[Advaita-l] Ritual Purity, Svadhyaya, and Commute

[V Subrahmanian]

Even on a two-day long journey decades ago by Ganga-Kavery express  I
performed sandhya etc. On a similar long journey I even managed to bathe in
the first class bogie.

vs
On Sep 10, 2016 10:50 AM, "Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l" <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Namaste
>
> I personally have done Pranayama, Kapalabhati breathing exercises
> travelling in First Class Cabin on the train. There was only one more
> passenger in the cabin and he was sleeping. In the middle he woke up
> and saw me doing yogic exercises and he went back to sleep.
>
> I have done Sandhyavandana once on railway platform after washing
> hands, feet, face in tap water. I did not say the mantras loud but
> only mentally. But I did Achamana, Pranayama, Arghya Pradana and all
> activities. Nobody disturbed me. Muslims can do prayers on railway
> platform. Why we should be shy to do our rituals.
>
> On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 9:12 AM, Raghuraya Das via Advaita-l
> <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> > I thank you all PROFUSELY for responding.
> >
> > In addition I want to convey my very pleasant amazement
> > at what has happened:
> >
> > I ask what I thought
> > was a very elementary question
> > about ritual purity.
> >
> > In return, I get detailed responses that talk about,
> > among many other valuable, useful, and thought provoking ideas:
> >
> > 1. The distinctions between purity required for Shruti and that for other
> > scripture, for original and for translation,
> > 2. The importance of a calm, stable and receptive mind, and for
> repetition
> > of study
> > 3. The differing requirements for Brahma anusandhanam
> > 4. The alternatives of mantra japa, meditation, and mental recitation of
> > memorized verses
> > 5. The need for constant Nidhidhyasanam
> > 6. The necessity of a proper setting for proper pranayama and other yogic
> > kriyas.
> > 7. The suggestion to start with a shanti mantra
> > 8. The need to use time effectively.
> >
> >
> > Really, I am awed, inspired, and grateful to witness so much knowledge
> and
> > faith.
> > Thank you all again.
> >
> >
> > Shashi
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 6:51 AM, Raghav Kumar via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >
> >> There is the other option i did not consider in my earlier post viz.,
> goal
> >> 1 of jnAnam and goal 2 of 'not-transposing-sorrow-vRttis occurring in
> the
> >> mind upon oneself which may destabilise the jnAnam' are not necessary
> >> concomittants. They don't necessarily go together always. In this option
> >> the idea of avidyAbIja persisting has to be addressed. My understanding
> is
> >> that in this case we have to qualify the word jnAnam with words like
> >> sapratibandhaka etc.
> >>
> >> Om
> >> Raghav
> >> On 09-Sep-2016 4:35 pm, "Raghav Kumar" <raghavkumar00 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Pranams
> >> > There is a verse to the effect that the values and attitude natural
> to a
> >> > jnAnI should be deliberately cultivated by the sAdhaka. I wonder if
> >> anyone
> >> > knows the original verse conveying this idea.
> >> >
> >> > In line with this one could reason that gitA 5.9 talks of this.
> >> >
> >> > नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति
> >> > युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।
> >> > पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्र—
> >> > न्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपञ्श्वसन् ॥ ८ ॥
> >> >
> >> > प्रलपन् विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि ।
> >> > इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥ ९ ॥
> >> >
> >> > My paraphrase -
> >> > I do not do anything - thus thinks the yuktaH or karma yogI who by
> >> > purification of mind becomes a knower of the Truth - while he is
> >> operating
> >> > any of the jnAnendriya-s like eyes, ears etc., or the karmendriya-s
> like
> >> > the organs of speech, evacuation, hands etc. He regards the indriya-s
> to
> >> be
> >> > functioning on their respective objects.
> >> > भाष्यम्
> >> >
> >> > नैव किञ्चित् करोमीति युक्तः समाहितः सन् मन्येत चिन्तयेत्, तत्त्ववित्
> >> > आत्मनो याथात्म्यं तत्त्वं वेत्तीति तत्त्ववित् परमार्थदर्शीत्यर्थः ॥
> >> >
> >> > Although the bhAShya does not explicitly mention that the above is to
> be
> >> > deliberately practised by a sAdhaka, the guDArtha dIpikA of SrI
> >> madhusUdana
> >> > sarasvatI svAminaH highlights the fact that the words yuktaH or karma
> >> yogI
> >> > and tattvavit or jnAnI are in sAmAnAdhikaraNyaM. So its not wrong to
> say
> >> > that the above attitude is part of nidhidhyAsana sAdhana during the
> >> sadhana
> >> > phase and it becomes effortless for the jnAnI. The above gita5.9
> shloka
> >> as
> >> > being representative of nidhidhyAsanam was said by Sri
> Venkatraghavanji
> >> > also, as per my understanding of his words.
> >> >
> >> > Although it sounds awkward to effectively say nidhidhyAsanam is to be
> >> > practised at all times even during visarjana-kriya (evacuation) it is
> >> > nevertheless valid !
> >> >
> >> > So by kaimUtika nyaya, any jnana sadhana can certainly be practised
> on a
> >> > daily commute to work.
> >> >
> >> > I am reminded of the verse of sri vidyAraNya that just as a person
> >> > suffering from a compulsive eating disorder has an insatiable hunger
> and
> >> > will be eating incessantly, even so is the incessant 'dwelling upon
> the
> >> > Self' (nidhidhyAsanam) by the sAdhaka without any regard for when or
> how
> >> > long. (Until the hunger of self-ignorance is removed by the food of
> >> > self-knowledge)
> >> >
> >> > Om
> >> >
> >> > Pranams,
> >> >
> >> > Restrictions apply to yogic kriyA-s. We were advised not to mediitate
> in
> >> > public. After certain years, some of us were told not to even use
> public
> >> > swimming pool, avoid crowds and Mumbal Local trains, as there is lots
> of
> >> > stress and negative energies. There are lots of people around you and
> you
> >> > do not know if they are sick or have negative energy. When prANamaya
> >> > kosha-s get in contact with others, energies are exchanged. While
> >> > meditating in group, weaker ones are benefited, but stronger ones are
> on
> >> a
> >> > losing side. This is because, like water, energy flows from higher
> level
> >> to
> >> > lower grosser level.
> >> >
> >> > As I understand, it is for this reason that prANAyama, and energy
> based
> >> > meditations and kriyA-s are to be avoided in public and are to be
> >> practiced
> >> > among like-minded people. However, japa is different. Here there is no
> >> > focus on any prANa shakti. It is simple japa. japa calms mind, removes
> >> > worldly thoughts. Infact japa helps you to stay connected with God
> >> > day-n-night. It should be practiced at any time, in any place, except
> >> that
> >> > you are urinating, etc. Even while bathing people chant mantra-s.
> >> >
> >> > japa is not any process, not any energy based kriyA. Also have faith
> in
> >> God
> >> > that it is in him that you are surrendering. Ishvara is the creator of
> >> this
> >> > universe and if I am surrendering to him, what can disturb me, what
> >> > negativity can touch me? - we should have such a faith. Remove fear.
> We
> >> > must be God loving people and not God fearing people.
> >> >
> >> > All the muhurat-s, good and bad are to be accounted seriously when you
> >> wish
> >> > to do something. But if you wish to withdraw yourself from the world,
> >> then
> >> > you do not need a muhurata. Yes we are all under the influence of mAyA
> >> and
> >> > prakriti. So we do have to take good and bad places into account. But
> we
> >> > should aim to rise above. When less options are available, we must
> make
> >> > good use of time.
> >> >
> >> > OM
> >> >
> >> > Sujal Upadhyay
> >> >
> >> > "To disconnect from the self and to become Aware of anything else is
> >> > nothing but unhappiness" - Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi
> >> >
> >> > He who has faith has all
> >> > He who lacks faith, lacks all
> >> > It is the faith int he name of lord that works wonders
> >> > FAITH IS LIFE, DOUBT IS DEATH - Sri Ramakrishna
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 12:48 PM, Sujal Upadhyay <sujal.u at gmail.com>
> >> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Dear,
> >> > >
> >> > > If you have faith in God, then why think negatively that you will
> miss
> >> > > station. I never did so. while chanting during riding bike, I have
> not
> >> > met
> >> > > accident. Have faith.
> >> > >
> >> > > Reading in a pure place is always good, but what if there is no such
> >> > > option?
> >> > >
> >> > > OM
> >> > >
> >> > > Sujal Upadhyay
> >> > >
> >> > > "To disconnect from the self and to become Aware of anything else is
> >> > > nothing but unhappiness" - Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi
> >> > >
> >> > > He who has faith has all
> >> > > He who lacks faith, lacks all
> >> > > It is the faith int he name of lord that works wonders
> >> > > FAITH IS LIFE, DOUBT IS DEATH - Sri Ramakrishna
> >> > >
> >> > > On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 12:44 PM, Srirudra via Advaita-l <
> >> > > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > >> Dear
> >> > >> As per Gita the place for meditation should be neat and tidy.Suchow
> >> > >> dese......reads the stanza 11of chapter6.If you are to contemplate
> >> then
> >> > you
> >> > >> should go by this stanza and the previous one.But for reciting
> slokas
> >> > which
> >> > >> you had committed to memory and to investigate the exact purport of
> >> the
> >> > >> sloka it can be done anywhere even when you are
> >> > bathing,walking,traveling
> >> > >> .Sometimes you may skip a station or a stop.Nevermind.Shows your
> >> > >> involvement.
> >> > >> R.Krishnamoorthy.
> >> > >>
> >> > >> Sent from my iPad
> >> > >>
> >> > >> > On 09-Sep-2016, at 11:16 AM, V Subrahmanian via Advaita-l <
> >> > >> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > Shankara has said in the Brahma sutra bhashya that deśa, kāla,
> etc.
> >> > >> niyama
> >> > >> > is a must for karma (rituals) only and not for Brahma
> anusandhānam.
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > vs
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> > On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 1:16 AM, Shashi via Advaita-l <
> >> > >> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
> >> > >> >
> >> > >> >> Hello All,
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> I have a question about ritual purity
> >> > >> >> and Svadhyaya.
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> I recently got a translation of
> >> > >> >> Sri Madhusudana Sarasvati's
> >> > >> >> Gudartha Dipika which I am excited to study.
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> However my commute to work is a good two hours in total on the
> >> train.
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> I thought I could
> >> > >> >> study on the train -
> >> > >> >> this is when I have the most
> >> > >> >> time that until now I typically spend
> >> > >> >> the least effectively
> >> > >> >> but I doubt whether that's a
> >> > >> >> pure enough environment to
> >> > >> >> study.
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> What are your thoughts
> >> > >> >> on Svadhyaya conducted
> >> > >> >> outside a sanctified place
> >> > >> >> like a puja room or temple.
> >> > >> >> and inside a place like a train?
> >> > >> >> If it's ok, what does one need
> >> > >> >> to do to be ritually pure enough
> >> > >> >> to study it there?
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> Shashi
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >>
> >> > >> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > "With my ears I'll hear no other story, and with my tongue I'll
> > sing no other song
> > I'll check my eyes from seeing aught else, and bow down my
> > head before the Lord alone"
> > _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
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