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

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

Yes the older generation people used to do Sandhya in travelling also.
I have seen my grandfather was doing Sandhya on platforms.

But younger generation people can take a flight and be in Delhi or
Mumbai in a few hours. Once I did Pratah Sandhya and took a flight to
Delhi. In Delhi I did Sayam Sandhya in the evening and took the flight
back and came home the same day. Madhyanhika is a problem because you
can be in meeting and cannot leave.

On Sat, Sep 10, 2016 at 11:40 AM, V Subrahmanian
<v.subrahmanian at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh