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Karma as the Source of Diversity

The vedas acknowledge divine karma as the origin of all creation, preservation, and destruction. However, since God does not have desires, unlike humans, he is not constrained by them. In the first chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.6.1), we discover that karma is one of the three main causes of diversity, alongside name and form. The variety in names is a result of speech, and the variety in forms is a result of the eye, while the mind and body are the sources for the variety in actions. For every action, the body serves as the source, the controller, or the lord.  Within the body, the mind, speech, breath, organs of action, and organs of perception are regarded as the primary deities who receive sustenance from the body and carry out their respective functions. Nevertheless, we cannot solely depend on them to combat the impurities and the malevolent forces that can infiltrate our body, as they are susceptible to evil and demonic influences, thoughts, desires, temptations,...
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163 YEARS (PART-1)





Guru is a very important term in the spiritual life, especially in the Indian tradition. One reason is that this is a knowledge consisting of tradition and knowledge always requires a teacher to be well explained. In Hinduism we conceive God or Brahman as the Adi Guru (first Guru), there is a very famous Guru Stotram for this. Now the question is whom should we select as our Guru?

Usually, we hear from our tradition that Guru is already selected for us, but there are certain criteria mentioned for Gurus in our Vedantic text especially the Upanishads. Let's first understand the meaning & then learn the term. There are basically three criteria for a Guru to be chosen:-

  1. The person whom we are going to choose as our Guru should be well versed in the tradition.  Here the term tradition is chosen because this explanation was in the Vedanta  & so the tradition mentioned here refers to Vedantic tradition. And just being versed doesn't work, one should be able to also transfer that knowledge to the ignorant. Further, this thing is not reserved for Vedantic tradition.  Whatever tradition it might be, the Guru should represent some tradition. Swami Vivekanand tested Sri Ramakrishna many times for many years before accepting him as a Guru.
  2. There are scholars who are learned in the field of tradition but does that person actually practice it in his/her own life. Then comes Brahmanishta, where the entire life is built around that teaching. Brahmanishta means to be dedicated to Brahman which is illumination. Likewise, the dedication for another subject by the Guru is needed.
  3. The Guru must not be injured or destroyed by a desire to get something back from the student. This cultural practice of teaching must not be converted into a business. Earlier the Guru managed everything for the disciple living in the Ashrama till they were studying and as a gift or Gurudhakshina, the students gave something to the Guru.
These are the criterions namely Shrotriya, Brahmanishta and Akama which Vedanta texts gives us to choose Guru. Spiritual knowledge is unlike secular knowledge, meaning it has to be taught by someone whose lifestyles is pure and sacred. The person imparting this knowledge must have no desire for fame, money, lust and purity in existence is a must. Swami Vivekanand stressed that Raja yoga should be taught by persons who are mentally pure  & practising celibacy.

Twitter:@merrill_ab
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  1. Ganesh YegneshwaranAugust 5, 2020 at 8:24 AM

    This person is amazing. At 17 his passion is truly motivating. May Kamakshi keep him blessed always. Guruve namaha Gurubhyo namaha. Gurupadam Saranam.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownAugust 5, 2020 at 1:06 PM

    Great nicely explained... You have excellent writing skill

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownAugust 7, 2020 at 10:22 AM

    Good luck 🤘🏻

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownJanuary 23, 2022 at 9:04 AM

    Nice work brother!!!

    ReplyDelete

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