Mantra: Yajur Veda 29.47
puushaa naH paatu duritaat
O sacchidaananda! Let us be protected from all that is inauspicious
Synopsis:
duritaat = from all that is ill, from all that is inauspicious, from disease causing
naH paatu = Let us be protected
Root: paa (rakshaNE) = protect
puushaa = One who nourishes = sacchidaananda
Root: pusha (pushTou) = nourish
Note:
God is one. We call it in many names.
Ekam sat. vipraa bahudaa vadanti
One who nourishes
He will not come physically and protect us. But he will give us the knowledge to protect ourselves. This is the nourishing factor of sacchidaananda.
This is not just physical nourishment. Mere physical nourishment will not suffice. We also need mental nourishment (truth, knowledge, etc.) This is also not enough. We need nourishment to the soul. This is in the form of samskaaraas. This comes by practice. When we practice good values, that gets embedded on to the soul in the form of samskaaraas.
If there is choice to nourish either the soul or the mind, then pick soul.
If there is choice to nourish either the mind or the body, then pick mind.
How to nourish ourselves from all that is bad? We should become tolerant and resistant to the bad qualities. If we succumb to it, we are lost. This is the guidance given to us by sacchidaananda. You become tolerant. You become resistant to bad things. This will not come automatically. We have to practice. We have to resist what is bad. We have to obtain what is good. We have to introspect to keep the +ves and throw out the -ve.
This process, system i established by that puushaa. Thereby we get the nourishment.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 29.47
maakirnO aghashamsaH eeshata
Anyone who support and propagate and justify sinful activities, let them not rule us.
(Let us be ruled by humane people. Let us not be ruled by inhumane people.)
Synopsis:
aghashamsaH = agha + shamsa
agha = paapam = all that is bad, unfavorable, unhealthy, sin
shamsa = one who praises
Root: shamsu (stutou) = praise
aghashamsaH = one who praises sin / that which is bad
One who says: “What if I do something bad? So what? Let me do it. Nothing wrong. etc.”
What is paapa / sin?
If we start defining sin subjectively then no 2 people can agree on something.
One may say, “This is only one birth. Drink. Dance. Enjoy. Do whatever you want. No one has any right to come in my way when I do something for my enjoyment.”
Another may say, “No! This is not only life. We have to be peaceful. We have to separate right from wrong.
Why is this a problem? Because everyone is defining sin in their own way. It is subjective. We cannot say they are wrong. Subjectively they are right. Both are right.
Only one way out = Define “sin” objectively
Sin is above the opinion of an individual. It is objective.
Say there is a bowl of water of some temperature. Some say it is hot. Some say it is cold. Some say it is warm. Some say it is chill. Some say it is too hot. Are they wrong? No. Experience of all of them is correct. Their experiences are all right for the same bowl of water.
What is the truth? Take a thermometer and measure. It will say “40 degree centigrade”. That is the truth. This is objective.
Sin defined objectively
Start with the premise: Purpose of Human Life:
The purpose of human life is ultimately that we seek peace and bliss inside. We want to be happy, peaceful and blissful. That is our search. That is continuous. Whatever material we gather, we expect some peace of mind, some happiness out of it. Anything we do, anything we possess. This is common to all of us.
Good = Strength and purity of soul
For this comfortable zone to be longer, the soul must become stronger and purer. This is not anyone’s opinion. This is the underlying fact. Whenever the soul is not strong, even if the situation is comfort giving, they cannot experience the comfort. The comfortable condition inside is important. If you are comfortable inside, even if there is external discomfort, it will pass easily.
On the contrary, there are so many things I possess or do does not contribute to the strength and purity of the soul. Here, if we are alert and think clearly, we will come to a common understanding. THis is not an opinion. This is the law enforce upon us. I have no option to accept or reject the law. This is the cosmic law / spiritual law. We are bound by it. My liking / disliking, my accepting / rejecting, my knowing or not knowling is immaterial to the application of this law.
puNya
Whatever contributes to the strength and purity of the soul = righteous = puNya
Paapa / agha
Whatever does not contributes to the strength and purity of the soul = unrighteous = paapa = agha
Sensual Pleasures
Many things are enjoyable on the outside. Over a period, the result of it is finally harmful. By the time we realize it, it may be too long and too late and we may have lost the time. That is being in the midway of a slide. I cannot go back. I can only slide down to the end.
Example: Smoking
It is so enjoyable when I smoke. It releases a lot of my stress. That is true. If I continue the habit of smoking, over a period, I will not be satisfied with one smoke. I need 2/3/4. etc . If I don’t get it, I will get disturbed. The same thing that was a source of happiness for me, is now a disturbance. How? If I don’t get it, it get disturbed. Over a period, there is all the chances that I will be a target to diseases that will be caused by it. Once I get the diseases, that is the point of no return. This is the point of no return in a slide.
Anything that is unhealthy and unnatural is like this. In the beginning, it is attractive. As days pass, we become a slave. It is addictive. Without which I cannot live.
Is something a sin? How do I gauge?
Take some habit. Is it a sin? Perform this test. Stop doing it for sometime. See if you are calm. If you are not calm…. If you are restless, if you are disturbed, if you are troubled, if you experience a withdrawal symptom, then you can be sure that it is a sin.
aghashamsaH
Some people may say it is right. It is ok. Do it. No problem. Those are the aghashamsaH
Example: bribe
Some say don’t bribe. Some say bribe is part of our lives. If you want the job done, then bribe. Don’t think about right and wrong. It has become part of you. You cannot live without it. I also take a bribe. It is a compromise. It is part of the tide. Go with it. Don’t swim against the tide.
These people are aghashamsaH. These people threaten that you will be singled out if you fight the tide.
Even if I am alone I should follow the right path. This is true internal strength.
Example: homosexuality
Homosexuality is unnatural. The basic purpose of the instinct of sexuality is reproduction. Any number of arguments given, if it is against the basic purpose, it is unnatural. Just because it is legalized by human beings, it doesn’t make it natural.
Those who fight for it and accept it and make it legal come under the definition of aghashamsaH
Example: War
We know clearly that war is harmful. Yet so many people support it. So many people supply arms and weapons. Those people are all aghashamsaH
Example: Eating Meat
By nature human beings are vegetarians. Even though our body tries to accommodate the non-vegetarian food, it is not our natural food. There are so many laws and facilities for producing and eating meat. The compassion of fellow animals is lost. Those who eat and promote unnatural food (meat) are aghashamsaH
maakirnO = maakiH + na
maakiH = anyone who is like that
na eeshata = let them not rule us
Root: eesha (niyamanE) = that which enforces
Example: Eeshwara = Ruler = sacchidaananda
Let such promoters of sin not rule us. Let us not put them in powerful positions. If they sit in powerful seats, there will be several legal enforcements that are unnatural. Let them not rule us.
If people who are compassionate, broad minded, courteous rule us, they will create such rules that create harmony. They will get the society rid of all addictions. Rid of all violence.
Simple Example:
A drunkard cannot bring alcohol prohibition.
Let us be ruled by humane people. Let us not be ruled by inhumane people.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 29.49
ashmaa bhavatu nastanuuH
Let our bodies become stonelike
Synopsis:
tanu = body
Ashmaa = stone like, strong
Let us be hale and healthy. Let us concentrate on our physical body also. It is a tool. Shariira indriya manas. Unless it is strong, I cannot achieve the purpose of human life. Let us maintain it so it is strong.
For the shariira indriya manas to be long lasting, it has to be tough (ashmaa)