Year: 2018

  • Swami Parmatmanandaji’s visit

    Respected Swamiji, shri Vijayji and all fellow students,

    Namaste, my name is Chaula Joshi and I have been a student of Vedanta for a number of years, participating in the regular classes with Shri Vijay Kapoor.

    I am extremely blessed to be sitting in front of You Swamiji and to listen to the week long courses. On behalf of Arsh Vidya Centre and from all of us we owe you a debt of gratitude for all that you have done to teach us your wisdom of self knowledge. Your simplicity of examples, explaining why we should learn Vedanta, and the importance of attaining the goal of Moksha has been marvelous.

    It was just a few months ago I had a talk with you and by Iswara krua and Gurukrupa your visit came to reality. No words can explain our emotions and we cannot thank you enough for your visit to California. With your simple and profound statements your teachings are very clear and now with your blessings we should adopt this knowledge.

    Your Mundka upanishad lectures describe the importance of the agnihotra ŸAGNAS. In modern society this may not seem possible, but one must do Sandhyavandana. You have stressed the importance of doing Seva Karma, which is for eg. Guru seva, Volunteering for the cause in organizations being akarta are essential for antahkaran shuddhi so that we become adhikari for knowledge to take place. 

    The teachings of higher values: Love yourself and respect yourself, will fall all the values of values into place. Your examples of how to remove the Panch kosha to see the self was straightforward and clear. Thank you Swamiji for teaching us your vision.

    On behalf of all the students here, I humbly request your presence next year and looking forward to your teachings.

    Chaula Joshi

     

  • Gurupurnima 2018 Gratitudes

    My Pranam to my Guru and all the Maha Acharyas to the Arsh Vidya Gurukulam. I take this day to great appreciation to all my Gurus.
    Vijayji, your dedication and determination of teaching us to analyze self , makes a huge difference in our lives.
    Unless, some of Gruhastha duty or sickness, I look forward to Tuesday and Saturday classes. What makes difficult for all of us is being , Gruhasta and in a Vyavaharik transection, is difficult to see the falseness of worldly things. How ever one can make tremendous progress by regular studies and assimilate in to daily life. I have strong shraddha towards śāstra and Rudram (prayer) to guide me through ups and downs of falsely world situation.
    The strong bonding ( Moha) towards children transformed in to unconditional love. Acceptance of the situation. Todays busy life makes their young blood to think differently and it is o.k.
    Most important thing in my life is to be a best company to myself. Learn to attach with detachment.
    Our Monday class discussions help us with this kind of situations and learn to deal with, because all of us class students are in the same boat and objectively we can guide being outsider.

    May Lord , Guru and Atma Krüpa be with me.
    May Lord keep you in a best of health, continue to enlighten us and continue guide us to study and analyze to go closer to our Atma. May I , not fear death and handle the situation differently and continue to make progress in my life.
    Seeking blessings from you.

    Hari OM, Chaula

  • Swami Parmatmananda Visit 2018 Gratitude

    HariH OM ,

    It is with a heart filled with love and gratitude that I speak these words on behalf of all of us. Thank you for your visits to California which I pray with be regular every year. Our sincere salutations to Sri Vijay Kapoorji, our Bay Area resident guru who tireless teaches us week after week.

    As students of Vedanta, we begin our study with shravanam, mananam and nididhyasam and through a life of karma yoga ,bhakti and prayerful life, we develop viveka and vairagya and a burning desire for moksha. You have taught us that our swarupaH is sat chit ananda, that all the limitations that we place on ourselves are superimpositions on our Truth alone., that the ahankara or the small “i” is ultimately false.  Consciousness alone is the truth of me as chit, which is sat , and which is anantam , my very swarupah, knowing which I gain moksha in the here and now and from which there is no returning to the cycle of life and death as it dissolves the sukshma sarira or antahkarana which travels with us from lifetime to lifetime.

    In meditation you guided us to suspend our identification with the body mind sense complex and remain in the awarenesss of the Self as we appreciated Ishawara’s vibhuti as the order of the universe.  In meditation, we saw our true nature as purna, asanga, nirgunaH atma.

    In the Drk Dhrushya VivekaH. we focus on the real “I”, and the process of tvam pada shodhanam , through which we cleanup the false notions of ourselves., to remove the false cognitive plurality of ourselves. These false notions arise from our identification with our psycho- physio complex which cause us to feel limited and incomplete contrary to our Truth wherein we are unlimited and Purna.

    Swamiji, you are a masterful teacher. Your teaching is systematic with examples that are easily understood. Your wit adds lightness to the subject matter and your skill brings us back to the subject on hand. Thank you for making the time for your visit to us. We remain eternally grateful to you and pray that we may be blessed with your guru krupa as we continue our journey. May we be so blessed that we can continue to learn at your lotus feet year after year.

    Harih OM.

    Zarina Kaji

  • Swami Vidtatmananda 2018 Retreat Gratitude

    Thank you Swamiji for this retreat where we can immerse ourselves at your feet and listen to the precious words that you speak. Our only wish is that it was longer. I know I speak on behalf of every shishya in this room. With your kindness, clarity and humor, you have expounded on the Kathopanishad with the story of Nachiketas, which inspires us to see the Truth about ourselves as Sat Chit Anantam Brahma.

    May we discover the fullness and happiness that is our true nature and not be reluctant of embracing our reality as the manifestation of total freedom and happiness.
    May your krupa bless us with a receiving mind and not a resisting mind.
    You showed us the importance of paying off our obligations to our ancestors and to society who have all contributed to our growth. May we learn to Learn to develop such an attitude of gratitude. May we grow to become contributors and not consumers of society.

    May we all strive to bring out the Nachiketas within all of us; with an intense longing for the truth, may we be alert at all times, choose the shreyas over the preyas, without any compromises or excuses.
    May we strive to become an uttam adhikari like nachiketas , cutting asunder the ashwathama tree of samsara with the three vs of vicara, viveka and vairagya. May we understand the futility of acquiring and protecting and give it up lock stock and barrel. May the desire of all desires, to be free, full and complete, become the only desire in our mind and may we have the courage and fortitude to recognize that.
    May we see the inderlying consciousness as the very substratum of myself in all four states of existence , waking, dream, deep sleep and turiam.
    May we be aware that our truth, the Atma is like the Sun that can be covered by the clouds of ignorance but continues to shine brightly once they move on.
    May we have the maturity to understand the Vedic equation of B=A, but A is not = B.
    May the mithyatvam of the creation not delude us from our reality, which is based in Satyam alone.
    May we understand that there is no birth or death for the Atma whose nature is Self-evident and Self illuminating and Anantam.
    May we gain the emotional maturity to see the events in the creation as merely that and not allow them to affect the peace that is my nature.

    Swamiji, you are a guru who with your humility bless us with your knowledge and clarity.
    May we be so blessed to learn at your lotus feet year after year.
    Harih om

    Zarina Kaji

  • Swami Vidtatmananda 2018 Talks Gratitude

    HariH Om.Thank you Swamiji for 4 days of exposition on the Daivi and asuri tendencies that reside in each of our minds ,  as though in the battlefield of Kurukshetra., between Dharma and Adharma. As human beings, we have to gain the emotional maturity to claim the Daivi virtues which are our  intrinsic nature and discard the asuri tendencies that can intrude in our hearts and minds  and overpower our thoughts, intensions and actions. Who amongst us does not wish for total freedom from pain and sorrow, limitedness and helplessness?  These are alien to our very nature and hence unacceptable. Your teaching  showed us  how actively cultivating the Daivi sampatis  we can move closer to knowing and assimilating the knowledge which will grant us total freedom.

    Abhayam , the first Daivi quality we much cultivate is to confront any fear and learn to focus on the present moment , . not stress or worry about the future over which we have no control. See the silver lining in every cloud, be grateful for the present and accept what comes our way with prasada buddhi . We must not squander the joy of being alive with the fear of death.

    Satva Samshuddhi : We must cultivate harmony between our thoughts, words and actions. In other words we must be a genuine person with pure thoughts behind every intention.

    Next comes Gyan yoga VyavasthitiH Our commitment to learning and assimilating this rare and precious knowledge. Must be constant and unwavering. With the conscious development of these divine qualities, , we can progress from being an impulsive person, to a deliberate person and finally to a spontaneous person in whom these divine qualities which are inherent in us are effortlessly manifest in full measure.

    May we cultivate the quality of Daanam , by sharing wealth, be it money, time, talent or empathy in keeping with our capacity.

    With Damah may we progress by exerting self control over our organs of perception and action.

    With Yagna, may we worship Ishwara with prayer to invoke His grace in our spiritual journey.

    May we learn through Svadhya the importance or self- study, chanting and recitation.

    May TapaH teach us to be less of a consumer and more of a contributor.

    May I strengthen the divine quality of Arjavam, where I remain steadfast and straightforward in my thought, words and deeds.

    May I always remember that Ahimsa paramo dharma. May I not hurt any being  at the physical, emotional and mental level.

    May I cultivate the value of Satyam, always speaking the Truth in a kind manner.

    Akrodha, : May I learn to diffuse the anger that may arise in me . May I learn to let go, forgive, move on and make accommodations for other’s actions. May my actions always flow from a place of love and kindness in my heart., through pratipaksha bhavana.

    Tyaga: May the bondage of likes and dislikes release me through renunciation.

    ShantiH: May I have the tranquility of mind where there are no demands or expectations.

    Apaishunam: may I never expose someone’s defects and instead have a value for overlooking them and see their strengths instead of their shortcomings.

    May Daya teach me to be sensitive to the pain of others, expressing  as compassion and empathy.

    Aloluptvam: May I no longer have a longing for something , falsely  thinking it will be the source of my happiness.

    May  I cultivate with MArdavam,  a gentleness in my thoughts, words and actions, To always remember that it is more important to be kind than to be right.

    With the equality of Hrir, may I be naturally modest in my behavior even when no one is looking.

    Achaapalam , May I not expend my energy with purposeless actions and speech.

    May TejaH provide me the vigor that I need to not be influenced by others and understand the value of these values.

    With Kshama: May my heart be large enough to accommodate the inner plight of the other , to respond with love even in the face of an injustice.

    DhritiH : a can do attitude to continue our pursuit of Moksha in spite of any obstacles we might face.

    Saucham: a purity of the body, the environment, with a pure and disciplined mind.

    Adhrohah: a complete and total absence of ill will or hatred in my mind towards any thing.

    Atimanita: May I never pretend to be something other than what I am to impress others and demand their respect

    All these Daivi Sampat qualities when nurtured, and practiced  reward us with gaining AntaH karana shudhhi.

    Why do we need the antah karana shudhhi?  So that when we are taught the  tatparya of the scriptures, they come alive for us and we can assimilate them in full measure.

     

    Next Bhagavan Shri Krishna describes the Asuri tendencies that can prevent us from gaining Moksha, the freedom that we all that we seek . The asuri tendencies are the opposite of the Daivi tendencies but we need to be aware of them and be alert so that we do not get swayed by them.

    DambhaH :Pretending to be other than what we are  due to a lack of self acceptance.

    Darpa: a bully on the outside with no real substance on the inside.

    AtimanaH – having a false and excessively high opinion of myself.

    Krodha: anger leading to violence on words and deeds.

    Parushyam: rudeness, intentionally humiliating another person

    Agyanam: the inability to  conduct viveka, to see what is right and what is wrong.

    We all have both the daivi and asuri tendencies in different measure and our goal is to neutralize the asuri tendencies with alertness,  effort and  consciously choosing the opposite  with pratipaksha bhavana.  As human beings, only we have the ability to choose to be happy or unhappy., depending on what qualities we choose to nurture in our lives. We need to and can tap into the daivi treasure within us to uplift our own perception of ourselves, thus leading us to become the perfect person, with emotional maturity , where one is purnaH, where no grand event or disappointment can  affect our  sense of freedom., which we can invoke when we tap into this divine wealth we all have within us.

    May you always be blessed with good health and vigor to keep teaching us in the coming years. Once again Swamiji, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing this knowledge with us, for making the time for us and for your gurukrupa in blessing us as we progress on this incredible journey.

    HariH Om.

    Zarina Kaji

     

  • Rishikesh

    Rishikesh

    By Zarina Kaji, 2011

    On the banks of mother Ganga I find
    A serenity that is so divine
    The river gentle and calm at times
    Rushing like an impatient seeker sometimes

    At the feet of Pujya Swamiji we learn
    The truth of ourselves,
    That is shrouded so well.
    Wake up wake up a voice calls out
    In ignorant slumber you are without a doubt
    He wields the words of the pramana so well
    With compassion and a sense of humor as well

    All that is here is Brahman he teaches
    With joy and compassion our hearts he reaches.
    We bow to you with humility and gratitude
    Please bless us with your guru krupa
    So that we cultivate the right attitude
    To inquire with fearlessness and fortitude

    The stillness of my mind urges me to be
    In the midst of living a life and being just me
    I am the one, the whole, the all
    You are the one, the whole, the all
    All is the one, the whole, the all
    How can there be any limitation at all?

    When love is the only expression in the heart,
    There is no fear of being alone or apart
    There is only joy, of Being, of One
    As the eyes see the beauty of the One in all
    There is nothing to gain and nothing to loose
    How can there be when all is me?

  • What is God I ask myself,

    A dedication to my Gurus

    Zarina Kaji
    Saylorsburg, PA
    October 2010

    What is God I ask myself,
    Could he be high up in the sky?
    Of course not, I chide myself,
    For who then answers to all my “Whys”?
    So what is God, I ask myself.

    A mother’s touch, a gentle breeze
    A sunset and the stormy sea
    A bird in flight, the lightening strike
    A garden filled with nature’s delights
    Is this God? Yes this is God , but wait there’s more

    A helping hand, a caring gesture
    A selfless act to make it better
    To put one’s own needs aside and do
    what needs to be done and see it through
    Is this God? Yes this is God but wait there’s more

    A thought that occurs in the mind,
    A will to be courageous and kind
    No need for pain and strife of separation
    Seeking the oneness from the isolation.
    Is this God? Yes this is God, but wait there’s more

    Staying with the Self in contemplation I learn
    I am not the doer or the done
    I am not the Bhokta having fun
    I am all there is, all that can be
    So what kind of eyes do I need to see?
    So is this God I ask myself
    Yes this is God, but wait there’s more.

    The guru shows the way with light
    Shining brightly in the darkest night
    The knower, known and knowing as one
    He melts the heart strings as away the fear runs
    Clarifying the Shruti’s words like the rising Sun
    Is this God? Yes this is God but wait there’s more.

    This knowledge that is our hidden treasure
    Remains shrouded until we are pure to the measure
    Reveals Self-evident Atman as it awakens the peace
    My own swarupa, the ananda of all that “is”
    Yes, this is God but is that me?

    The self shining atman illumines all asti
    I surrender all that is at His lotus feet
    I am knowledge, full and complete
    Yes this is God and this is me!!

    Love flows like a torrential river
    Filling me up with awe and tears
    How could my reality be hidden so well
    Could it be Maya casting a spell?
    The question answers itself as I dwell
    Upon the One Vastu, the Self.
    Yes this is God and this is me
    This is you and all that can be.

     

  • The Truth

    The Truth

    By Zarina Kaji

    The truth I find in all that I see
    The oneness through all reality
    The thread that strings the pearls of life
    Like gold that pervades every ornament type

    The truth of all is to be understood and known
    As no different today than through the ages untold
    When both time and space exist because of this
    How can there be any yours mine or his?

    When the Truth of all is the indivisible one
    When there is nothing more and nothing less
    That all of nature is fullness and perfect
    The heart rests in peace with nothing to select

    The Truth is the unmanifest manifest as many
    This variegated jagat with galaxies so plenty
    Each species and type every flower and spice
    As the manifestation of the very cause, we rejoice.

    The Truth of every wave as water as it comes to shore
    Is like our lives as we surf from birth to death for sure
    Knowing that this cycle is merely a figment of my imagination
    I find the Truth in the depths of my Self in contemplation.

    The Truth is in the song of silence I hear
    In and through all ” I am”, the joy of the seer
    I seek nothing, knowing there is nothing to seek
    I am the joy of Being, filled with light and complete.

  • The glory that is Ishwara

    The glory that is Ishwara

    By Zarina Kaji

    The rise and fall of the ocean and waves
    The Sun, the orb of life sustaining rays
    Who can doubt the genius of our Creator
    When the glory of his universe can be no clearer?

    The revolving galaxies in space abound
    With innumerable stars, impossible to count
    Each held in orbit with the laws we find
    In our quest for answers the sciences combine

    The macrocosmic infinity as “isness” exists
    The microcosm in each discovery where the mind we enlist
    From gravity that pulls and holds
    To the powerful magnets at each pole

    The laws that keep each in its place
    Are the same that make us sneeze and shake
    The order that functions in every case
    Does not discriminate any species or race

    Blinded by our ignorance we do not see
    How the universe functions so perfectly
    We are caught up in the web of life
    Filled with a million likes and dislikes

    Let us make the time to question and learn
    The reality of pranaa in every tree and fern
    This life being a mere passage along the way
    To gyanam, the ultimate Truth to know I pray

    In ignorance this life we live is a role in strife
    Each of us playing our part on this stage called life
    We seek to pleasure the senses with so called delight
    Not knowing our reality is unlimitedness, fullness and light

    Listen, question and contemplate upon the Truth
    At the feet of a benevolent guru, seek his blessings for good
    Open your heart for the light of knowledge to shine
    Reflecting the Atman as Ishwara’s glory divine.

  • Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    By Zarina Kaji April 2011

    To walk a path in another man’s shoes
    To understand another person’s woes
    To lend a helping hand and ear
    To listen with compassion even as he sheds a tear
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Gently steer without judgment or showing one’s might
    Practicing dharma, knowing that which is wrong and not right
    Allowing all to be the best he can be
    Be accepting of the gifts of Ishwara’s grace and shakti
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Subside the ego, he causes us the pain
    Of feeling separate and alone, where helplessness reigns
    The ‘I’ is the master; let not the egoic mind swell
    Use it instead as an instrument to serve the higher Self.
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Sharing the gift of kindness we see
    Makes the world a happier place to be
    Laugh at oneself, see the mithya around
    Keep being objective and see Satyam abound
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    To cherish and respect every life form as Brahman
    To use gifts we are granted for the betterment of someone
    Know that all that is here is given to me
    Not just for myself, but to share with humanity.
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Love for the Self, must precede every other
    Only then can we begin to truly love another
    Knowing there is no difference in the Truth of each one
    Keep the heart and mind open to accommodate every one
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

    Me as the Jivatma is a minuscule bit
    That is chewed up by life and tossed out like a pit
    Our reality is Atma, the I AM, the One
    That is Satyam, Gyanam, Anamtam Brahma
    That is love that is love that is love all the way
    Let love lead the way, let love lead the way

  • Inspired by Swami TV’s lectures on Chandogya Upanishad

    Inspired by Swami TV’s lectures on Chandogya Upanishad
    By Zarina Kaji March 2010

    Who am I that wakes each morn,
    To greet the sun as it rises at dawn?
    Am I the Sun, which rises each day
    Warming the earth, making the rain
    Feeding the beings, from the Earth making grain.
    I am the light of the Sun that shines,
    Reflecting its glory in all kinds of waters
    Shining in the minds of all who can think
    With intelligence and compassion, such a powerful link.
    I am the ocean, full, unchanging and still
    Matters not if rivers flow in or a storm spills.
    When the light of Awareness, reflects in all its glory
    In every droplet of water, each with its own story
    The waves seem to rise and fall, in unending tide
    Making the ocean no greater nor changing its size.
    Then the fullness of “I am” the Ananda of all that is
    Complete and glorious, melts my heart strings
    A song of quiet and stillness, with freedom and joy I sing.
    Nothing more needed, I merge into the glory of OM
    Like each wave making it back to the source of us all.

  • I AM

    I Am

    By Zarina Kaji

    There is no depth to me, no length or size
    The shape and form have long met their demise
    The boundaries melt, nothing to defend
    There is no foe, only friends that depend
    That I am, the pure, the untainted, the One
    That pervades all that has nothing to be done
    To be and lend being to all that exists
    Without the consciousness how can anything exist?
    That reality of the self I am and know,
    The unending truth of all that is seen and shown
    I am the hearer of the heard
    I am the hand that lifts and serves
    I am the seer of the sight
    I am the strength of the one with might
    I am thinker of the thoughts
    I am the seeker and the sought
    I am every grain of sand upon the shore
    I am the mighty galaxy of yonder and more
    I am love, I am courage and kindness too
    I see the Truth, the indivisible, through the duality
    I am the One that is manifest as many
    To know me, the Atman, is to know your Reality