A Million Thoughts

by Om Swami

  But realization changes in you something irrevocably. You no longer just think about yourself. Even if you have no responsibilities or family, you can’t just do whatever makes you happy. Somewhere, you recognize that you’ve been blessed in the most potent manner and that it is your duty to share your bliss with those who seek. No matter how much you may want to disregard, you feel obliged to live for the world around you. Like a cow finds joy in feeding its calf, you find your joy in serving the humanity. No matter how the world treats you, you never stop being compassionate. It happens naturally, that you end up putting others’ interests before your own. In your selfless conduct you discover your greatest happiness.

  Something miraculous happens to such a selfless person. The forces of universe sit by your feet waiting for your command. You can’t be selfless unless you start to see everyone as part of you and you as part of everyone else. Until you gain an insight into that oneness, you treat yourself differently from others. But, once you gain an experiential understanding (not merely an intellectual) into the true nature of your mind and everything around you, an ever brimming compassion arises naturally for all sentient beings.

  Any attainment is worthless if it doesn’t help our world move forward. Any meditation is pointless if it doesn’t expand your consciousness, if it doesn’t amplify your existence and bring in you compassion, positivity and love. That’s what meditation is about. This has been my journey. Go, embark on yours.

  Notes

  Srila Prabhupada, trans., Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Tokyo: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1972), 6.46.

  I’ve given a contextual translation of the quartet: umā kahaūm̐ maiṃ anubhava apanā, sata hari bhajana jagata saba sapanā. Goswami Tulasidasa, Ramcharitmanas, (Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 1999), Aranya Kanda, 38.3.

  Srila Prabhupada, trans., Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Tokyo: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1972), 6.20–23.5.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.33–634. My own translation.

  Alex Anatole, The Essence of Tao, (Massachusetts, Xlibris Corporation, 2009)

  John P. Keenan, Buddhist Sutras (California, Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2000) Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra, 6.702b.

  Ken Mcleod, trans., Pith Instructions on Mahamudra. Online: naturalawareness.net/ganges.html. Last accessed: Aug 21, 2016.

  Bahadur Shah Zafar. Online: kavitakosh.org/kk/nutf_Gf2L+_2}_lbNf_d]/f_p1O]_bfk/_d]+_/_Hfkm/

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 16.22. My own translation.

  Max F. Muller, trans., The Dhammapada: A Collection of Verses Being One of the Canonical Books of the Buddhists (Low Price Publications, 2006), 1–2.

  Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, 2.12. My own translation.

  ibid, 1.11. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.17. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.19. My own translation.

  Paraphrased from Ajahn Brahm, Don’t Worry, Be Grumpy (Massachusetts, Wisdom Publications, 2014) 1.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.20–21. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.25. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.26. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.13. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.12. My own translation.

  ibid, 18.73–74. My own translation.

  Lobsang P. Lhalungpa, Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, Mahamudra: The Moonlight – Quintessence of Mind and Meditation (Massachusetts, Wisdom Publications, 2006), 1.25f.

  Thanissaro Bhikku, trans., Right Mindfulness – Access to Insight. Online: accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/rightmindfulness.pdf. 47.35, 36.7 Last accessed: 21 Aug, 2016.

  Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, 3.2–5. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.20. My own translation.

  Lobsang P. Lhalungpa, Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, Mahamudra: The Moonlight – Quintessence of Mind and Meditation (Massachusetts, Wisdom Publications, 2006), 3.149b.

  Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra. 100, 104. My own translation.

  Avadhuta Gita, 1.25. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.5–6. My own translation.

  Thich Naht Hanh, Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, (California, Parallax Press, 1987), Chapter 19.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.29. My own translation.

  Rumi, Maria Georgala, trans., The Spirit of the Month: Twelve Stairs to Heaven. (ebook, amazon.com).

  The Whirling Dervishes of Rumi. Online: http://www.whirlingdervishes.org/whirlingdervishes.htm. Last accessed: 21 Aug, 2016.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 18.51–53. My own translation.

  B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 2.30.

  ibid, 2.32.

  Nyanatiloka Thera, trans., The Buddha’s Path to Deliverance (Washington, Pariyatti Press, 2002), 10.208.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 17.15. My own translation.

  Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans., Abhaya Sutta: To Prince Abhaya. Online: accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.058.than.html. Last accessed: 21 Aug, 2016.

  Devi Kshama Apradha Stotram by Shankracharya. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.20. My own translation.

  Marshall B. Rosenberg, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life (Encinitas, CA: Puddle Dancer Puddle Dance Press, 2003), xix.

  The New Testament. (Matthew 23:12)

  Sri Guru Granth Sahib, 470, Salokmėhlā 1.

  Bertrand Russell, Conquest of Happiness (1930) ch. 5

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 2.67. My own translation.

  Adapted from B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 1.30.

  B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 2.3–4, 9.

  ibid, 1.18.

  ibid, 1.20.

  ibid, 2.11.

  ibid, 2.10.

  Shiva Samhita, 5.9.

  ibid, 5.3.

  Ibid, 5.4.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 2.52. My own translation.

  Shiva Samhita, 5.5.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.11–12. My own translation.

  Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra. 60.

  Hatha Yoga Pradipika,1.58.5–59.

  Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, 1.21. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 17.16. My own translation.

  ibid, 6.10.

  ibid, 2.55.

  Adapted from B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 2.43.

  Heruka, Tsangnyon, The Life of Milarepa, (Penguin Books, New York, 2010).

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 18.11, 6.24. My own translation.

  Goswami Tulasidasa, Ramcharitmanas, (Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 1999), Bala Kanda, 7.2. My own translation.

  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, 6.35. My own translation.

  Patanjali, Yoga Sutras, 1.22. My own translation.

  Gil Fronsdal, trans., The Dhammapada, (Massachusetts, Shambala Publications, 2005), 100.

  B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 1.23.

  Stephen Mitchell, The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, (New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 1989), Ryokan.

  Lex Hixon, Mother of the Buddhas: Meditation on the Prajnaparamita Sutra (Illinois, Quest Books, 1993).

  B. K. S. Iyengar, trans., Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, (London, Thorsons, 2002), 4.29–33.

 

 

 
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