आत्मीय दृष्टि

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

आत्मीय दृष्टि में खोटा सिक्का कोई नहीं है, नाहीं कोई था, नाहीं कोई होगा।

वस्तु एवं जीव की हर पर्याय व्यवस्थित ही होतीं है।

अत: संसार (सारे द्रव्यों का संगठन) की समस्त पर्याय व्यवस्थित ही होतीं है।

खोट यदि कोई सुधारनी है, तो बस यह की हम अपनी दृष्टि पर्याय से हटा कर निज आत्म, नित्य जीव तत्व, परमार्थ, पर ध्याये।

निज आत्म में ही सुख, परम आनंद...

... बाकी, सारा संसार, अगाध दुख की खाण।

🙏

Perspective of soul

From the perspective of soul there is no bad apple, neither was there one ever, neither will there ever be one.

Each transient state of a thing or a being is always appropriate. As such, all of the transients seen in the world (collection of all substances) are appropriate.

If there is any wrong that needs to be corrected, then it is just that we need to shift our sight from transients and set it solely on our soul, eternal element of life, Him within.

Bliss and ultimate happiness resides only in our soul…

... The rest, of the whole world, is unfathomable mine of sorrow.

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

Soul’s perspective

Role play soul’s perspective when possible… to remain engaged with Him within.

  By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

When and where possible, for howsoever brief a period, take on perspective of soul...

...akin to role play...

... and our attachment (Raag Eketva) or aversion (Dvesh Eketva) to that thought, speech or act, be that from us or from any other being, will start melting away...

Greater the period we are able to hold that perspective... greater the melt.

And greater the frequency of such a role play...

... greater is our acceptance of the only lasting reality of soul and growing awareness of ephemeral nature of every thing, every thought, every speech, every act that we have hitherto witnessed from our worldly perspective.

Just as a girl child who learns of the ways of her mother being in her proximity...

... and plays out the role of a mother... as she mimics her mother when she is not around...

... is subconsciously continually preparing herself for the role and gets better at it when her time comes...

... we will grow into the role as we spend more quantum of our time closer to our soul and get better at mimicking its perspective amidst the ruckus and vicissitudes of the world.

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

જીવ બધાએ લાગે સમાન

                                                                                                By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

સમકિત ધારી/જ્ઞાની કરે ન નિંદા કદી

... ન પોતાની, ન બીજા કોઈ ની

... ન કોઈ વસ્તુ ની, ન કોઈ પરિસ્થિતિની

ઓળખે સ્વઃ જીવ તત્વ ને જો

... ન દેખે કોઈ ખેદ

... ન દેખે કોઈ કષાય

કરે સ્વઃ નિજ નું અવલંબન જે

... જ્ઞાયક રહે પર વસ્તુ નો

... પણ રહે ન એમાં એનું કિંચિત ધ્યાન

ઓળખો સ્વઃ ને તો રાગ દ્વેષ થાશે દૂર

... ન રહે માન્યતામાં કોઈ નીચ ઊંચ

... જીવ બધાએ લાગે સમાન

... જીવ બધાએ લાગે સમાન

Each and every being will remain on par.

One who has gained Self realization (experiences Him within) will never criticize…

… neither self, nor any one else

… neither anything, nor any situation.

One who identifies squarely with Self/Him within

… sees no fault

… sees no astringency

One who seeks refuge in Self/Him within

… remains just the knower of  other things

… but will not train slightest of attention to such.

Identify with Self/Him within, so you will distance yourself from attachments and aversions

… no one will remain high or low in your belief

… each and every being will remain on par

… each and every being will remain on par.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

At fault?

At fault? Who me? How can it be?

                                                                                                            By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Who says to find fault is easy?

... Did you try yet... to find fault in self?

Two sides of a coin... are always together...

... and yet... have never seen each other...

Akin to that, we are culpable and at fault being... full of impurities...

... And, yet at the very core... of our soul or deep conscience... we are the all knowing, all powerful Atma-Parmatma or Him... the divine Self.

When we toss up a coin, probability of it landing on a given face is 50%...

... And, yet due to our ignorance and lack of absolute faith in path of His wisdom... probability for us having to witness our core Self or Atma-Anubhuti (आत्मानुभूति) or Self-realization in our current life form... is almost zero.

The only way to view the desired side of a coin 100% of the time... is to etch that side of the coin facing us... into a firm base like a stone...

... As such, only way for us to experience our Self or Him within... is firmly entrench our self on path of His wisdom, with absolute faith that we are Him/the divine Self.

... As we do so... gradually, but surely, our thought, speech and actions will becomes less impure and eventually be in total sync with the divine pure Self...

... And we will ultimately experience Him.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

Chariot of our success.... on journey towards Self-realization

Be aware of the critical factors at play... for a successful journey towards Self-realization. And then… raise your awareness.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

When it comes to spiritual pursuit towards Self-realization... chariot of our journey comes with…

• Two horses… that of
• Purushartha or concerted self effort... and,
• Absolute and unflinching faith in path of His wisdom

Vitality, strength and size of each of these horses will greatly determine pace, and momentum if any, of our progress. Fodder for each of them comes from our absorption of knowledge laid out in Jinvani… and depth & rigor of our introspection, or quite contemplation. As we zealously feed right fodder to the horses, they will gain strength… and grow in size.

• Four wheels… that of

• Inhibiting of our passions… of greed, deceit, ego, anger
• Curbing sensuous urges… to please senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste and mind
• Satsang… virtuous fellowship
• Vitragta... gradual cutting away of all cords that are not aligned with the objective.

Our ability to sustain and surge in each of the above areas, will greatly determine the strength and size of the wheels. While wheels may be uneven and weak at inception, as we earnestly focus on lending strength to each of them… they in turn will support and strengthen each other… and grow in size.

As we earnestly set on the voyage…

• a Guru/Sacha Sarthi or guiding force… to keep our zeal and tempo on... towards the ultimate goal.

The momentum that our chariot is able to take, or sustain... depends upon…

• The Terrain... laid out by... uneven highs, rifts and valleys of our past unsettled account of our Karmic cart.

• And Weather… along the way… largely defined by Kal and Kshetra we find ourselves in.

The only possible way we can successfully navigate through rough terrain and inhospitable weather, as above, is by adopting and sustaining Samta Bhav or even-keel temperament. Without which, our chariot will break apart and our journey will come to a standstill… or even lose ground that we might have already covered.

My friend... Are you on… or for the voyage?  I am.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.