The Skinny Title
Identification of Atma
We will set our goals depending on how we recognize ourselves - Atma or BODY If we believe we are just a Body, then our focus will be on Bodily comforts, Earning money, Improving our lifestyle, and not anything beyond that. At first we have to identify ourselves as Atma. The journey of Atma continues even after this life.
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Krishna showed us the ways to recognise Atma in the first six chapters of Bhagavad Gita. We all get into dehatma abhimana. We assume as though the body and the soul are one and same. Till particular age only they are attached.
Beyond this life, we (Atma) are going to experience much more in one of the lokas (Swarga, Naraga, Pitruloka, or any other Devaloka) and then take another birth depending on our Karma (deeds). Only when we learn about Atma and it's journey which is beyond current life we will start to think about what we can do for the wellbeing of the Atma and de-focus from the worldly comforts.
Journey of Atma
After this life, we will reach any one of the temporary lokas and we will have to wait long to take another birth. The probability of getting a human birth again is very less if we miss using this opportunity. Our (Atma's) experience after this life will be much longer when compared to this short temporary life. But due to our karma and illusion, we spend a whole lot of time focussing on this temporary life without spending some time to explore Brahmam through scriptures.
How to come out of the birth cycle and attain Eternal Bliss?
Krishna is the purest form and is fully spiritual. He is not affected by material things. So, if one likes to go back to Krishna, he must first purify himself and become free from material contaminations. Only a pure soul can enter into Krishna’s world.
Those who have material attachments have to take birth again in this world and purify themselves. Until they purify themselves, they have to take repeated births on earth.
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Need for doing Anushtanam (one's own duties)
Karma won't let us develop an interest in hearing and talking about Bhagawan. Hence we have to get rid of karma. Our minds are like spectacles. Unless we clean the glasses often by doing our duties as mentioned in the sastra, we won't be able to see a clear picture of Bhagawan. The eagerness to hear about Bhagawan and His words is the first step for a Bhakta to enter into Krishna's world.
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He just expects us to take that first step. Then He assures in Bhagavatam that He would give His hand to lift us towards Him.
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On reading Bhagavad Gita (Krishna's own words) and Bhagavatam (Krishna Himself told He would reside in Bhagavatam in Kaliyuga) with interest and faith one can know the Truth about Krishna.
One Sloka a day makes Krishna stay, keeps Maya away
Need for following Our Sampradhaya
There is a reason for each and every relationship we get by birth. We should learn to respect that. Especially the Acharyas, we have by birth (family Parmparya Acharyas), play an important role in giving us directions. If we go along the shown path by them it will be easy for us to reach the destination.
Why we take birth in a particular family
Bhagawan gives assurance to us about our next birth if we put efforts in following any of the Yoga marga He mentioned in Gita.
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Chapter 6
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TEXT 41
prapya punya-krtam lokan
usitva sasvatih samah
sucinam srimatam gehe
yoga-bhrasto 'bhijayate
When Arjuna asked Krishna 'what will happen if he fails in the yoga taken in this birth', Krishna assured him (and us) that He would give us birth in the next janma in a pious family to continue yoga from the place where he (we) left.
What if we move away from our sampradhaya?
Bhagawan makes us born in a particular family to follow that sampradhaya for a reason. It is clearly said in Gita that moving away from our sampradhaya is a great sin since Bhagawan's effort of bringing us towards Him is getting wasted.
Ancestors
In order to develop faith in Krishna, we must read the authorized writings about Krishna, written by the acharyas with bonafide sampradayas. Having known these facts, our ancestors spent a lot of time reading scriptures, listening about Bhagawan through Acharyas, and learned people who follow Achara, Anushtanam. Their hobbies like music, dance, art, revolved around Bhagawan.
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But, unfortunately nowadays due to Maya (illusion), all our work, hobbies, and entertainments take us away from Bhagawan. We don't have long-term value in current education found in our school and college. As a result, without being aware of the significance, we end up skipping our own duties too.
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Why do Acharyas keep telling us about our duties even if we are not interested?
Bhagawan is taking a lot of effort to make us reach an eternal state of bliss. Azhwar Acharyas are very well aware of this. They know very well that we are the properties of Bhagawan and out of ignorance we just live for ourselves. Bhagawan's efforts are getting wasted until we realize our relationship with Him. Hence they keep trying to enlighten us even though we are not interested.
Reaching The Eternal State
We have a great opportunity to end this birth cycle and reach the eternal state of endless happiness by following the guidelines mentioned in the shastra.
Difference between Human Birth and Other Births
Human Birth - Advantages and Disadvantages
Can Gain Punya by doing good deeds.
Can do Karma anushtanam (Duties as prescribed in the Shastra) using our Indhriyas (senses). Hence can get rid of papa karma (bad deeds) we gained in this janma and in previous janmas too.
Can enjoy some temporary pleasures without being distracted from the Permanent Goal.
Can add Papa (sins) too by doing bad deeds and skipping duties like sandhyavandanam., veda chanting which are meant for lokakshema (since nonperformance of these duties will lead to lokahaani (natural disasters)
May get carried away with temporary materialistic pleasures forgetting the purpose of birth.
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Can find the reasons for birth, death, and Karma through scriptures.
Can come out of the birth cycle itself with little effort.
Can live a happy life in this world and reach permanent happy state after this life,
May end up in wasting rare human birth adding more sins to the karma bag due to ignorance or negligence. Hence have to wait long to get human birth again.
Animal/Plant Birth - Advantages and Disadvantages
Can get rid of papa karma by experiencing pains.
Can't add more papa to the karma bag.
May get human birth in the next birth as an opportunity.
Can't do anushtanam to get rid of more karmas.
Can't gain atma paramatma gnanam because of the absence of sixth sense.
Can't end the birth cycle. Has to wait for taking human birth to achieve this.
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