!! SHREE SWAMI SAMARTH JAYJAY SWAMI SAMARTH !!
CASE-STUDY #1
Before you read the article, kindly note that I am not an English speaking person. I am not familiar with colloquial language. Hence I request you to pay attention to the content of communication, and not to language proficiency. Purpose of presentation in English, is to approach the maximum number of personnel, around the world.
REAL LIFE SITUATION
1) Both husband and wife are working in BPO / call centre company and need to work in shifts. In such situations, as karmayog says, their karma is what sadhana is. But what is the definition of karma here? Is it karma/kartvya at their workplace only or they should also keep in mind, karma that they need to do, to keep balance, meet their sansarik goals? Not just financially but also emotionally? Like supporting their spouse in managing day to day tasks, supporting children when needed, participate in kid’s activities/studies and not just rely on wife to do such things. Or vice versa.
2) Husband and wife both are working. Husband is usually traveling on weekdays and at home only on weekends. I think this is not an example just from today’s world but even from many years in past, whenever many husbands worked in govt of India’s service, they kept traveling while keeping their family at one place to ensure family is stable, kids get good company and education. These days you may see same thing happening with some of the IT folks. In India though this is not on large scale, in western countries, lot of families need to do this. Quite a few times either husband or wife are in consulting company and need to keep traveling. In such situations what are karmas that everyone needs to do? Besides giving their best in their workplace, what other karmas they need to do from personal/family perspective while staying away from family? Everyone should understand, as long as they do their karmas with ‘sadsadvivekbuddhi’ they are doing the right thing.
ANALYSIS
Data of both cases is more or less same. The following analysis is appropriate to both cases.
Karmayog is applicable to each and every activity carried out by Physical body. Man spends maximum time of day for earning money. That is why activity of Physical body made for earning money is normally chosen to explain details of Karmayog.
Every individual should fulfil several responsibilities ( towards family as well as society ). Actions needed for fulfilling responsibilities are called duties ( कर्तव्य ). All such activities are classified as Vihitkarma ( विहितकर्म ). Vihitkarmas ( विहितकर्मे ) change, based upon the age group. Next System for defining duties or Vihitkarma ( विहितकर्म ) is based upon age group. Total lifespan is divided into four groups. Each group is called Aashram ( आश्रम ).
BrahmacharyaAashram ( ब्रह्मचर्याश्रम ) or student life:
Age group 8 to 20 years. Prime duty as well as work priority is Education or Study+ acquiring knowledge.
GruhsthAashram ( गृहस्थाश्रम ) or family life:
Age group 21 to 60 years. Prime duties are Family commitments + social commitments.+ proper grooming of children paying attention to their physical & mental health, + taking care of elderly persons in family + maintaining harmony within group of family members.
VanprasthAashram ( वानप्रस्थाश्रम ) or retired life:
Age group 61 to 75 years. Prime duties are giving exposure to upcoming young generation for handling responsibilities, independently + Handover all reins to next generation + functioning in advisory capacity for some time + practice renouncing from worldly affairs and attachments, for smooth transition to renouncing life style.
SanyasAashram ( संन्यासाश्रम ) or renounced life:
Age group 75 to end of life. Prime duties are renounce from all family matters + make whole hearted concentrated efforts for attaining the final goal of life, Merger with Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ) + help & guide other seekers.
Now a days, life style is changing rapidly. Priorities have changed. Priorities and preferences are for personal comforts, personal convenience, and personal pleasures. yesterday’s luxury has become a need today. Personal needs have increased a lot on that account. Husband and wife both should first decide & define Master goal of life. First step is to decide about the goal of life. What one wants to achieve in life. Next step is to define responsibilities of each of them. They should judge and decide upon the level to which they can elevate their life style, keeping in mind their responsibilities and commitments. Accordingly responsibilities of each individual should be defined. Who should adjust when? All such points should be finalised with mutual understanding. Action plan for fulfilling each responsibility should be worked out and frozen with mutual understanding. Under changing circumstances, action plan should be revised, as and when needed, considering operational convenience in changed situation. It is extremely important that harmony among all family members should be maintained, all the time. Considering all this, daily action plan should be worked out. Define split duty for both. i.e. Vihitkarma ( विहितकर्म ) of every individual.
Karmayog does not play any role in process of defining Vihitkarma( विहितकर्म ) . Vihitkarma ( विहितकर्म ) is decided based upon knowledge of Neetishastra ( नीतिशास्त्र ) or code of conduct of ethics, + knowledge of VarnaAshramDharma ( वर्णआश्रमधर्म ), which is code of conduct & duties, derived based upon in born skillset called Gunakarma ( गुणकर्म ) & age group ( आश्रम )of each individual.
Karmayog ( कर्मयोग ) is concerned about the mind-set of individual, at the time of actually performing the job, or Karma ( कर्म ).
Everybody should perform his Vihitkarma ( विहितकर्म ), or duties, willingly with positive mind-set. When the action is done wilfully with positive mind-set, obstacles or problems are not faced. Even if any difficulties prop up, they can be sorted out easily. Work is executed smoothly. in case if actions are done unwillingly, clashes take place between will and intellect at each and every step. Intellect has to exert heavy pressure on the will in order to get the action executed by physical body. Will keeps on disturbing intellect, in working out action plan. Intellect does not get adequate time to think properly. As a result, probabilities of taking wrong decisions increase. Difficulties are generated by virtue of your own mistakes. They do not get sorted out easily. In such case difficulties are faced on each & every step. Actions cannot be performed smoothly. Mental tensions mount. Lot of energy is wasted during the internal conflicts. One suffers from huge mental fatigue.
In case if you succeed in convincing your mind, using Adhyatma knowledge concepts (अध्यात्म ज्ञान सिद्धांत ), energy wastage is saved and mental fatigue is reduced.
Man spends maximum time during the day, in activity for earning money. That is therefore chosen for explaining the mind-set requirements of Karmayog ( कर्मयोग). However Karmayog mind-set ( मानसिकता ) should be maintained while executing all activities done during the day.
HOW TO CONVERT WORK INTO WORSHIP?
Work, on it’s own, is not worship. It needs to be converted by regulating the mind-set. First and foremost, one should set Master goal for his life. Adhyatma ( अध्यात्म ) recommends Union with Parameshwar or in short Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ), as master goal of life. What is Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती )? Is it imaginary? Is it a reality? these are the questions to pop up. Be sure that it is a reality. It is not imaginary. Many have attained this state. How about having Uninterrupted Bliss; Complete Knowledge; Complete satisfaction; Complete contentment ? developing and Achieving all these faculties of mind is called as Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ). Be assured that this is achievable. After you set your master goal as Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ), A strong desire to achieve that will generate. That desire itself will set direction of thinking automatically. Your thoughts will get channelized automatically. “You should always remember your goal.” All actions by your physical body will then be done with intention of Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ). They will automatically get converted to worship.
It is not at all easy to remember the Master Goal all the time. One should use Karma( कर्म ) or physical actions; Dnyan( ज्ञान ) or Knowledge; and Bhakti ( भक्ती ) or Devotion ; all three tools simultaneously. Knowledge based devotional efforts are made in order to establish constant remembrance of Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ). This is called Anusandhan ( अनुसंधान ). This will inspire you to remember Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ) or Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ), always. This further converts each and every activity into Worship. This type of worship is very dear to Lord of Universe, Parameshwar.
( तया सर्वात्मका ईश्वरा । स्वकर्म कुसुमांची वीरा । पूजा केली होय अपारा । तोषालागी॥ ज्ञानेश्वरी नित्यपाठ॥ ).
This leads further to Master Goal also.
In order to establish emotional relations with Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ), one should canalize his emotions towards Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ), using all or any of the recommended devotional methods. One should gain knowledge about devotional methods + make efforts, based upon this knowledge. Easy and most effective is NamsmaranBhaki ( नामस्मरण भक्ती ). You recognize any friend or relative, by his name ( नाम ), and his shape or form ( रूप ). Same way devotee remebers name of his deity. He remebers deity’s form, which he likes. When one sees an acquaintance across the street, he recollects his form and recognizes him. Calls him loudly by his name, in order to draw his attention. The same way, Devotee recollects and recognizes his Deity by form, he remembers and calls him repeatedly by his name, in order to draw his attention. This process of repeated recollection and call, is called Namasmaran ( नामस्मरण ). This induces him to recollect his Deity all the time. It is always pleasing to recall the memories of the beloved ones. Same way memories of Deity please the Devotee, he then feels like remaining engrossed with such memories, frequently. Gradually, he starts loving his Deity, and tries to establish emotional relations, like mother, father, brother, friend, lover etc. with him. These efforts bring him closer to Deity, and emotional bond is established between the two. This emotional bond is called Anusandhan ( अनुसंधान ). This emotional bond finally triggers the final process of Union with Parameshwar. During the process, His efforts are already converted to Sadhana much earlier.
SwamiSandesh book narrates full details of the mental exercise called Meditation or Dhyan ( ध्यान ). Please study and practice the same daily. Consistency is importance. This exercise will reduce mental pressures and drain unused thought chains from memory. This clears memory space and gives working freedom to intellect . Thinking capabilities improve and capability of observing your own thoughts from third party view point will enhance. This observation capability is useful throughout the progress time span. Desire to set the Master goal of life as Parameshwarpraptee ( परमेश्वरप्राप्ती ) and to try hard to achieve the Master Goal will pop up and will get strengthened. You will start making efforts to move towards Master Goal. Do recite Swami Siddha Mantra ( श्री स्वामी समर्थ जयजय स्वामी समर्थ ) repeatedly. Imagine that Swami Samarth is your relative. He loves you. He helps you to face the real life situations. He always assures his association, and encourages to face real life problems boldly and confidently. Push & circulate these thoughts in your mind constantly. Gradually you will start liking him. You will start loving him. Do not underrate yourself petty, and remain aloof from Swami Samarth. During starting period of journey towards Parameshwar ( परमेश्वर ), your mind becomes more and more sensitive and receptive to any thought. You need to protect your mind from bad negative thoughts. Intentionally breed positive thoughts. Become happy as a result. Be happy and enjoy your life happily. Always remember and keep your mind focused on your Master Goal. You will surely reach your Master Goal.