Hinduism Overview

Who is dear to God? What is the eligibility to get closer to God?

"Those, who are alike to friend and foe, equipoised in honor and dishonor, cold and heat, joy and sorrow, and are free from all unfavorable association; those who take praise and reproach alike, who are given to silent contemplation, content with what comes their way, without attachment to the place of residence, whose intellect is firmly fixed in Me, and who are full of devotion to Me, such persons are very dear to Me."

How do we reach that God?

"Then when the mind becomes tranquil, meditation becomes the primary means of elevation. Through meditation, yogis strive to conquer their mind, for while the untrained mind is the worst enemy, the trained mind is the best friend. Shree Krishna cautions Arjun that one cannot attain success on the spiritual path by engaging in severe austerities .......He then explains the sādhanā for uniting the mind with God. Just as a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, likewise the sādhak must hold the mind steady in meditation. ........When the mind gets purified, it becomes established in transcendence. In that joyous state called samādhi, one experiences boundless divine bliss."

Read this from the Bhagavat Geeta and also read the stories narrated to explain the eligibility criteria https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/12/verse/18-19

Meditation & Hinduism

This class explores the spiritual method according to Sri Ramanuja, particularly the role of meditation (upāsanā, also known as bhakti) and the cultivation of spiritual qualities.

Visit http://ramanuja.org/class to find out more about this online class.

About the instructor, Sri M.A. Alwar: https://ramanuja.org/sri/SribhashyaClass/Teacher

Accessory to Meditation

This class explores the Sevenfold Discipline (sādhana-saptaka) that is an accessory to meditation. This discipline was originally cited by the ancient Vedantin Tanka, also known as the Vākyakāra.

Sribhashya of Bhagavat Ramanuja

An overview of Hinduism in 38 videos of 45 mins each starting with basic Sanskrit knowledge and covering original literature in Sanskrit of Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavat Geeta and excerpts from the great literature of Ramanuja, Shankara, Madhva and more.

Dr. Amarnath S presents a neat summary of the vast ocean of literature that is available for us to study and learn from to understand the path to Moksha or enlightenment as per the beliefs of Hinduism.


Time & Space

Time Calculation in our Hindu System (given as a slide in the last post) is explained in Tamil in this video. In addition details of the different worlds are given, which forms the Space Calculation.

Sri U. Ve. Velukkudi Discourses in Tamil & English


Srimad Bhagavatam in 7 Days

meditation-food.mp4
Forbidden Vegetables

In this list certain food items that are likely to have more worms or germs and certain others which have medicinal property (and hence if used in excess can cause damage) are said to be not satvik food.

Food is categorised as 'satvik', 'rajasik' and 'tamasik' varieties in the Indian system. Any food that is absorbed by the body goes to the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a being. Hence for those who are involved in 'dhyan' or meditation and are trying to reach the supreme power are asked to be very careful about what they eat and drink.

Satvik food is absolutely necessary for a person aspiring to reach higher levels of existence through meditation. Rajasik food aids the characteristics of passion and hyper activity while Tamasik food brings about dullness and ignorance.

"Sattvic diet is a diet based on foods in ayurvedic and yogic literature that contain the quality (guna) sattva.[1][2] In this system of dietary classification, foods that decrease the energy of the body are considered tamasic, while those that increase the energy of the body are considered rajasic.

A sattvic diet is meant to include foods and eating habits that are "pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, wise". A sattvic diet can also exemplify Ahimsa, the practice of non-violence, or not causing harm to other living things, which is one reason that yogis often follow a vegetarian diet." Wikipedia

For people who would like to quieten their mind and concentrate their attention and focus it on an inner goal, Satvik food is an essential part of the discipline prescribed by many saints and religious leaders.


Useful Resources:

http://sridharshanam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/AHARA-NIYAMAM_2.pdf

https://www.sadagopan.org/pdfuploads/Ahara%20Niyamam.pdf