Professional Documents
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Secrets To Staying Positive WithVedicTradition
Secrets To Staying Positive WithVedicTradition
Volume 3
Published: July 2012
Secrets to
Staying Positive
with
Vedic Tradition
Author: Subi Anna
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www.periva.org
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3
About the Author ................................................................................................................... 6
1.0 The Power of Thoughts ................................................................................................... 7
2.0 The Effect of Sound ...................................................................................................... 10
3.0 The Human Mind .......................................................................................................... 13
4.0 The Importance of Guru ................................................................................................ 16
5.0 Vedic Wisdom ............................................................................................................... 19
6.0 The Tradition of Temple Worship .................................................................................. 23
7.0 Current Developments .................................................................................................. 27
8.0 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 28
9.0 Suggested further reading............................................................................................. 30
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Vedas is that they provide immense value not only by the vibrations they
produce all round during recitation but also by their content that nurture
healthy thoughts in our minds. Vedas deal both with worldly life and the inner life of
the Self. They contain valuable truths that find expression in the various mantras.
Many of the complexities that we see in daily life stem from issues related to the mind and
thoughts. In today's dynamic and competitive world, people are often under great social
and work pressures.
Working or living in such an environment is a daunting task as they have to cope with
demands in tune with local conditions. It is challenging but at the same time it provides an
opportunity to see the value in our Vedic tradition.
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Through many centuries, the ancient Indian culture has been gradually transformed to
adopt western ways of life. As a result, Vedic tradition is viewed by many as irrelevant in
the fast-changing modern world. The main reason for unhappiness is not really about a
situation but thoughts about it. If you can separate the thoughts from the situation, you will
not be unhappy.
Modern psychologists support the belief that human beings are greatly influenced by their
own thoughts. Numerous books are published on the influence of mind on personal
achievements. The components in Vedas provide valuable tools to control
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For those who are not familiar about our website and forum, we welcome you to visit
www.periva.org for a collection of rare videos and complete online audio library of
upanyasams of Sri Maha Periva.
Please also register on the forum www.periva.proboards.com to stay updated on devotees
experiences and to receive our regular newsletters.
In case you are new to our Forum, and missed getting our previous ebooks, here are the
links:
Vol 1 - "Why Rituals are Important"
Vol 2 - "Important Daily Rituals"
We humbly submit this third e-book at the lotus feet of Shri Maha Periva.
Administrator - Kanchi Periva Forum
kanchiperiva@gmail.com
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no bhadr kratavo yantu vivata (1.89.1 rigveda)
Let noble thoughts come from everywhere in the world
Negative thoughts reap negative results. If you think positive, you will
get positive results.
Vedic tradition handed down to us through generations helps us to think positively and reap
rewards.
The following verse from Brihadaranyakopanishat illustrates the point:
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The nature and quality of food that we consume also plays a role in the thought process. If
the food we eat is pure and saatwic, if we keep listening to positive words, our thoughts are
less likely to be polluted. A person with pure thoughts has better powers to speak
effectively and influence others.
A simple analogy will illustrate how pure thoughts work - A stone thrown over water in a
pool produces a succession of concentric waves travelling outwards. Similarly, it is
believed that a thought, produces vibrations in the mind with potential to reach all around
through the medium of ether. The Vedic tradition helps us sow the seeds for positive
thoughts that have the potential to spread all round.
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Periva asks a question about sound and answers it too in his own
inimitable way. The following are relevant excerpts from his discourses:
What is sound? According to modern science, it is vibration. If you examine the core of
an atom you will realise that all matter is one. This Advaitic conclusion is arrived at
according to nuclear science and the concepts of Einstein. This entire world is one flood of
energy (sakthi); everything is an electromagnetic flow. But how do we account for the
manifestation of different objects? It is to be attributed to different type of vibrations.
Where there is vibration there is a sound. Conversely, to produce a sound the vibration
corresponding to it must also be created. The scientific concept that the different vibrations
of the same energy are the cause of creation is the same as the belief that world was
created with the breath of the Paramatman manifesting itself as the sound of the Vedas.
Consider human beings and other creatures. What is it that determines their health and
feelings? During respiration, our breathing produces vibrations that have effect on our nadis
(cells) and blood vessels.
Our state of health depends on this effect. Those who keep their breathing under control
through the practice of yoga are healthy to an amazing degree.
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They do not bleed even if their veins are cut. They are able to remain buried in the earth in
samadhi stopping their pulse and heartbeat. They are not poisoned even if they are bitten
by a snake or stung by a scorpion. The reason is that they keep the vibrations of the nadis
under control during breathing.
Breath is vital not only to the body but also to the mind. The mind which is the source of
thought and the vital (pranik) energy that is the source of breath are the same. Healthy or
unhealthy thoughts are to be attributed to different vibrations of the nadis.
You may test this for yourself. See for yourself how you breathe when you are at peace
before the sanctum of a deity or in the presence of a great and wise person and how you
breathe when your mind is quickened by desire or anger. The happiness you experience
when you take part in something divine, like a bhajan or a temple festival, must be different
from the pleasure that sensual gratification gives you; the vibrations of the concerned nadis
will also be correspondingly different.
When you experience joy of an elevated kind the passage of breath will
be through the right nostril, but when you are enjoying sensual pleasure
it will be through the left.
When you meditate, with increasing concentration, on the Reality Serene which is the
source of all your urges and feelings, the breath will pass through both nostrils slowly,
evenly and rhythmically.
Science tells us that there are sounds outside the range of human hearing in the same way
as there is light that does not pass through the lens of the human eye.
However, it is possible to bring within us (within our reach) that which is without. When a
musician sings on the radio, the sound of his music is converted into electromagnetic
waves which travel through space. But how do we hear music? The receiving set captures
the electromagnetic waves and reconverts them into sound waves.
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The Vedas are called "Sruti. That which is heard is Sruti. "Srotra" means the "ear". The
Vedas have been handed down orally from generation to generation and have not been
taught or learned from any written text. That is how they got the name of "Sruti".
When the wavelength shifts even minutely on our radio we receive the broadcast of
different transmitting station. Fine-tuning has to be done to get the required station. So
the case with the intonation of Vedic mantras. There should not be the slightest mistake
the svaras. Just as we receive a different station on our radio when the wavelength
changed, so the result is different when we go wrong in the intonation.
a
is
in
is
The vibrations of the Vedas serve the purpose not only of creation and the conduct of life.
There are indeed Vedic mantras that help us to transcend this life and become one with the
Ultimate Truth. When a man returns by the same way as he comes, does he not arrive at
the starting point? In the same way when we go seeking how creation came about, we are
led to the point where there are no vibrations, no movements, where there is utter stillness.
Some mantras that create vibrations in our nadis accomplish the same noble task of taking
us to such a goal.
We often see reports in the newspapers of trees flowering or fruiting in abundance in
response to the vibrations of certain sounds. Some vibrations have also the effect of
stunting the growth of plants. Here is proof of the fact that sound can create, sustain and
destroy. (Source: www.kamakoti.org)
Vedas must be chanted with grandeur so that the pronunciation of the words is done
correctly and the sound can be properly heard.
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Thinking of one's goals will usually make the mind stray away into
unnecessary pre-occupations.
It is easy to focus on a deity or mantra. There is an interesting story to illustrate how mind
strays away if not controlled.
Once a person was caught stealing someones wallet. He was handed over to the police.
On investigation, it was found that he had a long history of stealing cash and jewels from
his neighbours and friends, and that day he had been caught red-handed. Charges were
framed against him and he was produced in the court.
The magistrate asked if he had anything to say before the judgment was delivered. The
accused then said, Your honour! I plead guilty of all the charges and I am also aware that I
am going to be punished. But I have a request to make. It is my request that my mother
should have an equal share of the punishment being accorded.
The magistrate was confused at these words and asked him to clarify. The accused said,
In my childhood, I used to sneak into my neighbours homes, filch petty stuffs, bring them
home and show them to my mother. Every time I did so, my mother would feel proud of my
feat and would highly appreciate my behaviour. Today, I stand before you as a thief,
thanks to my mothers encouragement. Had my mother been severe with me the first time I
committed thievery and stopped me from repeating it, I would have grown into a good
citizen. So my mother is equally responsible for these crimes.
The famous Chinese philosopher Lao Tse said -"Knowing others is intelligence, knowing
yourself is true wisdom." Mind is a wonderful force inherent in the Self. Socrates' guiding
rule was, "Know Thyself." These words are of eternal significance. No better advice has
ever been given to man or woman. When one begins to explore this dictate it leads to
profound understandings about all of creation.
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When we came into existence our soul was pure love. Our first relationships here in this
new environment seem to have taught us to forget from whence we came and why we are
here. We tried valiantly to let everyone see our virtue, our love, our innocence and this is
proven by how many times people came to look at us and smile and say sweet things to us
in our stroller or crib. But then what happened?
Through our mother we had been hearing and feeling the negative emotions as well as the
positive ones from the time of our conception. At birth the negative began to be reinforced
over and over again until we became convinced that in order to survive we needed both
positive and negative feelings.
Our ego now had a directive, defend against those who would hurt us in some way. Do
what it takes to live! As adults we are still functioning from that mistaken decision and as a
result live a life that is insane.
Just as you need a mirror to see your face, you need a spiritual/psychological mirror to
know yourself. Veda derived from the Sanskrit verb 'vid-to know' itself means knowledge.
Vedas stimulate you to think, make you wonder and thus serve to know yourself. The
Greek philosopher Socrates supplemented it by saying, Wisdom begins with wonder and
expanded the concept of 'Know Thyself' further.
To know yourself means to know who you are and accept all that is. The Bhagavad Gita
describes three primary qualities (gunas) that exist in all beings: Satva, Rajas and Tamas.
Satva is the best of the three gunas it represents the quality of purity, an angelic quality
that reflects truthfulness, the behavior of being good, doing good and a healthy attitude
towards life; Rajas represents activities and passion born out of intense desire; and Tamas
represents inertia, ignorance and the darker side of oneself.
There is no judgment as to which aspect of these gunas is dominant at any given moment.
However, it is best to accept all aspects and to know when to be which. An understanding
of these three qualities is required to overcome the challenges we all face in daily life.
The knowing of oneself is thus most important. How can we know ourselves? There is no
single path.
A Sanskrit adage says: Ekam sad vipra bahudha vadanti meaning The truth is one, the
wise speak of it in different ways. Vedic tradition shows several paths to better understand
and manage the self. An easy path is to get guidance from a guru.
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Gurur- Brahma Gurur- Vishnuh Gurur-devo Maheswarah
Gurur - Sakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Sri Gurave namah
The Preceptor is Brahma, Vishnu, is the God Maheswara, is verily Brahma itself. Salutation
to such a Preceptor.
Hindus in general attach a great importance to gurus. Guru is a general term used for
almost all types of teachers including those who teach the fine arts like music and dancing.
In the olden days of Gurukul system, a knowledgeable guru taught a group young shishyas
(students) Vedas and other subjects to prepare them for
their future lives.
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One of the greatest gurus of ancient India was the revered Adi Shankara who established
the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Traveling all over the country in a short life span of 32
years, Adi Shankara wrote commentaries on the Vedas and various other scriptures such
as the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Besides commentaries, Adi Shankara also wrote several
treatises such as the Vivekachudmani (Crest-Jewel of Wisdom), Upadeashasri (A
thousand teachings) and Prasnottara Ratna Malika (The Gem-Garland of Questions and
Answers). These treatises are treasures that have the potential to influence our mind to
develop positive thoughts and derive great inspiration. By the grace of Adi Shankara,
sanatana dharma got significantly strengthened through centuries.
There were many other remarkable saints like Appar, Gnanasambandar, Tyagaraja
Swamigal, Sridhar Ayyaval, Thiruvalluvar, Mirabai, Sai Baba, Tukaram who had contributed
immensely to enhancing Bhakti (devotion) and strengthening sanatana dharma. Their
deeply spiritual lives have inspired and uplifted millions of Hindus and others worldwide.
Many Hindu saints preached and continue to preach the importance of Bhakti (devotion) to
God. Some of the well-known saints of the Bhakti Movement include Sri Bodhendra
Swamigal, the Vaishnavite Alvars and the Saivite Nayanars.
History indicates that many kings in India held their gurus in high esteem and were inspired
by their gurus. In Mahbhrata, Dronacharya was the royal teacher (guru) to Kauravas and
Pandavas. Even in present days, the Government of India presents Dronacharya Award for
excellence in sports coaching.
Shivaji Maharaj who established the Maratha kingdom had Samartha Ramdas as his guru.
Samartha Ramdas inspired Shivaji to fight against the Mughals and get freedom for the
Marathas. However, it is believed that when Shivaji proposed to Ramdas to become the
king of the Maratha kingdom, Ramdas declined - such was the greatness of Shivajis guru!
Most of us are blessed to live in the era of Mahaperiva of Kanchi. As the head of Kanchi
Matam for the longest span of 87 years, Periva was a satguru whose sole aim was to help
his devotees and steer them to the dharmic path on the lines of Vedic tradition. He led a
very simple life. Many of his devotees have shared their fulfilling experiences in the Kanchi
Forum.
Periva traces the growth of religion to the quality of its leaders. His
comments are summarized below:
The decay of a religion in any country could be attributed to the lack of character of its
leaders and of the people constituting the establishment responsible for its growth.
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Adi Shankara came after the Buddha. People were drawn to Adi Shankara for his
knowledge, incomparable good qualities and greatness.
Later appeared Ramanuja and Madhva who, in their
personal lives, stood out as men of lofty character. They
too were able to gather round them a large following and
extend the sway of their respective systems.
If religions that resort neither to force nor to money power
have grown, it is solely because of the noble qualities of
their teachers (gurus).
One of the secrets to staying positive with Vedic tradition is to find and
seek the grace of a satguru.
It is very important that every seeker of inspiration and positive thoughts must have a
satguru, a guru who will lead them out of ignorance and misplaced desires. When you
have such a guru, the way to honour your guru is to follow his teachings and be a humble
devotee. When you do so, you will see the difference in yourself!
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Just as Arjuna was endowed by the Lord with a divine eye, the sages must have been
invested with celestial ears to grasp the sound emanating from the Paramatman and
pervading the vast space.
The vibrations of the Vedas serve the purpose not only of creation and the conduct of life.
There are indeed Vedic mantras that help us to transcend this life and become one with the
Ultimate Truth. When a man returns by the same way as he comes, does he not arrive at
the starting point?
In the same way when we go seeking how creation came about, we are
led to the point where there are no vibrations, no movements, where
there is utter stillness.
Some mantras that create vibrations in our nadis accomplish the same noble task of taking
us to such a goal. Such are the Upanishad mahavakyas and Pranava.
In sum, the Vedas are not anyone's compositions. The sages did not
create them, nor were inscribed by the Paramatman on palm-leaves.
Sri Aurobindo, author of the book on 'The Secret of the Veda' says:
"In the Vedic idea of the revelation there is no suggestion of the miraculous or the
supernatural. The Rishi who employed these faculties, had acquired them by a progressive
self-culture. Knowledge itself was a travelling and a reaching, or a finding and a winning;
the revelation came only at the end, the light was the prize of a final victory. There is
continually in the Veda this image of the journey, the souls march on the path of Truth. On
that path, as it advances, it also ascends; new vistas of power and light open to its
aspiration; it wins by a heroic effort its enlarged spiritual possessions."
Let us see some samples of inspiring Vedic verses that help us stay positive:
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet
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If you look at the meaning of this verse, youll understand how positive and inspiring are the
sentiments expressed by it and how much it cares about everyones well-being. Let us see
what the verse means.
Om, May All become Happy, May All become free from Illness.
May all see what is Auspicious, Let no one Suffer.
Om Peace, Peace, Peace.
Even by merely reading it, one should feel happy, enthusiastic and positive!
Om Sarveshaam Svastirbhavatu |
Sarveshaam Shaantirbhavatu |
If you take a look at the meaning of this verse, youll see how positive it is:
Om Saha Nav-avatu |
TejasviNavAdhii-Tam-AstuMaa VidvishAavahai|
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There are many short and crisp Vedic/Sanskrit phrases that reflect the greatness of ancient
Vedic tradition. Some of these are used as corporate slogans. Such phrases are easy to
remember and continuously inspire us to stay positive.
Here are some samples of such phrases:
1. / shraddhAvAn labhate GYaanam
Reverent attains wisdom (Rigveda)
2. / asato mA sadgamaya
Lead us from untruth to truth
3. / tamaso mA jyotirgamaya
Lead us from darkness unto light
4. / vidy dadti vinayam
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In the same way, in order to get the grace of the Omni-present Lord, we
have to build temples, where we can focus the power of the Lord in a
consecrated idol for our benefit in an easy way.
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The puja that we do in our houses is for our own welfare. We do it according to our
convenience and, according to our mental frame of mind.
But the puja done in the temples is for the whole of society and therefore, there is so much
of fanfare, sounding of musical instruments and singing of auspicious tunes; the deity is
taken out in a procession during festival days and there is display of fireworks.
So, in our country, we find that there are many temples; of course, in other countries also,
there are many places of worship, but there is no installation of any idols, as in the case of
our temples.
They have just a big prayer hall where people assemble and offer some prayers or do
some silent meditation and then disperse after getting some peace of mind. But in our
temples, the idols are installed and they have divinity infused into them and, as such, they
have certain sanctity about them.
We see divinity in our idols and, therefore, we do abhisheka, alankara or decoration,
naivedyam, haarati and many other upacharas (*ritualistic services in worship).
Some people say that the places of worship, which belong to other
religions, are quiet, but our Hindu temples are full of noise. Of course,
this is true. Actually, there are two types of noises in our temples.
One is the desirable type of noise such as ringing of bells, the sounding of musical
instruments like nadaswaram and the shahnai; the recitation of namavali archana,
recitation of mantras and so on.
Of course, there is also the undesirable type of noise in the form of people indulging in idle
gossip and purposeless talk. It is our duty to see that this idle talk, which results in
undesirable noise, is totally eliminated from our temples.
In other places of worship, this type of fanfare that we have in our temples, is not there,
because they do not recognize idol worship or worship of God in the saguna form and they
believe in worship of God in his attribute less and shapeless form only.
The divine presence in our idols, when we worship them, helps us to banish poverty as well
as evil. Thus, the idol with divinity which we see in our temples is an object of beauty for us,
and worthy of meditation.
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If our thoughts are of a high order, then we worship the deity in the above manner, so that
we may get supreme happiness.
It is with this idea that we perform abhisheka and decorate the idol with ornaments etc.
Thus we worship God in these various ways by doing so many upacharas.
This kind of worship is possible only in the Hindu religion. Idol worship is very important in
our religion, for the ordinary people. When we bow before an idol or pray before the deity
consecrated in the idol, we never think that it is only a piece of stone, but we think that the
deity in the idol is the protector and the root cause of the whole world.
Thus, temples help to increase the devotion of a person to God and this devotion helps him
to overcome or reduce his sufferings.
Ordinary people may not have the capacity, and strength of mind to bear
their sufferings. But with bhakti or devotion to Ishwara, they can face
them, and get also the mental strength to bear them.
It is for this purpose that an ordinary person goes to the temple. He goes there, offers some
prayers and then he feels all right.
If one person talks about his sufferings to another, the other man will listen to him for some
time, but after some time he will start narrating his own sufferings and say that he is having
more sufferings than other individuals.
So, sharing ones sufferings with another person, who is also suffering,
will not result in the removal of the sufferings.
Therefore, we go to temple and pray to Him, and we pour out before Him our tale of woe
and sufferings.
If we go and narrate our sufferings to another man for a long time he will start abusing us
after some time, and he may even slap us if we persist with the narration of our tale of woe
and suffering.
But when we go to a temple, we can tell God whatever we like, Have you not ears to listen
to my prayers? Have you no eyes to see my suffering? And we may ask Him why He is not
giving His grace immediately to us.
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After this prayer, when we come out, we shall have some peace of mind.
The more we address God, the more is the peace that we get in our
mind.
Saguna (Idol) Worship has got this capacity to give peace of mind because there is
chaitanya (*Consciousness) in the idol installed in the temple and after pouring out our
suffering before God in the temple, we get some peace of mind.
That is why we have the habit of going to the temples.
(Source: http://blog.periva.org/2011/02/1973-delhi-discourses-part-1-of-15.html)
What a convincing explanation by Periva!
Those who are really seeking to stay positive should try this out this
method. Choose a nice and quiet place in a temple, sit there crosslegged for some time, and gradually glide into a silent meditation mode.
You will start feeling good with positive and soothing sentiments
because of the divine vibrations all around you.
Praying and wishing in those moments can often produce beneficial results to you. Many
devotees can vouch for this from their own personal experiences.
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Periva says nicely with a simple analogy: Our scriptures are meant to
be a living reality of our speech and action. Instead of putting them to
such noble use, to consign them to the libraries, in the form of books, is
like keeping living animals in the museum instead of in the zoo.
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8.0 Conclusion
The age old Vedic tradition has withstood the test of time.
We cannot and should not discount the wisdom of our
ancestors. Periva had taken the pains to explain this
wisdom in various discourses.
Fortunately, some devotees have recollected and
recorded his lectures for the benefit of us and the future
generations.
In this e-book, the author has tried to present only a few
but essential portions of Perivas talks revealing a small
part of our Vedic tradition and the secrets to staying
positive.
To help you understand more about Vedic tradition and stay positive,
the author encourages you to listen to the "Divine Voice of Sri Maha
Periva" though a huge collection of audio available on www.periva.org
We conclude this edition with the following verse from the Rig Veda:
Faith is composed of the heart's intention,
Light comes through faith, Through faith men come to prayer,
Faith in the morning, faith at noon and at the setting of the sun.
O Faith, give us faith!
After reading this e-book, do you feel you have gained something of value? Do you think it
offers some practical tips to stay positive?
Whatever be your answer, the author gratefully acknowledges your sustained interest and
time in reading this e-book.
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