The Spiritual Journey of Life: Saman Shrutpragyaji 9/8/2019 at Memphis, TN
After we listen to lectures and do satsang, there must be inner transformation.
2 types of transformation:
- Physical change - change that stays for a short time and then we return to our normal routine/ baseline. example - heat water up → stays warm for 15-20 minutes → cools back down
- Chemical change - once the change happens, you do not go back to the prior state . example - heat milk up → add yogurt starter → becomes yogurt → can’t go back to milk
Need chemical change for inner transformation and must maintain with commitment and consistency
5 phases (KAL) of life-
1. PRAVRUTTI KAL - relates to the present, what you are doing now
changes all the time i.e. 1 hour of exercise then 6 hours of work then 2 hours of cooking
When you are doing work or activity , doesn’t necessarily mean there is an impact on spirituality because you may doing out of necessity or by nasha or because it’s your hobby
2. APRAVRUTTI KAL - time between 2 pragrutis
For example - 5 hours of shivir then BREAK then eating - what you do during the break in the activities shows what is your interest i.e. if you discuss what you learned versus what you are going to eat for dinner
If you talk and think about your prior pravrutti, then that shows your interest and will decide your destiny
3. NIVRUTI KAL Retirement time.
Activities where responsibility ends - not obligated to earn money, kids are grown up and set
Doing with no tension.
Approximately from 60 year onward, You can do miracles in this time.
Do activities with enjoyment - can be your best time
In English it means “re-tired – means I got tired again.”
Do work for soul ( atma). Learn to enjoy your own company - be alone for some time.
In Nivrutti Kal , body is active and it is capable. There is energy in the body. Then develop such an activity and hobby so there is no opportunity to think or speak or do negative things. If you do not have a good activity then it can ruin your time. It can damage your life.
If we do not have a good hobby then we will go into depression due to loneliness. The ego is also a problem because before people listened to me or reported to me and now no one listens to me. Example a 70 year old man worked all the time. For one month needed to be in hospital. He had no hobby unable to pass time and thinks of suicide.
We should practice for Nivrutii time. Can you live alone for 4 hours. Enjoy the company of being with oneself. Practice a few hours a day on oneness – ekanta – it is when one is alone. Newton and Einstein did great discoverie in solitude.
If you do not have an activity then what happens:
1. Complain: person complains all the time. eg. The tea is not right, the bill is not paid…
2. Criticize: The begin to criticize
3. Time Waste: Will waste time will unnecessary useless things like being on phone, on whatsapp. Example, someone asked - Samanji if we delete the photo of God do we get Pap? – Don’t go in such unnecessary thinking. Technology is not our life. But it is part of our life. Turn off the internet at night. Avoid unnecessary radiation. Story of a husband having dinnner with the phone on and says to wife cooking is terrible this kaddi doesn’t taste right, when you cook food you should not be on Whatt’sApp. She replied. “This is not the problem. When you eat food you put your wattsapp - this is not kaddi it is chhacha - buttermilk.
4. People Neglect you: Kids may ignore the parents. If you lower the expectation from others then you will not feel ignored. We do not feel content because we have expectations. eg I have given you my life and now you neglect me. If you say “I did this for you and I did that for you.” Kids will say “Why did you do this in the first place.”
The fourth stage in Life’s Journey is:
4. ASHAKTI KAL – physical weakness, body is not capable, need sahara
accept it with a smile or sadness . After age 80years.
The physical body will deteriorate slowly. We need support we need a wheelchair. Accept it and be happy. You need not be depressed, it is the reality of life. Understand the reality of life. Before people use to die before ashakti kal. Ashakti kal the body does not work but the mind is still active and can stay positive. The body has to ask let me retire too. This is ashakti kal for the body but not of the mind. Accept the ashakti The thought and planning of ashakti is more painful than the actual ashakti kal itself. Story- One sage studied until age 80 – then eyes got worse. Tried to improve his eyes and said I am sorry your eyes cannot come back. Saint says – “when I had eyes I use to do gyan ki aradhana now I will do dhyana ki aradhana.” Live so that you will not regret anything. Tip – in the process of planning for the future we miss the present. Physically be where you are and try to live there mentally and you will enjoy each and every moment. Example: a father dies at age 40. He enjoyed life of 40 years. He enjoyed every step of yatra in life. Often 5 people are sitting we are talking to other person living in India. Enjoy the quality time of where you are not where you are not. Family members will help so far yet there is a limit. There are some parents who are so lucky that their children will accompany them until their lasting days.
5. ANT KAL - end of life
Maranam Magalam Yasya - Safalam Tasya Jivanam: Jiska maran mangalmay he uska jivan safal he - when ones death is with mangal, it says that your life was successful People get upset at the time of death because they recall all their past mistakes/ regrets, feel alone, still have attachment to people/ money, all enemies come to mind Death itself is not painful, death should be considered a celebration. Shav yatra - journey not an end
Live each day as if you died today, you would not have any regrets - live physically and mentally in the moment
5 things you can do to make your life’s end good -
- Samay -Time- use your time effectively, don’t waste it on useless activities
- Swastha -Health- maintain your health - physically and mentally
- Santati -Progeny - maintain good family relations, raise good kids. Spend time with your kids and teach them good sanskar
- Sampatti -Wealth- manage your money/ assets
- Samadhi - be a solution oriented person, don’t have conflicts/ problems at the end
Wish that my death is :
Anayasen - happens unexpectedly, harte/ firte
Without deenta - without dependence, kuch mangna na pade
At the time of death, feel the hand of the protector i.e. atma/ divine power
I can feel the body is dying, I am not - I am eternal
People do not know we had two strengths – first is power of desire and the second is power of action. Each person has this. Desire is endless while Action strength has limitation. My desire is great and many things and we want to be active until the end. We want the desire to be alive until the end. You will not be able to complete all the action due to desire. If you want me to do things – then there will be break. Before the body forces us to put a break in our desires, why not make the break yourself.
I have made a vow for my own life. We balance pravrutti and nivrutti. Every three months, I do 10 days complete silent no activity. I went to spiritual Ashram for 10 days to recharge my battery. I go to holy place to live by my self. If you stay by yourself for 10 days it is hard we think we are wasting our time. Because atma is nivrutti and Mind is pravutti nature. Body says I want rest. Story in Texas met a man plummer at age 80. What is the secret to your health. Whenever I am tired I just lie down for 10 minutes – and my energy is re balanced.
By active – 24 hours physician activity.
Preparing for death is like, I am moving into a new house. With age the present house has gotten old and need is for a new house. When we leave the house we wonder What type of house will I get? It depends on the investment. It depends on the punya you do.
Who is ready to die. One who is fulfilled Ramkrishna said death is only going from one hut to another. No one fears death, but the things we have to do before death. I have to leave everything.
Let’s look at Why does one fear death:
- I will have to leave kids – and I will be alone. No one will come with me.
2. All the effort I did to gain money – I will have to leave.
3. We remember all the karma of the present lifetime and it upsets. The book of life comes in front of us.
4. Whoever I have done (raag dwesh) attachment and aversion with they come in front of our eyes otherwise death is a celebration. We should go dancing to the funeral. Now if person dies we should celebrate. When I die no sadness there. It is yatra – journey – spiritual journey. Death is not E-N-D but it is A-N-D.
One woman said he died early. How old was he I asked. He was 85 years old. Why early because of regret that he did not complete his expectations. So put it in your will how you want to die. The death for someone is good then the entire life is good. How to make a good end to our life. Be mindful of and follow the 5 S’s.
a. Samaya- Time – person who has used time for the better. The end will be good. 1 Lac rupees can buy material but cannot buy one second. Don’t become compulsive or a robot about time but be mindful of time. At parties, when meeting people – the quality of conversation is so low and cheap it turns into gossip and small talk and it destroys the hours of spiritual learning we do. A group is important for spiritual journey.
b. Swasthya -Health - what will be your health at the time of the ending of our life. It will impact your thought process. It may be due to your karma. Even unfavorable circumstances will determine the end.
c. Santiti – generation – how will be the next generations impact on you. If the kids’ sanskar is good and we are proud of them, then the parents will die peacefully else we will regret. How you raise the kids is very important. We will have no fear because they are mature. Parents’ responsibility is to raise kids – only two things time and sanskar is what you can do with your kids. We need to train children then they can come on track. Every child, every student is reflection of parent and teacher. From your end give time and sanskar. They have brought their own destiny.
d. Sampati – wealth – manage wealth properly it can corrupt or correct generations. Be transparent about your wealth. Otherwise at the end moment the desire of money will destroy you -
e. Samadhi – At the time of death no disturbance at the time of death. Solution oriented time – So there is no conflict at the end time.
If you manage you will never have to worry about the end. Remember the mantra at death. We need gratitude. If we do not keep gratitude how do we expect a poor child to keep gratitude. We have received more than we have given. Think of how hard a laborer works in India and how much money he makes. You have received more than our effort. We have not digested what we have – and then why do people still go to temple and disturb God with complaints.
Story - One man was dying drowning – God save me I will feed 1000 people – a wave comes and washes his ashore. Then confident brushes off the sand and says – what type of porridge? Another wave come take him drowning – I mean to sweet or savory.
Three Shlokas for end of dying.
1. “ Oh god may my death be anayasen (without any effort or any planning) ” May my death be unplanned. There is no prayer. Prayer is fortunate are those people who die unplanned.
2.Don’t ask for anything - How to die Vinadanyan jivnam – my life be free from lachari – be far from need- Why keep it lachari – There is no need to beg. Please give me respect. Respect is not a thing to ask it is a thing that is received. Everything in purna - Full - Complete.
3. Dehante tav sanidhye – At the time of death – may I feel there is protection of someone some divine power – at the time of death – Grace is something protecting – it’s divine protection. Word is Krupa – I feel that energy as much as I surrender unconditionally.
4. Dahime parveshvram. The body is dying – I am not dying. I am eternal. If I am eternal then what is the fear.
Even the body does not die. The body is eternal. Body – is made with 5 elements – earth, water, air , fire, .. Energy and matter are not destroyed. Then who died. No one dies but the connection of the body and soul has separation. They are now in a different form – and learn to see them in a different form.
Attachment – expectations – mohaa – makes us unhappy.This message about the Journey has been deliver to all of you, But to digest the message it will take 1 year or 10 or 20 years. If you have conviction it will happen. Some people die every moment and other are living eternally even after dying. If we depart this way – and just leave some contribution to others.