The Beginning of Another Phase

Kauai Aadheenam follows the lunar calander, thus today marks the auspicious day to begin our week of worship, seva, sadhana. Satguru's talk focused on self-control and studying the moral and ethical teachings of Tiruvalluvar's Tirukural. To master self-control while ardently focused on family and work is indeed the goal of grihasta dharma.

As we go through the slideshow, enjoy and reflect these passages from the Ashtavakra Gita. Sage Ashtavakra is speaking to Janaka, the king of their land at the time, and explaining who and what is really in this body and behind every appearance.

If you are seeking liberation, my son, avoid the objects of the senses like poison and cultivate tolerance, sincerity, compassion, contentment, and truthfulness as the antidote.

You do not consist of any of the elements -- earth, water, fire, air, or even ether. To be liberated, know yourself as consisting of consciousness, the witness of these.

If only you will remain resting in consciousness, seeing yourself as distinct from the body, then even now you will become happy, peaceful and free from bonds.

You do not belong to the brahmin or any other caste, you are not at any stage, nor are you anything that the eye can see. You are unattached and formless, the witness of everything -- so be happy.

Meditate on yourself as motionless awareness, free from any dualism, giving up the mistaken idea that you are just a derivative consciousness or anything external or internal.

You have long been trapped in the snare of identification with the body. Sever it with the knife of knowledge that \"I am awareness,\" and be happy, my son.

You are really unbound and actionless, self-illuminating and spotless already. The cause of your bondage is that you are still resorting to stilling the mind.

Just as a mirror exists everywhere both within and apart from its reflected images, so the Supreme Lord exists everywhere within and apart from this body.

Just as one and the same all-pervading space exists within and without a jar, so the eternal, everlasting God exists in the totality of things.

Whether feted or tormented, the wise man is always aware of his supreme self-nature and is neither pleased nor disappointed.

Who can be compared to the great-souled person whose mind is free from desire even in disappointment, and who has found satisfaction in self-knowledge?

Truly the yogi feels no excitement even at being established in that state which all the Devas from Indra down yearn for disconsolately.

All this arises out of you, like a bubble out of the sea. Knowing yourself like this to be but one, you can find peace.

Shared by a devotee, this is a photo of Lord Ganesha in Thilathaipathi, Tamil Nadu, India. His form is known as Nara Mukha Vinayaka or Human Faced Ganesha. The Thilathaipathi temple also refers to the shrine and deity as Aadhi Vinayaka.

}
];

transitionSpeed:150});