The Bhagavad-Gita consists of 18 chapters. Each chapter is called a yoga. Yoga is the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the Ultimate Consciousness. So each chapter is a highly specialized yoga revealing the path of attaining realization of the Ultimate Truth. The first six chapters have been classified as the Karma Yoga section as they mainly deal with the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the Ultimate Consciousness through actions. These chapters are:
Chapter 1 : Visada Yoga
Chapter 2 : Sankhya Yoga
Chapter 3 : Karma Yoga
Chapter 4 : Jnana Yoga
Chapter 5 : Karma Vairagya Yoga
Chapter 6 : Abhyasa Yoga
The middle six chapters have been designated as the Bhakti Yoga section as they principally are pertaining with the science of the individual consciousness attaning communion with the Ultimate Consciousness by the path of devotion.
Chapter 7 : Paramahamsa Vijnana Yoga
Chapter 8 : Aksara-Parabrahman Yoga
Chapter 9 : Raja-Vidya-Guhya Yoga
Chapter 10 : Vibhuti-Vistara-Yoga
Chapter 11 : Visvarupa-Darsana Yoga
Chapter 12 : Bhakti Yoga
The final six chapters are regarded as the Jnana Yoga section as they are primarily concerned with the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the Ultimate Consciousness through the intellect.
Chapter 13 : Ksetra-Ksetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Chapter 14 : Gunatraya-Vibhaga Yoga
Chapter 15 : Purusottama Yoga
Chapter 16 : Daivasura-Sampad-Vibhaga Yoga
Chapter 17 : Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga
Chapter 18 : Moksa-Opadesa Yoga
Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita on the battlefield of Kuruksetra in 3102 B.C.; just prior to the commencement of the Mahabharata war. This date corresponds to 1700 years before Moses, 2500 years before Buddha, 3000 years before Jesus and 3800 years before Mohammed. So first and foremost it should be clearly understood that the eternal knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita has not been influenced by Buddhism, Christianity, Hebrewism or Islam; for these religions did not exist at that time and were established milleniums later.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
LIFESTYLE
For healthy life, the lifestyle should also be considered along with the diet. We can control the diet to a considerable extent. But we cannot control much of the lifestyle. It does depend on others, but whatever lifestyle is under our control, if we try to control it properly, we can become more and more healthy.
One should get up at Brahma Muhurta. It means one and half-hours before the sunrise. At this time, the ozone necessary for the body is adequately present in the atmosphere. The activities of the entire world and especially of the living beings are yet to be started so the pollution is at its minimum. The cheerful atmosphere does have an effect on the body and the mind. Every one should get up in the morning and try to take benefit of this.
While determining the time of getting up, one should take into account the time of retiring to bed too. Generally, seven hours sleep is sufficient. People who can sleep deeply without disturbance can do with just 5 to 6 hours' sleep. Common people dream during the sleep and face the problem of disturbance from time to time; hence for them seven hours' sleep is needed. This seven hours' period and the time for getting up should be correlated so that it is convenient. One should get up before the sunrise and keeping that in mind should decide the time to go to bed.
After getting up from the sleep, kardarshan (viewing the palm of the hand) is advised:
Karagre Vasate Laxmi : karmadhye Saraswati |
Karmule tu Govind : Prabhate kardarshanam ||
Laxmi, Saraswati and Govind reside on the palm, so one should bow to them with respect, this is the logic behind kardarshan. Of course, with common sense point of view, to get hold of Laxmi ( money ) and Saraswati ( knowledge ) is in our hands only, to remind one of this principle is the main logic behind kardarshan. Also, our eyes are closed throughout the night, if suddenly they are opened up in the morning and the atmosphere is viewed, then there may be some strain for the eyes, so one should put both the hands onto the eyes after getting up, so they do not suddenly come into the contact with the atmosphere.
After kardarshan, there should be bhoomivandan ( bowing to the land ). Our life depends on the land, before touching it with the feet, one should apologize to that shakti (Energy Principle).
After having slept for six to seven hours at night, one should not get up suddenly in the morning and start his daily work. One should sit peacefully and think about what is good for him. One should plan his entire day program at this time. Mind is very calm and enthusiastic when one gets up. The capacity to think from all the angles is at its maximum at this time. So also there are spiritual aspects of contemplation, which accrue.
After the bowel movement, there should be Ushahpan (Drinking Water). Nowadays, people are not even aware of it. They feel that bed tea and ushahpan (Drinking Water) are one and the same. Tea, as it is, is harmful to health. Bed Tea is even more harmful. Ushahpan (Drinking Water) helps improve the health. Drinking water stored overnight in a copper utensil, which is covered, in the morning is ushahpan (Drinking Water). This water helps the excretion tendency and purifies the intestines in the body.
After abhyanga(bath), personal upasana (prayer, meditation etc) is important. Due to such upasana, the mind becomes cheerful and the spiritual power increases. The mental strength starts growing and there is confidence in the life. One should take guidance as to which prayer should be done and in what manner. But no doubt it proves useful.
Also half an our pranayam is a must. Kapalabhati is the best.
A minimum half an hour daily walk is also must either in the morning or in the evening alongwith other stretching exercises.
BREAKFAST LIKE A KING, LUNCH LIKE A PRINCE AND SUPPER LIKE A PAUPER should be the order of intake.
In the evening, one should consume only liquids, not solid diet, because that lengthens the dinnertime. The dinner should be around sun set. Because it is good for health to have an interval of three hours between the dinner and retiring to bed. To sleep immediately after dinner is injurious to health. The dinner should be minimal i.e. easily digested. It should not contain heavy preparations.
Pray God before going to sleep for a better tomorrow
One should get up at Brahma Muhurta. It means one and half-hours before the sunrise. At this time, the ozone necessary for the body is adequately present in the atmosphere. The activities of the entire world and especially of the living beings are yet to be started so the pollution is at its minimum. The cheerful atmosphere does have an effect on the body and the mind. Every one should get up in the morning and try to take benefit of this.
While determining the time of getting up, one should take into account the time of retiring to bed too. Generally, seven hours sleep is sufficient. People who can sleep deeply without disturbance can do with just 5 to 6 hours' sleep. Common people dream during the sleep and face the problem of disturbance from time to time; hence for them seven hours' sleep is needed. This seven hours' period and the time for getting up should be correlated so that it is convenient. One should get up before the sunrise and keeping that in mind should decide the time to go to bed.
After getting up from the sleep, kardarshan (viewing the palm of the hand) is advised:
Karagre Vasate Laxmi : karmadhye Saraswati |
Karmule tu Govind : Prabhate kardarshanam ||
Laxmi, Saraswati and Govind reside on the palm, so one should bow to them with respect, this is the logic behind kardarshan. Of course, with common sense point of view, to get hold of Laxmi ( money ) and Saraswati ( knowledge ) is in our hands only, to remind one of this principle is the main logic behind kardarshan. Also, our eyes are closed throughout the night, if suddenly they are opened up in the morning and the atmosphere is viewed, then there may be some strain for the eyes, so one should put both the hands onto the eyes after getting up, so they do not suddenly come into the contact with the atmosphere.
After kardarshan, there should be bhoomivandan ( bowing to the land ). Our life depends on the land, before touching it with the feet, one should apologize to that shakti (Energy Principle).
After having slept for six to seven hours at night, one should not get up suddenly in the morning and start his daily work. One should sit peacefully and think about what is good for him. One should plan his entire day program at this time. Mind is very calm and enthusiastic when one gets up. The capacity to think from all the angles is at its maximum at this time. So also there are spiritual aspects of contemplation, which accrue.
After the bowel movement, there should be Ushahpan (Drinking Water). Nowadays, people are not even aware of it. They feel that bed tea and ushahpan (Drinking Water) are one and the same. Tea, as it is, is harmful to health. Bed Tea is even more harmful. Ushahpan (Drinking Water) helps improve the health. Drinking water stored overnight in a copper utensil, which is covered, in the morning is ushahpan (Drinking Water). This water helps the excretion tendency and purifies the intestines in the body.
After abhyanga(bath), personal upasana (prayer, meditation etc) is important. Due to such upasana, the mind becomes cheerful and the spiritual power increases. The mental strength starts growing and there is confidence in the life. One should take guidance as to which prayer should be done and in what manner. But no doubt it proves useful.
Also half an our pranayam is a must. Kapalabhati is the best.
A minimum half an hour daily walk is also must either in the morning or in the evening alongwith other stretching exercises.
BREAKFAST LIKE A KING, LUNCH LIKE A PRINCE AND SUPPER LIKE A PAUPER should be the order of intake.
In the evening, one should consume only liquids, not solid diet, because that lengthens the dinnertime. The dinner should be around sun set. Because it is good for health to have an interval of three hours between the dinner and retiring to bed. To sleep immediately after dinner is injurious to health. The dinner should be minimal i.e. easily digested. It should not contain heavy preparations.
Pray God before going to sleep for a better tomorrow
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