who aims to awaken to the truth of
oneself must go through the process of studying the scriptures at the feet of the
Guru, clarifying one's doubts in knowledge, contemplating, and practising a firm
abidance in knowledge. But this path of knowledge too requires a qualified and
subtle mind which can glide into knowledge just as a duck takes to water. Knowledge
given to an unprepared mind becomes a burden, or leads to an imaginary
awakening or will not sustain at all. This is applicable in all worldly knowledge too.
No knowledge can be owned up if the person acquiring the knowledge is not
mentally prepared for it. In the sixth chapter of the Gita Sri Krishna uses a term
which very significantly reflects a qualified student for Self-Realisation. This term
is 'Yogaarudhah'. Yogarudhah or 'Yogayuktah' is one who lives a God-centric life
and who with his strong association with God has acquired divine qualities of a
balanced mind, is free from the conditionings of likes & dislikes, performs actions
selflessly, lives with a sense of fulfillment, is free of any kind of worries towards
the fruits of actions and one who humbly yet dynamicaly performs his actions.
Here is a person wherein all the facets of life, his field of action, his situations and
responses all reflect a strong presence and awareness of God. Such a person is
a Yogarudha-one who has established himself in the yoga of action. Only a
Yogarudha has the doors of spiritual knowledge opened for him. Having described
the extreme importance of this qualification, in the sixth chapter itself Lord Krishna
goes on to say that even though the blessings of God are ever present with all of
us yet one has to make his own efforts too, to adorne the qualities compatible to
the journey of knowledge ahead. The importance of such self-effort is being talked
about in the following sloka.
Being your own friend or your own enemy:
If one wishes to get out of the continuous trip of worldly seeking and climb
the first step of being a qualified student then how does one do it? By your own
will 'atmana'. You question yourself and your values. One re-evaluates one's own
value structure and re-organizes it. One seeks the blessings of the scriptures and
the Guru who direct us into right understanding but the very will to question the
self and make efforts to turn around has to come by the Self alone. This is what
Vedanta Sandesh

the scriptures call as 'Swa-kripa'. The blessings of God is unquestionable, it is

constantly and harmoniously showering on one and all, the Guru comes as an
embodiment of God who gives us authentic knowledge by means of the scriptures.
At the end of it we too have to help ourself with our firm resolve & desire to learn.
Being able to do this Sri Krishna says that we become are own friend and wellwisher and failing to do so we become are own enemy. When our own mind is not
used but abused we become the cause of self-destruction. It is important to realize
one's own faults & reject them, realize one's weaknesses, and try to live a life that
which is not superficially or momentarily attractive but that which may be hard to
live up to in the begining, but that which finally brings about our true welfare.

One seeks the

blessings of the
scriptures and the
Guru who direct us
into

right

understanding but
the very will to
question the self and
make efforts to turn
around has to come
by the Self alone.
This is what the
scriptures call as
'Swa-kripa'.
- Samatananda

May one not destroy oneself:

May one not destroy oneself 'atmanam na avasadayet'. Do not look down
upon your self. Believe that these are the words of God himself and this itself
proves the possibility of such a revolution. It is truly a revolution of one's way of
looking at things and in one's understanding. In fact it is not only a diffferent way of
looking at things but a new compassionate way of looking at the mind. The mind
has been like our own child who has been nursed and fed in a way that it is today.
Now a new turn of compassion is needed to understand the mind, give it time and
raise it from the lower levels of nature to the higher ones. May one lift oneself up.
Having taken this path Sri Krishna also warns that do not allow the self thereafter
to fall down and be dragged again to a lower level of existence. Do not let lethargy
or a lose resolve or procrastination overpower you. This path of evolution surely
calls for an emergency.
Field of action-the best medium:
The field of action is the best medium that brings about the quality of being
a yogarudha. God gives us situations and we have the freeom to responde to it. It
is the field of action that is featured with challenges, conviniences and
inconviniences, hence it
gives us the best soil to discover
not only the existence of
God but to see the entire
cosmos as a part of
him, to see his blessings in
and
through
everything, and to express
our gratitude by way
of selfless service. This is
the soul that brings
about divine qualities of
faith, selflessness,
mental
equipoise,
dynamism in action
and
a
state
of
fearlessness from the
challenges of the world.
Karmayoga is the best
means to become a
yogarudha.
being
a
yogarudha is not an end by
itself but this is the way to truly
bring about the welfare of the
Self. By associating all actions with God and bringing about an equipoised, selfless,
subtle and anxiety free mind. Our responses in the field of action can cultivate a
cultured, righteous and polished mind or they can be such that drown us more
deep into the ocean of samsara. Thus says Sri Krishna 'Let a man lift himself by
his own self'.
- 11 -

Quotes
Language... has created the word 'loneliness' to express the
pain of being alone. And it has created the word 'solitude' to
express the glory of being alone.
Paul Tillich
Solitude is the place of purification.
Martin Buber
A poet is a nightingale, who sits in darkness and sings to cheer
its own solitude with sweet sounds.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
I hold this to be the highest task for a bond between two people:
that each protects the solitude of the other.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Solitude is creativity's best friend, and solitude is refreshment
for our souls.
Naomi Judd
Solitude sharpens awareness of small pleasures otherwise lost.
Kevin Patters
Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the
school of genius.
Edward Gibbon

Vedanta Sandesh

Wandering
in Himalayas
Even in Badrikashram it is not easy to reach the stage of
Supreme Bliss, where all distinctions disappear, where all activity
ceases. There may be a few great souls who enjoy the state of

Badrinath

samadhi, but even their minds and senses are not beyond the reach
of the mighty illusion. One may ascend the highest peak of the
Himalayas; but unless one is exceptionally fortunate and possesses
tireless industry, deep faith, true knowledge, and the highest degree
of detachment, one cannot overcome illusion completely and reach
that final blissful state of merger with the Supreme.

34

Badrikashram was the sacred place where Nara and Narayana

performed their penance. It is ituated in the valley of the Alaknanda,
between two mountains named after them. The ashram is described
in the Puranas as the home of Rishis and as covered with the smoke
of sacrifices. But today it appears in a totally altered form. There are
some temples and rows of houses where priests and pilgrims lodge
and foodstuffs are offered for sale. The whole place is noisy with the
conversation of travellers and the altercations of priests who demand

Excerpts from

gifts and rewards from them.

the
Travel Memoirs

A hot water pool called Tapta Kunda and another, the Brahmakapali, a short distance away, are the two chief pilgrimage centres in

of

modern Badri. The famous temple of Badri Narayana is situated on

Param Poojya

a rising ground above the Tapta Kunda. In the temple by the side of

Swami

the image of Lord Narayana are installed the figures of Nara and

Tapovanji
Maharaj

Narayana, the orignal dwellers of the place. Outside is a small temple

dedicated to Shree Shankaracharya. But it is remarkable that there
are no shrines here dedicated to Vyasa, Suka, or Gaudapada, all
three of whom once lived at this spot.

- 13 -

The pure Consciousness cannot be described by words and it cannot be

by

imagined. It is the very substratum of words, speech, comprehension and

Swamini
Vidyananda

of their substratum, words and notions exist and can have a meaning and so we

imagination. Their reality is the reality of the pure Consciousness. Only because
can communicate. Words, being limited, can easily be used to delude and confuse
people who like to talk and argue and pay attention only to differences. Wise
people are beyond confusion, knowing the substratum of all words to be the same.
Uttered by the wise, words can become a mighty tool to indicate, point to the
eternal omnipresent unchanging and unmoving truth, in which changes are only
imagined by ignorant people.

28

The wise sages thunder - Brahma satyam jagat mithya, jivo brahmaiva
naparah. Only Brahman is real, the world is illusion. Limited being (and the whole
world) are not different from Brahman. Consciousness alone has spread around
as space, air, fire, water and earth and bodies of living beings, without undergoing
any change in itself. If you look upon names and forms only, which appear separate,
their separate reality is mithya, illusory and unreal. But if you look for the basis,
substratum of all names and forms, you realize this substratum is the same for all
things in the world, and it is not different from Brahman. As water, unmoving itself,
may appear in different forms of waves, bubbles and ripples, so also that
Consciousness alone has spread around as the whole world. If you look at waves
only, they are illusion of separate existence. If you look at water, and see wave as

Adhyatmic
Teachings
of
Guru
Vasishtha
to
Sri Ramji

water, you realize it never was separate from water.

And see what an amazing transformation happens when a limited being,
using working methods, discovers itself to be that undivided pure Consciousness,
which fills everything and everyone! Before, taking himself to be limited by body
and the mind, one has to take upon himself all the problems of the body and the
mind. If the body is old, fat, tall or limpy, he himself becomes old, fat or limpy. If
mind is dumb, he himself has to become dumb. But if you know yourself not to be
the mind or the body or the intellect, if you realize the pure bliss and consciousness
the wise are talking about as your very own self, you yourself become the great
Self of everything! No limits, no constraints, no problems of limited being. One
Vedanta Sandesh

realizes his own immortality - death is certain only for the one who was born, but
unborn is never going to die. Ones outlook towards the world and people and
nature also changes. Everything becomes my very own, I look upon everything as
my own self. I recognize myself in every child, flower and animal. Before, my love
has been limited only to the things and people I considered my own (and many
more being NOT my own) - my country, my city, my village, my classmates, my

Self=Knowledge to Moksha

friends, my family.
But now the whole world becomes my family, because I see everything and
everyone as countless reflections of the pure Self in various reflecting media. And
only

reflected

disturbed

image can be

or

agitated, the

very Self which is

reflected

never perturbed

by

agitations of the

i m a g e .

Knowing myself as

the one who is

reflected, multiple

reflections

cannot deceive

me to be many

independent and

s e pa r a t e

beings.

Now,

knowing myself

as the self of all, I

love, care and

serve everyone as

my own self.

Being the bliss

absolute, I dont

seek

with

limited objects

and relationships,

I enjoy non-

ending bliss of my

own being in

myself. I do not

depend

joy

is
the

on

transient objects, and so they cannot leave me helpless and desolate. I cannot be
betrayed or disillusioned, because I am out of illusions all together. I am whole
and complete, and my search for better life is over - I myself is something
transcending even the best.

He for whom everything has become just his Self, for

such a wise person & knower of non-duality - where is the
question of any delusion or grief.
Isavasya Upanishad - 7

-7-

Strength
This is my prayer to thee, my lord---strike,
strike at the root of penury in my heart.
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend
my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily
trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to
thy will with love.
- Rabindranath Tagore

Vedanta Sandesh

Krishna the Strategist

Story
Section

Krishna was well aware that Karna is more than a match for Arjuna in his
skills with the bow and arrow. It was not a battle that Arjuna could be sure of
winning. And Karna nursed a deep wound in his mind from the day he was insulted
in public. He had Arjuna as his target and was focusing all his energies for the
ultimate battle.
It was most important to mentally break him down as the first step. So

n
o
p
u
e
c
On e ...
m
a ti

Krishna let him know about his real parentage he knew the Pandavas were his
younger brothers. This always weighed down on Karnas mind when he took on
any Pandava in battle.
The second strategy was to ask Kunti to visit Karna with a request to
defect to the Pandava side. It was well known that Karna considered his loyalty
to Duryodhana over eveything else and he would never leave the Kauravas
Duryodhana started the war with the confidence of having Karna on his side. The
reason for the visit was to pressurise Karna to make more concessions to
Pandavas. He did and boxed himself into a poor position in the battle. He gave
Kunti the promise that he would not kill any Panda other than Arjuna even if he
gets the opportunity. Krishna and Kunti carefully kept the secret of Karna away
from Pandavas. So Arjuna could freely fight the battle seeing only the enemy in
Karna. But Karna had the burden of seeing a brother in his enemy.
Karna had a spear called Vyjayanthi, given by Indra. It would work only
once and Karna had kept it for use against Arjuna. Krishna was aware of this and
wanted to ensure that the spear was used before Karna and Arjuna met. He
strategised to sacrifice Khatotkacha (Bhimas son ) for the purpose. Khatotkacha
was a rakshasa and the cost of his life would have been considered low. Krishna
unleashed the might of Khatotkacha on the Kaurava army. They were unable to
bear the brunt of the whirlwind warrior. Karna was forced to use Vyjayanthi to kill
Khatotkacha rendering the spear unusable for the battle with Arjuna. Khatotkachas
life was a small price to pay to protect the higher prize.

- 17 -

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Ofxt

Vedanta Sandesh

Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Civcboftxbs;
1. Visit to Jagannath Puri : Poojya Swamini Samatanandaji reached Bhubaneswar on
5th evening, and the next morning she accompanied Sh Rajesh Kumar & his family to the
temple town of Puri. They were blessed to have very nice darshan of the Lord of Universe.
She also visited the Sankaracharyas ancient Goverdhan Math closeby.
2. Gita Gyana Yagna : The first Gita Gyana Yagna at Bhubaneswar was organized at the
Sivananda Samskrutik Kendra of the Divine Life Society from 6th to 12th April. The head of
the Ashram Poojya Swami Shivchidanandaji Maharaj lighted the lamp to inaugurate the
week-long discourse series. The subject matter of the twin discourse series were Gita-1
and Kathopanishad 1-1. The whole program was organized & also received very well.
3. Vishnu Sahasranama Archana : On the last day a Vishnu Sahasranama Archana was
organized, in which large numbers of devotees enthusiastically participated.

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1. Gita Gyana Yagna : Poojya Swamini Poornanandaji conducted her bi-annual Gita
Gyana Yagna at the Dutta Mandir Sabhagruh from 14th to 19th April. This time she continued
her discourses on the next chapters of Gita & Kathopanishad. Chap-4 and Katha 2-1.
2. Visit to Temples/Ashram : During the Gyana Yagna she also visited various temples of
the city and organized some Satsangs. She also visited the Kanvashram at Kanalda.
3. Vishnu Sahasranama Archana : On the last day there was a Vishnu Sahasranama
Archana, in which various devoted people religiously participated.

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This year the Adi Sankaracharya Jayanti was on the 23rd April. In the morning after
the study of the Shankara Bhashya (on Mundaka Upanishad), all the ashram inmates &
devotees offered special puja at the feet of the great Acharya. Later in the day, the statue
of Sankaracharya at the Sankaracharya Gate was cleaned & washed with Ganga Jal, and
garlanded. In the evening the local parshad Sh Devendra also came over with his team to
offer his respect to the Acharya at the gate. He went up on a ladder and put a garland
around the Acharya.

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On 26th Apr was the last Sunday of the month, and as such it was the day for the
monthly Hanuman Chalisa Satsang. As usual it was full house, and first there were lovely
spirited bhajans, chanting of Hanuman Chalisa and then the pravachan. Poojya Guruji
continued his deep reflections on the third chaupayi.

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Btisbn0Njttjpo!Bdujwjujft!.!!!!!!!!!!
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Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Civcboftxbs

Wjtiov!Tbibtsbobnb!Bsdibob-!Civcboftxbs

Wjtjut!bspvoe!Civcboftxbs

Vedanta Sandesh

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.!jo!Qjdt;!Bqs!3126
Hjub!Hzbob!Zbhob-!Kbmhbpo

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Ibovnbo!Dibmjtb!Tbutboh-!Joepsf

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- 21 -

Twelve keys to Happiness & Success

by Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj

1. Develop a clear-cut aim

2. Draw up a wise programme
3. Guard your health
4. Conserve your energy
5. Value Character
6. Adopt Virtues
7. Pray to God
8. Reflect upon ideal personalities
9. Be kind
10. Be absolutely truthful
11. Serve others
12. Think nobly

Vedanta Sandesh

Gita Gyana Yagna, Ahmedabad :

A week-long Gita Gyana Yagna by P. Swamini Amitanandaji will be organized at the
Ramkrishna Kendra, Maninagar, Ahmedabad from 13-19th May. The subject matter of
the discourse series will be Gita Chapter 11 and Kathopanishad 2-2.

Gita Gyana Yagna, Mumbai :

A week-long Gita Gyana Yagna by Poojya Guruji will be organized at the RK Missions
Vivekananda Auditorium at Khar, Mumbai, from 25th to 30th May. The subject matter of
the discourse series will be Gita Chapter 12 and Mundakopanishad 3-1.

Hanuman Chalisa Satsang - May15, Indore :

The last Sunday in May falls on the 31st. As Poojya Guruji will be back from Mumbai
by that time, there will be the monthly HC Satsang on that day in the evening. He is likely
to continue the pravachans on the third chaupayi of the Chalisa.

Guru Poornima Camp, Indore :

A four days Guru Poornima Camp will be organized at Vedanta Ashram, Indore
from 27th to 30th July. For four days Poojya Guruji will talk on just one mantra - Parikshya
Lokan (of Mundaka Upa) . Poojya Swamini Amitanandaji will conduct classes on Guru
Paduka Stotram.

Guru Poornima Celebrations, Indore :

This year Guru Pornima, the spiritual teachers day will be on 31st July. There will
be special puja of our Guru Parampara by Poojya Guruji, and then some devotee will do
Pada Pooja of Poojya Guruji, followed by Bhandara for all. All are welcome to join.

- 23 -

International Vedanta Mission

http://www.vmission.org.in/

Vedanta Mission Blog:

http://blog.vmission.org.in/

Indian Cultural Foundation

http://icf.vmission.org.in/

Earlier Vedanta Sandesh issues

http://bit.ly/1oGD4TK

Om Tat Sat