qÉlÉÈ wÉÉåkÉlÉqÉç MANAH SHODHANAM Purification of the Mind “THE SANDEEPANY EXPERIENCE” Reflections by TEXT SWAMI GURUBHAKTANANDA 17 Sandeepany’s Vedanta Course List of All the Course Texts in Chronological Sequence: Text TITLE OF TEXT Text TITLE OF TEXT No. No. 1 Sadhana Panchakam 24 Hanuman Chalisa 2 Tattwa Bodha 25 Vakya Vritti 3 Atma Bodha 26 Advaita Makaranda 4 Bhaja Govindam 27 Kaivalya Upanishad 5 Manisha Panchakam 28 Bhagavad Geeta (Discourse -- ) 6 Forgive Me 29 Mundaka Upanishad 7 Upadesha Sara 30 Amritabindu Upanishad 8 Prashna Upanishad 31 Mukunda Mala (Bhakti Text) 9 Dhanyashtakam 32 Tapovan Shatkam 10 Bodha Sara 33 The Mahavakyas, Panchadasi 5 11 Viveka Choodamani 34 Aitareya Upanishad 12 Jnana Sara 35 Narada Bhakti Sutras 13 Drig-Drishya Viveka 36 Taittiriya Upanishad 14 “Tat Twam Asi” – Chand Up 6 37 Jivan Sutrani (Tips for Happy Living) 15 Dhyana Swaroopam 38 Kena Upanishad 16 “Bhoomaiva Sukham” Chand Up 7 39 Aparoksha Anubhuti (Meditation) 17 Manah Shodhanam 40 108 Names of Pujya Gurudev 18 “Nataka Deepa” – Panchadasi 10 41 Mandukya Upanishad 19 Isavasya Upanishad 42 Dakshinamurty Ashtakam 20 Katha Upanishad 43 Shad Darshanaah 21 “Sara Sangrah” – Yoga Vasishtha 44 Brahma Sootras 22 Vedanta Sara 45 Jivanmuktananda Lahari 23 Mahabharata + Geeta Dhyanam 46 Chinmaya Pledge A NOTE ABOUT SANDEEPANY Sandeepany Sadhanalaya is an institution run by the Chinmaya Mission in Powai, Mumbai, teaching a 2-year Vedanta Course. It has a very balanced daily programme of basic Samskrit, Vedic chanting, Vedanta study, Bhagavatam, Ramacharitmanas, Bhajans, meditation, sports and fitness exercises, team-building outings, games and drama, celebration of all Hindu festivals, weekly Gayatri Havan and Guru Paduka Pooja, and Karma Yoga activities. This series is an effort to promote the learning of Vedanta; it does not replace Course, but hopes to inspire young people to spend two years of their life for an experience that is sure to make a far-reaching spiritual impact on their personal lives. Sandeepany is an all-round spiritual course that gives proper direction to the youth and to those approaching retirement. Hinduism is in dire need of a band of systematically trained teachers or Acharyas who can serve this Eternal Religion. – The Editor, 9th July 2017, Holy Gurpurnima Day Om Namah Shivaaya! Text 17 qÉlÉÈ wÉÉkÉlÉqÉç MANAH SHODHANAM “Purification of the Mind” Composed by Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the 8 Lectures delivered by Swamini Vimalanandaji Director-Acharyaji, Chinmaya Gardens, Coimbatore. to the 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai May 9th – MAY 22nd, 2012 Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda SERVE LOVE GIVE PURIFY MEDITATE REALISE Copyright & Author’s Details Author: Swami Gurubhaktananda, ex Krishna Chaitanya, born Bipin R. Kapitan of Durban, South Africa. Residence: Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. Email: [email protected] © 2017 All Rights Reserved. Copyright held by Chinmaya International Foundation, Kerala. About This Edition: Web Edition: 9th July 2017, Holy Guru Purnima Day Website: Chinmaya International Foundation: www.chinfo.org Series Title : The Sandeepany Experience Series Subject: Vedanta & supportive subsidiary texts. Declaration by the Author: The material in this series is under inspiration of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course, but largely consists of the Author’s reflections on the Course. He is deeply indebted to the Chinmaya Mission for its excellent presentation of the Course by their renowned and dedicated Acharyas. Personal Dedication 1. To my Parents, Smt Sharadaben & Sri Ratilalbhai Kapitan who inspired me to study in life, to stick to the path of Dharma and pursue the highest ideals; and swamped me with their abundant Love; 2. To Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj the President of the Divine Life Society of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India, who constantly encouraged and supported this effort; 3. To Pujya Sri Swami Tejomayanandaji (Guruji) for his boundless vision and inspiration to create a vibrant organisation; 4. To Sri Swami Advayanandaji and Sri Swami Sharadanandaji my Acharyaji and Upa-Acharyaji at Sandeepany, who imparted their bountiful knowledge and wisdom with rare selfless Divine Love, just as the Rishis of yore would wish to see them do. ***** qÉlÉÈ wÉÉåkÉlÉqÉç MANAH SHODHANAM “Purification of the Mind” FOR SAMSKRIT TEXT WITH SANDHEES Guide to Splitting Sandhees Conventional Samskrit Format is used in the body of the book. Split-Sandhee Samskrit Format is given at the end of the book, for the benefit of beginners. Word-combinations (Sandhees) are highlighted in bold underline (as shown in the table below) to help indicate the splitting of words. This is an original feature. Purpose: To assist new students who are just finding their way in Samskrit to break up the words (Pada Chheda). It is not intended for those already proficient in Samskrit. How it Works: 1. Enables normal chanting. The bold underlined letters are Sandhees, not words, and are needed only to join words for correct chanting. 2. Indicates splitting of words. To determine the words on either side of the Sandhee, the following table may be used. [The table has been applied in the transliteration within the body of the book, where individual words are used.] Add to End Add to Front SANDHEE of Prior Word of Posterior Word A (a) -AÉ- (aa) A (a) C (i) -D- (ee) C (i) E (u) -F- (oo) E (u) elongated vowel -"x- short vowel short vowel -x"- elongated vowel elongated vowel -"x" - elongated vowel A (a) -L- (e) C (i) A (a) -Lå- (ai) L (e) A (a) -AÉå- (o) E (u) A (a) -AÉæ- (au) Lå (ai) AÈ (ah) -AÉå (o) unaffected C (i) -rÉç (y) unaffected E (u) -uÉç (v) unaffected È (h) -xÉç, -Uç, -zÉç unaffected ***** Manah Shodhanam “Purification of the Mind” CONTENTS: ___________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION 2 Verse 1: The Two Obstructions to Self 4 Verse 2: Obstruction 1 - IGNORANCE 4 Verse 3: Obstruction 2 - IMPURITIES 5 PURIFICATION IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL 6 Verse 4: Good Karma Alone is Insufficient 6 Verse 5: Practice Remains Fruitless (Without Purification) 6 Verse 6: Conclusion – Purity is Absolutely Essential 7 SADHANAS FOR PURIFICATION 8 Verse 7: Conventional Sadhanas for Attaining Purity 8 Verse 8: Self-Enquiry – the Best Means 10 Verse 9: Lord Krishna’s Assurance 10 Verse 10: I Invoke His Blessings 10 Verse 11: What Are the Impurities? 12 Verse 12: Where to Find Them? 12 Verse 13: A Definition for the Wise – and the Otherwise 13 THE NATURE OF IGNORANCE 14 Verse 14: Ignorance – the Root of All Sorrow 14 Verse 15: Whence Joy & Sorrow? 14 Verse 16: Likes and Dislikes 15 Verse 17: The Cause of Suffering 16 NARADA’S 14-POINT ADVICE 16 Verse 18: Narada to Yudhisthira 16 Verse 19: Narada’s Advice 1 – The Four Root Weaknesses 17 Verse 20: Narada’s Advice 2 – The Inner Instruments 19 Verse 21: Narada’s Advice 3 – Four Types of Sorrow 20 Verse 22: Narada’s Advice 4 – The Three Gunas 21 CONCLUSION – SELF-EFFORT & GRACE 22 Verse 23: This Advice Has Helped Me 22 Verse 24: The Grace of God & Guru 23 Verse 25: Self-Abidance 23 Split-Sandhee Samskrit Format 16 Split-Sandhee English Transliterations 17 ***** 1 qÉlÉÈ wÉÉåkÉlÉqÉç MANAH SHODHANAM 25 Verses by Swami Tejomayananda on “Purification of the Mind” INTRODUCTION THIS BOOK IS ONE of the four books that comprise the “Sadhana Sopan” series written by Pujya Swami Tejomayanandaji. Jnana Sara (Text 12) and Dhyana Swaroopam (Text 15), are others in this series which we have studied. The series is dedicated to the theme of Sadhana or spiritual practices. The meaning of Manah Shodhanam is “purification of the mind”. The Vedantic term Chitta Shuddhi or “purity of mind” is that which is attained through Manah Shodhanam. This book therefore shows us the process or Sadhana by which Chitta Shuddhi can be achieved by seekers of Truth. What is Cleanliness of the Mind? To get dirty requires no effort. To be clean and to keep clean needs much effort. After having remained dirty for a long time, special means may be required to get rid of all accumulated dirt before the normal cleaning procedures can be resumed. It is the same with mental purity. There is a regular “bath” to clean the mind of the day’s dirt, and then there is also the intensive practice of special Sadhana to get rid of all the dirt that we have gathered over numerous births from time immemorial. We may not even know the exact nature of the dirt we have gathered, but it does not matter. There are prescribed means that do help to clear such dirt. Just as people may resort to short-cuts to ‘cleanse’ themselves by simply spraying a perfume on their bodies, so also some people think that mental purity can also be fixed through some quick cosmetic means. This is a delusion. Sweat and perfume do not make a “clean” combination – in fact, it is worse than dirt! Just as people start smelling when they do not get into clean clothes or do not have a regular bath, there is a distinct smell emitted by dirty minds also. Some people’s mental dirt is so strong that their minds ‘smell’ and people are repulsed by their very presence. There are also pure souls who attract others around themselves by the sweet fragrance of their purity. It is unmistakable. People speak of “magnetic aura” – it refers to the same sparkling purity radiated by a pure mind. Experiments have been conducted in which it has been proven that even plants respond to this aroma around people. Flowers droop in the presence of very negative people and conversely blossom out in the presence of those with positive emotions. We ourselves at times unconsciously move away from certain people or vice versa.