Dear Friends - Hari Om, Namaskaarams & heartfelt wishes for Deepavali.
Gratitude to all of you for coming over to our Satsang, on this Utsava day. This is a quick review of the topics we discussed today - 10232022.
A Mahatma meets another Mahatma
Last week, we saw the divine meeting of 2 great devotees - Vidura & Shri Uddhava. Uddhava asks Vidura to proceed to Haridwar to meet Rishi Maitreya to gain the wealth of Self Knowledge.
When we say 'Self Knowledge', it refers to the ultimate knowledge that man should obtain - gaining which, there is nothing else to be gained. This knowledge is way beyond secular subjects like Chemistry, Politics, Astrophysics, Medicine, etc.
Self-Knowledge is the knowledge about the person/entity/self that has discovered and invented all these secular subjects & much, much more.
This knowledge helps us achieve 'Moksha' or 'True Independence' - making us immune & insulated to the 6 mental enemies - Kama (Desires), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Delusion), Mada (Vanity), Matsaryam (Envy/Jeolousy).
Vidura presents a beautiful, yet obvious problem and says how humans indulge in action to get to happiness, yet end up being depressed, anxious, sad, unhappy, frustrated, etc.
Vidura also shares that he strongly believes that the constant remembrance of God and chanting his names is a sure solution for this problem.
Many of you analyzed this solution very well and made the connection between Remembrance of God & Efficient performance of our Duties.
We formally listed out the following effects of 'Thinking of God during our actions':
Helps us detach
Helps us focus on the right priorities
Helps us be virtuous
Helps us purify ourselves
Helps us deal with Success & Failure
Help us be a role model for society, children, etc.
Varaha Avatar of Maha Vishnu
Sage Maitreya tells Vidura about the beginning of the creation when Lord Brahma instructs Manu and Shatarupa to further His creation on Earth.
The only problem was that Mother Earth was submerged in the cosmic ocean.
Bhagwaan Vishnu, in the form of a Boar rescues and brings Mother Earth to the surface.
In the process, He vanquishes an Asura named Hiranyaksha.
Sage Maitreya proceeds to narrate the history of Hiranyaksha, who was an Asura born to Diti - one of the wives of Rishi Kashyap.
Jaya-Vijaya & the Sanat Kumaras
We also saw how the celestial guards - Jaya & Vijaya, who guarded Vaikuntha - the abode of Shri Narayana, committed one mistake and were punished to be away from the Lord.
Upon insulting the Sanat Kumaras, they are given this curse, but Maha Vishnu gives them 2 choices - 7 lives as Devotees OR 3 lives as Enemies of the Lord. They choose the fastest path back to the Lord.
Hiranyaksha & Hiranyakashipu are the 'incarnations' of Jaya & Vijaya on this Earth.
A beautiful & glorious philosophy in our scriptures is about the emotion towards the Lord - On one hand, we have stalwarts of devotion such as Prahlad, Kunti, Shabhari, Arjuna, Vidura, etc. But, we also have examples of entities who also have the Lord in their minds and hearts - all the time, but due to fear, hatred, envy and jealousy. Some examples are Ravana, Kamsa, Jarasandha, Shishupala, Hiranyakashipu, etc.
Everyone is a devotee of the Lord, in one way or another, irrespective of their emotion - Positive or Negative.
We saw a few techniques to keep our ego at check.
Next Week
We will complete the 3rd Canto this upcoming Sunday with the story of Shri Kapila, another dynamic Avatar of Bhagwaan Shri Vishnu.
Resources to Reflect
Srimad Bhagavatham Canto-Chapter Map:
This link provides the list of all the Cantos, Chapters & Topics within Bhagavatham. This should be a handy guide to help us navigate thru this voluminous text.
Chatushloki Bhagavatham (Core 4-Verses of Bhagavatham):
Here is a link to all the 4 verses from the Chatushloki Bhagavatham. Also is included a link to the audio recording.
Hari Om !!
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