Page 51 - NAMAH-Apr-2022

Namah Artificial Intelligence

So we hear about our past, and sigh. Can
we make all life an opportunity for spiritual
growth in the modern age? Let me take an
extreme example. Can we look at an angry
fundamentalist threatening a comedian’s
life for airing views on fundamentalism and
make it our soul food? Maybe just a snack?
Shankaracharya, this is the grammar we are
dabbling in, give us a new formula. Don’t ask us
to quit and pray. We need money for food since
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nobody feeds sannyasis these days — you’d
know it if you saw their wiry naked frames. ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: |
Don’t remind us we are growing old and ugly. लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा || Bhagavadgīta a
We know, why else are we dieting and applying 5.10||
creams? And if you ask about relationships, I
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am intimate with five devices, and sure they brahmanyadhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti yah h
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cheat on me once in a while, but I give them lipyate na sa papena padmapatramivambhasa.
the boot too.
So swim in the waters of samsara, but never
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Then I heard the voice of the ancient one, get wet. Even while embracing life, remain
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Adi Shankaracharya, “You don’t have to be detached to the ten thousand things. Love,
a sannyaasi to know that bondage to the ten but do not expect anything in return. Then
thousand things is a trap.” Arjuna was making whatever comes your way will be a surplus.
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the same mistake and Govinda, that is Srı Krsna, This is the secret to true happiness. Not the
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explained it to him. It took him 18 chapters, no possession of things. An ardent aspiration for
less, and the imminent threat of Karna’s arrows. progress, no matter the result, but a constant
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I compared the slippery water droplet on the glad satisfaction. This is tyaga. Forget asceticism,
lotus leaf to life’s ephemeral joys in my poem you couldn’t survive a single day without a
bhaja govindam. machine. Try not looking at a watch for an hour.
Don’t tell me you’ll get used to it by and by.
नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं Maybe and maybe not. But why waste effort on
तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम् । (Bhaja Govindam 4) (2) such a trivial pursuit? Rather spend that time
in thinking of the Supreme. Bhaja Govindam,
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nalinıdalagatajalamatitaralam Bhaja Govindam, Govindam bhaja mudhamate.”
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tadvajjıvitamatissaya capalam.
Brahma jñanavalımala a
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Govinda used the same lotus leaf as a symbol
of non-attachment. He said if you offer all your The ancient one walked away waving me
works to the supreme without being attached good luck. My mouth was sealed. You just
to them, you will be free like the lotus leaf can’t argue against Shankaracharya. He was
although it is immersed in water. the main reason Buddhism left India. It was the
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