Bhaj Govindam P3

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https://shakunkimatrai.com/?s=Bhaj+Govindam+p2

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Bhaj Govindam little by little

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Bhaj Govindam P2

So yesterday I asked whether yesterday’s lesson was tough?
Viveeta says :
Mind boggling! Definitely food for thought !🙏
I Shakun say : yes a lot of food for thought ….
Asha says :
… maybe one day I shall discover I am not me…
I Shakun say: yes asha, maybe one day we all shall realise that the body, name , gender, religion was given to us to be able to live in this world and operate in society , but as Sapna said yesterday , it would help if we lived like a lotus flower , who lives in water and yet untouched by it… that is to live, love, but not get attached…
Aasha replying to Sapna says:
We can try to live like the lotus 🪷 only after we have finished our worldly obligations and duties, as this would be our Vanaprastham way of life , ie. Our final phase in our journey of life. In early years we are living bound by samsara to attend our daily activities. To live like lotus 🪷 requires severe practice, control over our mind and body while living with family and near dear ones. It’s really commendable if we can achieve even some % of detachment. Let’s try 👍
I, Shakun ask, dear readers, do you know what
Vanaprastha is?
According to Hindu scriptures, life is divided into four compartments or aashrams… the first is education which is called ‘
Brahmacharya aashram’ the second one in which one earns , gets married , and runs a household and have children . The third stage is the Vanaprastha
Which Sapna is talking about. Here we practice detachment and devote more time to spiritual practices. And the last stage is called Sanyasa when One may leave home, or stay at home but yet devote all time to understanding detachment and Vedanta.
Though Adi Shankara was a great Vedantist yet in this bhajan he proclaims To Bhaj Govindam … Now pay attention please, we are given an option of three paths ( Karma, Bhakti , Gyan)… yet all paths have to eventually join into a highway… you have to do your karma, actions, efforts in life which would make you Karmayogi. You have to love, be compassionate which would make you a Bhakta… and eventually one has to realise that this world is Maya and that we are in reality only true consciousness.
So yes, we may be inclined more towards one path, but eventually they own merge. Bhakti may seem easier. But Bhakti talks about surrender after doing one best and unconditional love.
Hope this lesson is easier. Just read it again and if you still have a problem understanding it, do let me know🙏

The next verse says:
In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the status of Vishnu,
have samabhAva, equanimity, always.

Another way of putting the above would be:
“The same Divine presence lives in you, in me, and in all beings. ( The same Aatman , the same Consciousness) So anger and impatience are unnecessary. If you wish to realize God, cultivate equal regard and goodwill toward everyone.”

The above is also easier said than done. But a lot of Vedantists practice that ie consider everyone an Aatman, the same Aatman , and if the ‘other’ troubles you it is , something from which to forgive , learn and rise … oops 😬 I can see you now , not wanting to read anymore… 🙂 like giving up saying ‘ I can’t do that ! Well then as I say : practice, persevere, do your best and leave the rest… 🙏

In the next verse Bhaj Govindam, seems to be emphasising the same point :
Waste not your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.’
In other words:
When you see others as separate from you, feelings of “I versus you,” that is expressed as a dwait ( we are 2 ) bhav’ “friend versus foe,” arise. This is referred to in english as duality. When you see the same Self in all, these divisions begin to fade, bringing peace and compassion.
And this is what is known as adwait ( not 2 )
You must’ve heard of these terms ( dwait and adwait) when you hear spiritual lectures. This is what it means. You see it is important to understand these terms if you listen or when you listen to spiritual lectures. There are such wonderful lectures available right at home at your own time on YouTube. I would suggest listen to Sarvapriyananda…
He speaks in English and is very clear. 🙏

Sapna says: I listen to Sarvapriyananda
he is good 🙏
Viveeta says :
Thank you Shakun for the suggestion, will surely listen…
I, Shakun agree when friends tell me that they went to Satsangs but lose interest as half of the words go above them.
My suggestion , surely watch in english if that is your preferred language , however when I watch shows / news and they speak some words that I do not understand , I pause the tv and ask Google for the meaning 🙂 …for those who are really interested , to understand lectures in Hindi they could start by watching some lectures in Hindi on tv, pause the tv and ask google the meaning … many of you know that when I came from Spain as a young teenager, I knew very little English and hardly any Hindi. Google was non existent .
But I guess as I have said before God helps those who help themselves…
Dear readers , I am so happy that you have persevered in reading the notes that I share with you every morning, but my knowledge is limited. It would be wonderful and it would please me immensely if you went deeper into the subject of spirituality devoting a little time in listening to good speakers…I can only be a stepping stone for you… 🙂🙏❤️

Roshni says:
You are an inspiration to many of us. I also listen to Sarvapriyananda. He is very clear and precise in his explanations.
I , Shakun say: thankyou for your kind words…
The next verse of Bhaj Govindam says :
Waste not your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.

In very short and simple terms the verse says:
“Stop dividing people into ‘my people’ and ‘other people.’ See the same Self in everyone, and treat all with respect and compassion.”

The idea of the verse is not to stop loving family and friends, but to rise above attachment, hatred, and the habit of seeing people as separate.

Remember the term dwait and adwait? No? 😞 ok tell me what dwait adwait is 🙂 look it up in previous lessons !
Ayee so Shakun is giving homework now ? Well yes if I have to live up to the label that I am an inspiration to many 🙂

Sapna says :
As much as I understand Adwait is oneness…
Like ocean and wave are separate but they both consist of water.
Soul and God are one
Atman and Parmatma
Dwait is what we consider to be two,
like mother and child , friend and friend , friend and foe, but actually we are the same pure awareness…
I may feel that I am separate from God, but then I can be His devotee …

I , Shakun say : Sure when we feel Dwait ( two) with God , in that case, practice Bhakti , Love, Compassion …

Viveeta says:
Dwait is duality differentiating people and advait is seeing one’s self in all . We are all created in the image of God and and are a part of Him . If we see others in that light the whole attitude changes .
I, Shakun say: yes!
And thankyou for your kind words 🙂🙏

Next verse in Bhaj Govindam :
Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell, they suffer there endlessly.

Explaining it simply:
Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature.
Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell, they suffer there endlessly.

I , Shakun’s say:
The verse calls it hell because it becomes a life full of restlessness, dissatisfaction and repeated sorrow …
My personal experience has been that spirituality makes you enjoy the world better… one takes situations less intensely 🙏

have you heard the term Paramhansa?
In Indian tradition, the swan is said to have the ability to separate milk from water. Symbolically, a Paramhansa is one who can distinguish the eternal from the temporary, truth from illusion, and remains established in wisdom.
So great saints in India are called Paramhansa…
If you have understood the above, can you explain why Saints are called Paramhansa…
Are we human beings Paramhansas?
No chance! 🙂 why?

So last time we learnt about the new term ‘Paramhansa’ and my question was, are we humans Paramhansas? And if not, why?
Roshni says: Because we are still in Maya and haven’t transcended the mind.
Nisha says:
because we humans are too entangled in our day to day affairs and we lose focus on the spiritual path, whereas Paramhansas devote their life to spirituality with utmost focus.
they are in this world but not of this world.
Aasha says:
Actually to attain that status of Paramhansa , one has to go through intense meditation and practice, detachment, which enhances our spiritual level…. It’s a very difficult process, I suppose , because only few elevated beings have reached there . But mortals like us who don’t have such a high capacity of consciousness can at least start by giving up the above mentioned inherent feelings of anger , greed, lust and so forth. Let’s at least attempt this, then take it ahead 🙏
The next verse of the Bhaj Govindam says: Regularly recite from the Gita, meditate on Vishnu in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.

Simply put the verse says :
Nourish your mind with wisdom, your heart with devotion, your life with good company, and your hands with generosity.🙏

I , Shakun say, at least let us practice to do the above ? Yes?

Vanisha says:
Yes I agree👍🏻…we have to prioritize things in life and get out of the rut of day to day life and try to rise above the nitty gritties .It takes time but will happen one day only if we start walking that path by listening to scriptures, chanting everyday and trying to change ones reactions to situations in good n bad times.
I , Shakun say:
Yes, absolutely. 👍🏻 Spiritual growth is not something that happens overnight. It is a gradual process of shifting our priorities and learning to rise above the small ups and downs of daily life…
The next verse of the Bhaj Govindam says:
He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give-up the sinful path.

I Shakun feel :
“I often wonder—since we all have to leave this body one day, why do we seek so much beyond our basic needs? Food, clothing, and shelter are necessary, but it is often our greed and obsession with having more and being better than others that disturb our peace, harm our health, and bring unnecessary suffering into our lives.” What do you think?

Sapna says:
Yes we do get caught up in this world of Maya
Seeking for more than necessary…
Being content is the best
Yes we enjoy going out, eating out , meeting relatives friends travel etc etc playing mahjong , rummy but I feel so long all is in balance
no need to compare, there will always be someone better in looks, wealth health
That’s their journey
I shld focus on mine… be in gratitude for what we have!!!
That’s my karmas my destiny also result of my choices…
So for me being content and accepting in gratitude for what God has given… being positive, praying …
Is the best
Whatever we are destined to get, anyhow it will come to us ..

Nisha says:
One should never compare ourselves to others …to each his own …we are all in the same world but we all have our respective duties and responsibilities….we all have our own exam papers we cannot copy from another because their exam paper is different …though one thing we can all do is learn from the Bhagwad Gita and apply those principles & teachings to our situation and circumstances. This is my understanding of LIFE.

Viveeta says:
100% agree it’s these comparisons that create unhappiness. Once we realize this and let go of our desire for material things that are not really needed we can reach this stage . Only being on a spiritual path can help us detach .

Huri says:
Yes but our needs that we are expanding through contact with the world worsens in us …our helplessness and greed ruin us

I, Shakun understand our helplessness , we see others being more, having more, and our greed overtakes us…
But when I see ‘winners’ ‘blessed ones’ I ask myself ? How did they get there? Karmas? Practice? Perseverance ?
The karmas that we brought from our previous lifetimes, may not be in our hand, but the karma that we do now definitely are.
Another thing I realise people who have a lot of money, a lot of fame, a lot of beauty, are not necessarily happy people… when you have everything , mostly you are afraid of losing it.
Also, I have Known that nothing is permanent. The only thing permanent as long as you live is your breath , so watch your breath , connect it with a mantra , do good deeds, practice, persevere, to your best and Take the best!
Remember the
proverb “
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”Originating from William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part 2, this famous idiom means that people in positions of great power, authority, or leadership are constantly burdened by anxiety, responsibility, and worry. 😊🙏
So dear friends ‘ Don’t worry, be happy ‘ 🙂

Deepika says:
So beautiful to get everyones views.
I’m ever so grateful and Blessed to have peace in all walks of life.
I’ve learnt to balance life and my spirit is always bouyant.
I feel happy most of the time then when I feel low I immediately focus on the positive energy God has bestowed upon me.
I manifest my life in many ways and I do receive what I deserve.
I’m extremely thankful for this beautiful post everyday I learn a lot from it.
Thank you universe
And
Thanks Shakun

I , Shakun say thankyou for giving me the opportunity to connect with the scriptures every morning.
The next verse of Bhaj Govindam says:
Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.

In a simple way of understanding, the above verse says:
“Money by itself does not bring lasting happiness. Remember this often. Wealth can create worries, fear, and insecurity—even a rich person may fear losing what they have or whom they can trust. This is the nature of worldly wealth.”
In other words:
“Wealth is useful, but it cannot give true peace or happiness. The more we cling to it, the more fear and worry it can bring.”
Again here I could quote Shakespeare who says: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown!
Think of all the people in power in the world, Presidents, Kings, ministers….specially during these troubled times, don’t you think their head lies uneasy , with all the power and money that they may have?

Mani says :
Jesus Christ said in the Bible that for a Rich Man to enter into the kingdom of heaven is as difficult as a camel passing through the eye of a needle. !!!

I, Shakun would think:
The deeper meaning is not that money itself is bad, but that attachment to wealth, possessions, and worldly desires can make it hard to turn one’s heart toward God.
However,
a common saying attributed to Kabir is:
“भूखे भजन न होय गोपाला”
(Bhookhe bhajan na hoy Gopala)
Meaning: It is difficult to pray, meditate, or focus on God when one is hungry. Basic needs should be met before higher spiritual pursuits become possible.
On another note , I am so happy to note that
Aasha says:
This chat is a great platform to exchange views and beliefs, both ancient and contemporary. It’s a wonderful way to interact and to refresh our knowledge of scriptures, and at the same time get to know so much knowledge which was unknown to us . I think we should continue to share our beliefs, our views here. Thanks to Shakun for bringing us together and open so many unheard of spiritual beliefs while incorporating these values in our daily life 🙏
Maya D says:
Tks I’m equally grateful to be here and know our religious culture and others’s thoughts and feelings…
And I Shakun say: thankyou for being here 🙏
I also say: Soon we shall finish, well one never says finish to learning… and specially to Scriptures , that is why it is customary to restart reading the Guru Granth Sahib after One has finished it!
You may have noticed that when you do the bhog of the Guru Granth Sahib. The granthi always restarts the Guru Granth Sahib with the beginning pages starting with Ek Omkar…
Any way tell me what would you like to study after the Bhaj Govindam . I was thinking of doing the Yams Niyams.
What are they?
In Yoga philosophy, Yamas and Niyamas are the first steps of the Eight Limbs of Yoga taught by Patanjali.

Think of them as simple guidelines for living a peaceful and spiritual life.
Ok? But we still have a few more verses to study from the Bhaj Govindam
which I shall share tomorrow. 🙏

Manisha says: Hi Aunty,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and knowledge with us. Would love to hear about the Yoga philosophy next.
The eight limbs of Yoga. Pantanjalis yoga sutras. 🙏🏻
Maya D says :
Ready to keep on Learning!

I , Shakun say: Even learning can become a sweet addiction …
Swamiji used to say : Moksh gyaan se bhi nahin , balki gyaan se hi hota hai!
Meaning Enlightenment happens not WITH gyaan but with ONLY gyaan …
Once I asked Swamiji, about how to deal with attachments, he said the world is a naatak ( a play) but best is to ‘na atak’ ( I love the way he broke down naatak ( play ) to na atak ( don’t get attached ) 😊
Seriously , he would add: ‘the Lord is concerned with your mind… and the world with your body… so where is the conflict?
Be meditative with your mind and do seva with you physical self ‘… everything passes… He said: play your part and play it well , but know that the outcome is with the Lord… ‘
In his blessings to my book ‘In touch with Masters’ ( it is on my website for free reading ) he writes:
…I have observed her progress through the years, and have known her to be an honest seeker for the truth …’
Swamiji would often compare my life and me, to walking on a trapeze … keeping the balance , between my worldly commitments and spiritual life, trying hard not to slip …

And my practicing has not ended , though now my responsibilities have diminished but yet there is many a slip between the cup and the lip, no?
The next verse of the Bhaj Govindam states :
Regulate the Pranas life forces, remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

Simply put :
Stay calm, control your mind and breath, focus on what truly matters, remember God, and don’t get carried away by temporary things. Practice this with patience and care.

What do you say?

Vanisha says:
I so agree with you 👍🏻This world drags you in the Naatak even if sometimes you are doing it with no bad intentions…the world makes a drama out of petty n unimportant issues but if one learns to ( na atak ) we will be at peace of mind n body🙏🙏.One should really try to stay away from these things and find permanence in the chanting the holy name of the divine and doing good deeds.
I, Shakun say:
Yes!
“The only permanent thing in life is impermanence”
Or
“The only constant in life is change.”

The second version is often attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, whose philosophy emphasized that everything is constantly changing.

And the second last verse of the Bhaj Govindam says :
Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the indwelling Lord of your heart!
( Who is Permanently residing in your heart)

Putting it simply the verse says:
“O seeker, take refuge in the Guru’s teachings and guidance. By controlling your senses and calming your mind, you will gradually become free from the cycle of worldly suffering and discover God, who already lives within your own heart.”

Dear Readers , tell me what are your views on Gurus… should we make one? Must we have one ? Tell me! 🙏

Aasha says:
Yes it is important to have a Guru, as I have read this and heard teaching of saints. They also emphasise that we should have a Living Guru who you can see and hear and interact, never mind if you don’t see them very often, because of distance from Ashrams. As long as you know they are there and they have accepted you as their shishya, because you are accepted by your Guru not the other way round. And only when you are ready will they accept you in their fold. You may not physically see them for years, but when you seek answers if your beliefs are true you will get your answer, sometimes before you can ask. It’s important to have a Guru to understand spirituality, just as it’s important to have a teacher and professor in school and college. They help us in academics and Guru teaches us life lessons and helps us to lead a spiritual life, with religious practice. This is imperative in our later life as by then we will have finished our worldly duties. It’s also recommended to go on this path at a younger age as we can visit Ashram of Guru more often than in old age, and we can start to adapt to their teachings when mind is impressionable. I’m sorry for the long message but because you asked, I had to express what is my belief 🙏
I , Shakun say, please do express yourself ! Because that proves to me that you are reading and thinking , so you are doing shravan, manan and nidhidhyaasan 🥰
Deepika says:
Yes we all need a Guru
An inner guide!

Huri says :
MUST HAVE ONE .WE HAVE TEACHERS FOR EVERYTHING IN LIFE AND TO TRAVERSE LIFE WE NEED GURU!

Shanti says:
Darling Vimlu,( Vimlu is my maiden name) my cup overfloweth with Gratitude….if you didn’t give n simplify all the essence of great invaluable Scriptures my life would not HV been so enriched more over you share every one’s views…
I , Shakun say: my cup runneth over reading your endearing words ,specially from one who has known me almost whole of my life ❤️

On the subject of gurus , my own view
Is that our Sanatan
Dharma is vast, and it gives us the freedom to choose our path, be it bhakti gyan Karma Dhyan, we can chant…
and then we are all at different stages of our evolution in spiritual matters… therefore a guru is essential because he Chalks out the path for us…
However ,
Several spiritual teachers have said that a guru is not absolutely necessary, although they usually added important qualifications.

One of the best-known examples is Jiddu Krishnamurti. He strongly rejected the idea that spiritual truth depends on a guru, organization, or religious authority. His famous statement was:

“Truth is a pathless land.”

He taught that each person must observe and understand themselves directly, without dependence on a guru.

However, most traditional Indian teachers took another view:

Ramana Maharshi said that the Guru is ultimately the Self within. An external guru may help, but the real Guru is your own true nature.

Nisargadatta Maharaj emphasized self-inquiry and direct understanding, though he himself had a guru and respected the guru-disciple relationship.

Swami Vivekananda generally taught that a guru is extremely valuable and often necessary for most seekers.

Interestingly, in the Advaita tradition, even teachers who say “the Guru is within” do not necessarily mean that an external guru is unnecessary. They mean that the external guru’s role is to point you back to the inner Guru- the Self
Any views on the above ? dear readers…

https://shakunkimatrai.com/guru-purnima/

The video starts after a few

moments 👆🏼

Sapna says:
According to me a Guru is important as we need to learn and grow in spirituality and who better than a Guru to help us… a Guru means one who removes the darkness of ignorance…
They say Guru calls you …
I Feel each one has their own spiritual journey …
For some as you say may be the guru helps you to decide the way to Spiritually, since there are many paths … and for some it may not be necessary to have one..for me my path has been just beautiful to have a Guru …I am in gratitude to have my Guru🙏🙏

I ,Shakun agree…
A Guru can be a tremendous blessing on the spiritual path. The word Guru itself means “the one who removes darkness (gu) and brings light (ru).” A true Guru helps us see our own nature more clearly and can save us from many misunderstandings and detours…
seekers follow different paths. Many progress through scripture, self-inquiry, devotion, or life itself as their teacher. Ultimately, the outer Guru points us toward the inner Guru—the wisdom and awareness that already reside within us.

So the relationship can be beautiful, transformative, and a source of deep gratitude, as you have experienced. 🙏

And now for the concluding verse of the Bhaj Govindam which ends repeating the first verse . We have come a round circle 😊
Here it is :
Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool! Other than chanting the Lord’s names, there is no other way to cross the life’s ocean.

Next we look at the yams Niyams of Patanjali yoga Sutras … consider them like commandments 😊
See you tomorrow… those who may want to leave or join the chat do send me a private message 🙏