Impactful Guidance for Life on Day 4 Manchester Katha by Pujya Bhaishri

The Vadera family are feeding us through the ears and mouth. Your mind is being satisfied through the Katha and your body through food. In addition, this is satisfying the ancestors. This is true tarpan (meaning, to satisfy). In satisfying the ancestors, we mainly use water in our rituals.

In a Yagya, there is mainly the use of fire. Through the fire in a Yagya, you are feeding the demi-gods. Thus, when you perform a fire sacrifice, the oblation offered must be done with the emotion of feeding the demi-­gods. The oblation must be offered on the utterance of the word svāhā, with the posture of the hand being in mrugi mudrā (that of a deer). In addition, one must be alert that the oblation does not fall outside the Yagya pit. Take Yagya seriously like a major surgery.

Pujya Bhaishri explained the significance of other rituals such as how to feed God, the Yagya of feeding oneself and said that these are not just rituals. Understand the science behind them and you will enjoy practicing them. We have such rich tradition. How can we not value this as Hindus? Are we just Hindus by name? Let us spread these values to our children. Keep asking questions. Ramayan and Bhagavat also started with questions.

The combination of actions, thoughts and emotions makes a character. Your thoughts make your emotions which result into actions. Bhagavat is the medicine to help you improve your thoughts. This world is made of thoughts hence the correct thoughts are very important.

Dharma guides on what one should do and not do. For example, it instructs to donate and not to steal. Your senses can instigate you to do wrong but you must have self-control not to. For actions that should be taken, avoid being lazy. Every being is lazy by nature.

Shrimad Bhagavat conveys three main messages for humanity and the entire universe:
  1. How should one human being behave with other human beings?
  2. How should a human being behave with other living beings?
  3. How should a human behave with mother nature?
People think this is a religious Katha. Yes, but it is linked to life. Katha is as necessary as our life breaths. Even if you do not believe in God, I respect your beliefs. You still need to attend Katha because Katha is an educational programme.

Growth is life but at the same time be careful that your creation does not harm you and take your life. Be like a spider who weaves its web, plays in it and then destroys it, rather than a silkworm who gets trapped in its own creation.

Without the presence of the three forces: The Government, Society and Dharma, humans will be worse than animals. Animals behave according to the nature. Unlike humans, animals do not deviate from virtuousness. Animals do not rape. Have you seen an animal go to the pub and get drunk? Hence Katha is necessary to educate humans.

Dharma is not to be imposed on one. It is to be accepted by oneself. Dharma does not mean religion only. It means good behaviour, the power to build character, self- control.

I am greatly against religious conversion. Religion should convert you to be a good human. Your welfare is in changing to a good human being via Dharma, not by changing Dharma.

Perform every action as though it is a Yagya. Any action not performed as a Yagya will bind you. When will actions become a Yagya?

  1. When performed to please God;
  2. When performed without any attachment or expectation of the fruit.
  3. When performed with 100% dedication.

Radha Shyam ki Katha Bhagwati. Radha is devotion and Krishna is knowledge. Both are born on the eighth day of the lunar fortnight. Knowledge is solar energy that helps us grow and devotion is lunar energy that nourishes us. When devotion manifests, you will not need to look for God, but God will come to you. Only love gives satisfaction.

Radhaji gives devotion whereas Yamunaji provides humility. Devotion will only last in the presence of humility. When one gets egoistic that God belongs to me only because I am the best, Shri Krishna leaves. In devotion, ego and sensual desires are barriers.

In Naimisharanya, Shaunak and other Rishis asked six questions:

  1. What is the essence of scriptures?
  2. What is the well-being of humans?
  3. What is the means to achieve this wellbeing?
  4. Why did God incarnate?
  5. What are these incarnations and what did God do in them?
  6. Where did Dharma go when God returned to His abode?

The answers to these six questions are given in 12 cantos of Bhagavat. If we are to have one answer to these six questions and even that in one word, the answer is devotion.

Pujya Bhaishri then listed the 24 incarnations of God. He ended the Katha by saying that in Hinduism, there are not just 24 incarnations. There have been many and they will continue. There is nothing like the last incarnation in Hinduism.

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